Page 31 of Twisted Truths

“Have our bags brought up and have a charcuterie tray as well as two steak dinners sent to the suite. You know how I like mine, and medium well for Miss Clarke. Some light refreshments too.”

“Right away, sir.” With swift efficiency, Rory turns on his heel and goes off to accommodate my request.

“Let’s go.” I don’t wait for Ariana to acknowledge my order.

Ever since Saturday night, my skin feels too tight every time I’m around her. It’s impossible to be in her vicinity and not think of her slick heat and the way she clenched around my fingers.

I stab the button for the elevator harder than necessary, and we wait in silence until it dings and the doors open. Being the gentleman I am, I motion for Ariana to go first.

Once we’re inside and moving up, she turns to me. “Why did he say suite and not rooms? Emphasis on the plural.”

I turn my head toward her. “Because we’re staying in the presidential suite. Don’t worry, there’s more than one bedroom.”

I should have booked her a room of her own. It would have been the smart thing to do—to put some distance between us. Maybe bring home one of my regulars to fuck and take the edge off. But I didn’t want to give her the opportunity to do the same with some asshat she might meet at the hotel bar.

She doesn’t say anything, nor does she speak when the elevator doors part on the top floor, and I lead us down the hall to our suite. I open the door and gesture for her to go in first.

“Wow.” Ariana takes a few steps inside, then stops and turns, taking in the space. “I’ve never been in a room this nice before.”

She seems to think better of sharing that with me. Her gaze flies to mine, and her cheeks deepen in color.

“Not many people have.” Usually, I’d be a prick about it. Say something to make her even more uncomfortable. But for some reason, the impulse is easy to crush. I step past her. “I’ll be staying in that room.” I point at the bedroom door to my left. “There are two other bedrooms on this side of the suite. Take whichever one you’d like.”

She goes from one room to the next, taking her time looking inside. When she reappears, she points at the door on her right. “I’m going to take that one. It has a better view.”

Just then, there’s a knock on the door, so I step over and find that it’s the bellhop. I direct him to which bedroom each piece of luggage should go, and before he leaves, I slip him a hundred-dollar bill.

“You’ll want to unpack and get settled, I’m sure, but do it quickly. It won’t take long for the steaks to arrive.” I walk toward my bedroom, needing some space from her.

Temptation can only be pushed aside for so long. I’m not a fucking saint.

I quickly unpack my things and change out of my suit into a pair of lounge pants and a T-shirt. After, I make my way out to the living area and turn on the TV, changing it to the business news. There’s another knock at the door, and an attendant rolls a cart into the suite with our food on it.

“Just put it over there.” I direct him to leave it near the dining room table and tip him before he leaves. “Ariana, food’s here.”

I lift the silver domes from the plates to ensure we’ve been delivered what I asked for. There’s no response, so I walk over to the closed door of her bedroom and knock.

“Ariana.” I heave a sigh when once again she doesn’t answer. “What the fuck is she doing in there?” I knock again, but she still doesn’t answer.

Did something happen? Did she leave the suite while I was in my bedroom? Did she have some medical event and is lying helplessly on the floor? A hundred thoughts whizz through my head.

I turn the handle to the door and swing it open, stilling at what I find inside.

Ariana is wrapped in a white bath towel and dancing around with her back to me. Her ass sways side to side as she moves to the beat of whatever music she’s listening to on her AirPods. She twirls around and screams, startling backward, nearly losing her footing. One hand flies up to her chest, and the other tugs out one of her AirPods.

“Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.”

“I thought something was wrong. I called you and knocked on the door several times.”

Looking a little chagrined, she pulls out the other AirPod. “I wanted to have a shower after traveling.” It’s then she notices her state of undress, and she glances down at herself.

My dick really homes in on it too, because it jerks to life in my pants.

“Don’t be long. It’s no good if it’s cold.” I turn and leave the room, not bothering to close the door, but I hear it close behind me.

I take my plate, settle in on the end of the dining room table, and begin eating. A few minutes later, Ariana appears.

“You look different.” The words slip from my mouth before I can think them through.

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