Page 23 of Boss Daddy's Girl

After pulling on my shorts, a quick but thorough search of the suite is fruitless. Shoving the keycard in my pocket, I rush out into the hallway, not even bothering to get dressed. What if she's in trouble? What if she needs me?

Or what if she regrets what happened so much that she fled?

I don't have to look far. Hearing hushed voices in one of the alcoves where the ice machines are, I spot Ellie immediately, with a half-dressed man practically hanging on her. My blood boils. It's that stupid Frenchman.

"Oh, hello, Drake!" Claude says brightly. "This is a pleasant surprise. We were just talking about you."

"Get away from her," I say, my voice low and dangerous.

Claude smiles slyly, obviously enjoying the tension in the air. "You don't want me touching her? That's interesting. She’s just your assistant, right? But I'm more than happy to take care of her." He looks at Ellie and raises an eyebrow, his smile growing wider. "I bet she'll like being with a real man for once."

The words are barely out of his mouth when I lunge at him, my fist connecting with his jaw.

Claude stumbles back, shock registering on his face as he brings his hand up to his mouth. "You son of a bitch," he spits out. "How dare you?—"

"Just stay away from her," I growl, moving in front of Ellie to block him, "or next time, it'll be more than a punch."

Claude narrows his eyes, his gaze shifting between me and Ellie. He must have bit his tongue when I hit him because there's blood on his lip. Good. "You're both fucking crazy, you know that?" He spits out a mouthful of blood and turns on his heel, stalking down the hallway toward the elevators.

As soon as he's gone, Ellie sighs shakily, picking up the abandoned ice bucket next to the machine. "Thank you. I had noidea he was even staying on this floor, and I was just so hot and thirsty and?—"

She's in my arms before she can finish her sentence, and the sweet smell of her slowly drives away the fury boiling inside me. No rock face, no impossible peak, has ever made me feel like I just did seeing Claude trying to touch her. "It's fine. As long as you're okay." I smooth her hair back and take the ice bucket from her, setting it back down on the ground.

"I am, but?—"

Her words are cut off by my kiss, our lips meeting in a frenzy. I didn't expect to need her this badly again so soon, but the need is too strong to ignore. My hands cup her face, keeping her close as my tongue slips into her mouth. A low moan comes from her throat, her fingers tangling in my hair, and I'm lost.

"Back to the room," she pants, squealing in delight when I sweep her into my arms.

"I couldn't agree more."

Wakingup the following morning is heaven, or at least the closest approximation to it that I've ever experienced. Ellie is still curled up in my arms, her head under my chin, and her breathing slow.

If it wasn't the last day of the convention, and I didn't have to make a damned speech for the masses, I'd be happy to just stay like this forever. Hell, I'm more than happy to skip the speeches just to hold her for a few more hours. But this is Ellie White, andshe's likely to strangle me if I mess up her perfectly concocted schedule.

I kiss her forehead, and she stirs, blinking her big blue eyes open to look up at me. "Mmmm, good morning," she mumbles, rubbing her cheek against my chest. "What time is it?"

"A little after seven," I tell her, stroking her hair back from her face. I can't stop touching her now that I know my desires are reciprocated. "There's still plenty of time to get ready for the day."

Ellie yawns, stretches, and sits up. "Good. I need a shower." She climbs out of bed and picks up one of the complimentary robes from the foot of the bed, slipping it on.

I watch her move around the room, taking note of each curve as it disappears beneath the silky fabric. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the rest of the convention when all I want is to strip her naked and act out the fantasies that have been plaguing me for twelve long months.

"Are you just going to lie there?" Ellie asks, standing in the bathroom doorway with her hand on her hip.

I lean up on my elbow and smirk. "I was hoping to join you in the shower."

"You wish." She flicks her hair over her shoulder and heads into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

A moment later, I hear the water running, and I consider letting her shower in peace for ten entire seconds before I'm out of bed like a shot. I take the handle in my hand and twist, surprised when the door opens easily. Something tells me she's left it unlocked on purpose. Steam has already started to fill the room,making it impossible to see anything but the outline of her body through the glass door of the shower.

"What are you doing?" she huffs, already giggling.

"I'm joining you, as I said." I pull open the shower door and step in behind her. I don't give her time to protest before my arms wrap around her waist, pulling her against me.

"This isn't part of the schedule," she protests but leans back into my embrace.

"Fuck the schedule." I spin her around to face me, kissing her before she can say another word.

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