Page 112 of Taste of Addiction

I close my eyes over that fantasy. “Don’t tempt me.”

“You are such a bad little girl. You have the good girl outward appearance. But in here," he says, tapping my head gently, “you are wickedly naughty.”

“You like it.”

He swoops down to kiss my lips and then my nose and then both eyelids. “One hundred percent, yes, I like.”

I lean over and look for my handbag. I am so disoriented on where my belongings are. Do I even have belongings here? I arrived here not even twenty-four hours ago and got whisked away to the spa. Then the charity event. Followed by public rooftop sex. And somehow I managed to get myself back into the hotel room and put to bed.

“Where are my things? I think I have a handbag somewhere.”

Graham points over to the dresser. “I had a worker retrieve all of your belongings that you forgot about at dinner.”

“Oh silly, forgetful me,” I joke. I glance over at the pile of items on the top of the dresser. My fur coat, panties, bra, handbag. Everything is all there. Lovely. I bet whoever he pays to be the gopher had a fun night putting these puzzle pieces together about me.

I slide out of bed and go to find my phone. Every step I take is a reminder of where he’s been. How am I going to get through the day? It is Friday and seven fifteen in the morning. I have my therapy session with Dr. Lucian and Dr. Westinger today before my big winter costume reveal—courtesy of Claire. I can only imagine what she will come up with.

“Come, let’s get a shower,” Graham suggests, kissing my naked shoulder, “and we can hit up the coffee shop down on the first floor.”

“Let’s just stay in bed,” I whine. “I’m not sure I can stand the friction of having clothes on.”

He chuckles behind me, splaying his fingers out across my belly. “Cancel tonight and come play poker with me. Or just sit on my lap and be my good luck charm.”

I turn my head to look back at him. “Pretty sure I would end up under the table with your cock pushing down my throat. And everyone else suddenly canceling last minute.”

His eyes darken with need. “There. It’s settled.”

“Ha, I bet the guys will never let you live that down. Bringing your girlfriend to a guys-only poker night.”

“I can handle the ribbing.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t handle Claire if I desert her. Have you met her before? She would hunt me down. And then you.”

He shrugs. “Still worth it.”

“I can’t.”

“Fine. But let’s have a little shower fun before we head for breakfast and then the office.”

“Sounds like the start to a perfect morning.”

20

Graham’s phone buzzes on the cafe table. I glance at it and frown. This is the third call within a minute that he has ignored.

“You better just answer. It’s probably important.”

“Always is. I’m just preserving these last moments of serenity before we head over to HH.”

“It has to be tough trying to manage your empire.”

His grin lets me know he got my attempt at lightheartedness. He picks up his phone and finally ends the caller’s misery. “Hoffman.”

I take a bite of my fruit salad and sip my smoothie. I feel so refreshed and alive this morning that I forgo my typical caffeine indulgence. Maybe I can break that cycle too. Pretty sure Graham has been working overtime at distracting me from my past behaviors. It is successful. Instead of craving what a pill can give me, I am becoming addicted to him instead. If that was part of his big picture plan all along, then he would be a very clever genius.

I watch intently as he swipes the hair from his forehead and rubs at his temple with his fingers. Something is wrong. We had such a perfect twenty-four hours that it was only a matter of time before a shoe dropped.

“Get Collins and Austin here. There is a private back exit along the west side of the building. We’ll meet you there in about five minutes.” He shoves the phone into his pocket and plasters the fake look of calm on his face.

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