Page 13 of Lily
"Yeah?" Sam's voice wasn't friendly or warm but sharp, like the edge of a knife, and Lily nearly shrank away from him. He flexed his fingers on hers and the squeeze made her stay put, but she couldn't help leaning away even as she held onto his hand.
"Leaving so early?" Hipster moneyman's eyes moved away from Sam and landed on Lily. He had a heavy way of looking at her, as in she knew it was assessing, a leer in the way that it was taking stock of her not as a woman or a person, but as a sexual conquest. She suddenly wished she wasn't wearing a dress, not with the way his stare slid down the length of bare skin. She tugged at her dress hem and Sam frowned at the gesture. "Not going to introduce your friend to me, Sam?" the man asked.
Sam's eyes narrowed and he released her hand, sweeping Lily behind him. "Keep your eyes in your head or there's going to be trouble, Brett."
Brett grinned. The flash of his teeth made Lily think of a wolf, and she was grateful to have Sam between them. She knew men like Brett, men who took and took and took because they were so convinced that anything and everyone was theirs to take. Men like him were to be avoided at all costs, their never-ending hunger for the next new thing to cross their path, frightening.
And she as a Little had no place near it. She was far too sensitive for meddling with that sort of man. That was why she much preferred the gentle touch of a Daddy Dom, who exercised his dominance by caregiving, his satisfaction stemming equally from sex as it did from taking care of his Little.
Sam would be good at that. The man was warm, compassionate and easy to smile. There was softness to him that Lily was responding to, the effects of it heightened even now as he stood between her and Brett. Sam's protective streak would fit nicely with a Daddy Dom; she was sure of it.
Brett chuckled. "No offense, man. Just curious."
Sam made a sound that Lily could only describe as a growl and turned back to her. "Let's make moves, Lily Bell." He slung an arm over her shoulder and navigated her toward the door. Lily cast a look over her shoulder before they hit the doorway, and she saw that Brett was staring after them with a smarmy smile on his face. He winked at her when he saw that she was looking at him, and she instantly wished she hadn't looked back.
She turned back quickly, tucking close into Sam's side and shaking her head. She did not like that man. Not at all.
"You okay?" Sam gave her a shrewd look. He was holding the door open for them, and Lily blushed when she realized her emotions were all over her face. She was frowning. It was hard to have any other expression on her face when dealing with such an unsavory man.
"I don't like that guy," she blurted out and clapped a hand over her mouth. "I mean, I just, shoot. Sorry." She shook her head, wishing she could take the words back. She didn't know Sam's relationship to the man or why he had given him money, and here she was putting her foot in her mouth with a man she wasn't even that familiar with.
Sam chuckled. "Yeah, I don't, either." He let the door slam shut behind them, and she blinked at him in surprise.
"Really?"
He hummed and dropped his arm from her shoulders. "Sorry about the arm thing," he said, gesturing between them. "Brett is a slimy guy. Didn't want him bothering you later when I'm not around."
When I'm not around.
Lily shrank back from the words. It was a stark reminder that he would be gone. When, she didn't know, but he would. He was here on behalf of Ashley, even if he'd said he was there for her. What did she think? He was going to move her near him, that he would become a regular fixture in her life? She was lucky that Sam had made time to come get her and rescue her from another night at her apartment.
"Yeah, thanks," she said, giving him a watery smile.
"You okay?" Sam asked, and she was reminded once again that this man saw far too much for her liking.
She nodded. "I'm fine, just, you know," she jerked a thumb back at the club door behind them, "that guy is slimy like you said."
"I hate dealing with him, but that's what happens when I'm a co-owner and he's the current manager."
Lily nearly stumbled over her feet at that. "You own Burgundy?"
Sam continued walking to the parking lot and grinned at her. "Co-owner, Lily Bell."
She hurried after him. "Yes, okay, but when did that happen? I've been performing there for a couple years now, and I have never seen you."
"This one is me," he said, pointing to a black sedan, and then he frowned at her as he unlocked the car door. "I prefer to be a silent partner. And why do you think I said I came for you?" He opened the door and gave her a pointed look. When she didn't say anything, he said, "You've been absent for months now, so when Ashley told me who you were and I saw your name pop up on the list for tonight, I had to check-in."
She stared at the open car door and then back at him. "You noticed I was gone?" she asked, still not taking a step closer to the door.
"You're a special girl," he said and gestured at the leather seat waiting for her. "Let's get you inside. It's cold out here, and you're in a dress."
Lily opened her mouth to retort that it wasn't too cold for her, but all it took was a raise of Sam's eyebrow and a cold gust of wind kicking up the skirt of her dress for her to sigh.
"All right," she said and shuffled forward. Sam didn't say anything but gave an approving nod when she made to sit.
"Watch your head," he murmured, holding a hand out to shield her as she slid into the seat. She felt her face warm at the gesture. It was sweet, caring and tender in a way that made Lily's heart pound. It had been so long since she'd had anyone make her feel cared for and looked after. Her heart ached from it all, and she forced a smile on her face despite the swoon she knew was building in her for Sam.
"Thank you."
