Page 113 of Ward Willing
CHAPTERNINETEEN
THE DOMINANT
Zoe
The lobby of the hotel is small, but they’ve spared no expense decorating it. Thick, luxurious rugs line the old, polished hardwood floors, and the furniture is modern and bright. Fresh flowers sit undisturbed on every surface, held in glass vases that look like books. Massive, gilded frames on every wall house what could very well be real renaissance paintings. A large crystal chandelier hangs overhead, and once I’m done gawking at the opulence, I jog to keep up with Liam.
“Hello, Barbara,” he says, his voice low yet familiar.
“Mr. Ravage!” She beams, flashing white teeth as she flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Would you like your usual room?” she asks, and my mouth drops open.
It hits me then. Hisusualroom. He comes here a lot, then? I know he said he hasn’t slept with anyone else since Catalina, but what else would he be doing in a hotel room regularly?
I don’t normally consider myself a jealous person, but I can’t ignore the lancing pain that cuts through me when I consider that perhaps Liam wasn’t telling the truth. Or that I’m not the first woman he brought here.
“Yes, please,” he says politely.
I look between Barbara and the other receptionist to see if their expressions will give anything away, but she clicks on her computer for a second before looking at me.
“And your guest’s name?”
I clear my throat. “Zoe Arma.”
Barbara nods. “And one night like usual?” she asks Liam.
My stomach fills with dread and I suddenly feel so duped. Why would Liam stay single or not sleep around? He’s a warm-blooded male who got unlucky when he became my guardian. Of course he’d need a place to screw random women. Even if he has been celibate since Catalina, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is where he disappeared to all those nights when I was younger.
The thought of him hiding that part of himself from me… it hurts.
“Oh, I think we’ll only need a couple of hours. Likeusual,” I grit out.
Keeping my eyes on Barbara, I notice when she stops typing and coughs once. Liam sidles up to my side, and I don’t look at him as he bends down.
“Two.”
He thinks we’re just playing a game—that I’m being a brat, so he’ll punish me.
But all I want to do is cry.
Barbara gives us a large smile and hands us two cards.
Liam removes one of them and holds it up. “We only need one key but thank you.”
Before she can take it back, I snatch it out of his hand and give him my most charming smile.
“You never know, Daddy. It’s good to keep our options open.”
Liam’s jaw rolls, but he doesn’t say anything as his eyes bore into mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Barbara and the other receptionist exchange a look.
He quickly turns to Barbara. “Have a good night.”
Grabbing my hand, he drags me away from the reception desk.
“Three and four,” he growls under his breath, walking too quickly for me to keep up in my heels.
I’m jogging to keep the pace so I don’t fall flat on my face, and both of our shoes click against the old wood floors.
Pressing theupbutton on the elevator, he turns to face me. Andfuck, his expression is full of ire. Despite his tense body language, his eyes are almost twinkling—almost like he’s enjoying this.
