Daniella

 

I woke up in bed wondering how the hell I’d gotten there. At least it was still on the early side. If the lack of clothing didn’t tip me off that my night with Shane had been real, then the fact I was sore pretty much everywhere confirmed it.

I got up, showered, and pulled myself together. I couldn’t help grinning at the way my night had turned out. But then reality set in. At least a week’s worth of work remained where I had to be around the man. Taking a deep breath, I resolved not to be weird or clingy. I’d had a night I’d never forget. In fact, I wondered if any other man would be able to measure up to the experience. But the time to dwell on that fear would be later, once I was out of Shane’s world and didn’t have to see him every day.

Since I was hoping there would be availability in the hotel next door, I called and was happy to snag an open room. So the first order of business was to pack my things and get my own space. As I lugged my suitcase out to the office, I felt lucky to find Max there, sipping coffee at his desk.

“Where ya going?”

“Next door to the hotel.”

He arched a brow. “Shane know?”

My face scrunched up, expressing my confusion as to why it would matter. “It was the plan all along.”

He relaxed some and got to his feet, giving me his trademark grin. “All right. Let me help you.”

“What in the hell is going on here?”

Shane’s tone and appearance had me at a loss for words.

Luckily, Max didn’t have the same trouble. “Daniella is moving next door to the hotel. Why don’t I go get you checked in and, uh, give you two some privacy?”

Shane simply stood there staring at me until Max disappeared into the elevator heading down. “Why are you moving out?”

“We agreed. The hotel had an opening today. And I thought to give you your room back.”

He moved closer, stopping only a breath away from me. “And it has nothing to do with last night?”

“No, why would it?” I hated the fact my voice went down to an involuntary whisper.

“Not very convincing.” His voice was husky, his eyes intense.

I took a deep breath, far too affected by his presence for my health. This only emphasized why I needed my own space. “It was the original plan, and after last night, I think it might be better to have a separation.”

He lifted a brow. “Are you still okay with working here?”

“Of course.”

My conviction must’ve rung true as he stepped back. “Okay. Good. How’s it going so far?”

I tried not to take it personally that he might be anxious to be rid of me. “All right. I plan on working every day until the New Year except for Sunday. I have a wedding to attend.”

The wedding was for my cousin, who happened to be marrying Eric’s former roommate. Although the last thing I wanted was to see Eric in a social setting, I’d already sent an RSVP and felt an obligation to go. Wasn’t like it was their fault my ex-fiancé was a douche bag.

Shane and I both turned when Heather came up the stairs, calling out. It was a simple reminder that we were never alone in this space.

“Hey, Shane. Oh, hi. You’re not alone. I can come back.”

He frowned. “No, it’s fine. You’ve met Daniella, right?”

She gave me a half-assed smile. Upon meeting me yesterday, she hadn’t been overly friendly. Obviously, that didn’t change even in her boss’s presence.

“Yep, we met. You have a minute?”

Damn. I was being dismissed. “Uh, I can come back.”

“No, stay. We’ll go.” He moved towards Heather.

I heard her ask in a voice that was unmistakably meant to be overheard, “Do we have a raincheck for tonight, lover?”

Damn. Perhaps it was time to work extra hours to get done with this job because, now that we’d been together, the thought of Shane with anyone else made my stomach turn.

 

***

 

It was after nine o’clock at night on Christmas Day, but still I worked. I was determined to get through my first two years of an audit that would go back a total of five. The good news was it was all reconciling. The bad news was that I wasn’t sure my work was the only reason I was here so late. Sure, I was known to work long hours, but I admitted to myself I was still here tonight out of morbid curiosity. I wanted to see if Shane would be partaking in the night’s show.

I hadn’t seen him during the remainder of the day. Although Max had long ago given me the key to my hotel room next door, I hadn’t moved from my spot at the desk. The exception was a late lunch, when I couldn’t ignore the hunger pains any longer and had taken a break to grab a burger from the bar.

Unable to stand the uncertainty of whether or not Shane was down below in one of the playrooms, I shut my laptop down and put everything in my bag. This way if I did see him, I could leave quickly. Taking a deep breath, I went over to the door that I assumed led to the viewing room where one could see down below. I don’t know if I was relieved or not when the handle turned, allowing me access.

A quick glance showed me the room was empty. The couch and two chairs made it the perfect ‘box suite’ to watch all of the action below. I stepped close to the glass and glanced down. There were quite a few people, although nothing close to how many had attended the Christmas party.

My breath caught at the sight of a very well-muscled man standing naked in the center of the room. There were two women placed on their knees: one in front of him, her hand wrapped around his massive erection and one in back, kneading and kissing his firm buttocks. Surely she wasn’t going to— Holy shit. She was. Both women literally dove into their front and back door tasks while the man threw back his head in complete ecstasy.

“Do you like to watch, Daniella?”

Jesus. I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of Shane’s voice. When I attempted to turn, he wasn’t having it.

“Face forward and tell me.”

I licked my lips. “I find myself fascinated with it all.”

His breath came at my neck, and I had to resist the urge to turn around and throw myself on him.

“Why did you come in here tonight?”

I didn’t bother to lie. “I wondered if you would be down there.”

“If I had been, would you have stayed to watch me?”

“No.”

His fingers undid my bun, letting my hair fall down my back. “Does this turn you on, to watch the man down there with two women on their knees pleasuring him?”

“With you here, yes.”

“Put your hands up against the glass.”

 “What?” I attempted to turn around, only to have his hard body crowd my space.

“I said, place your hands on the glass. And spread your legs.”

My shaking hands took purchase on the window while I widened my stance slightly, wondering what in the hell he had planned. Unable to help myself, I asked, “What are you doing?”

A shudder ran through my body when his hands cupped my backside.

“Admiring your black dress and the way it hugs your curves.”

“I thought the agreement was only last night.” Not that I was complaining, but my mind struggled to keep up with both my body’s agenda and now his.

“What if we said twenty-four hours instead?” His fingers had slipped between my legs and under the crotch of my panties.

“Yes. Twenty-four hours.” Although, technically, it was past that. I cursed my stupid brain for numbers and told it to shut the hell up.

“You’re so wet. Were you this way while watching Philip below?”

“No. Only once I heard your voice.”

“Good girl.”

A sharp tug and the sound of material ripping meant I was rid of my thong.

“I want you to watch the show while I fuck you.”

My eyes, which had been closed, focused back on the scene in front of me. The players had now moved to the bed where Philip had one woman riding him while the other literally sat on his face. “Shane.” I moaned his name when fingers entered me. I could hear the sound of a package being ripped open and soon after was practically lifted up when he entered me on one stroke.

“You’re tight. You’re not too sore, are you?” He hesitated, clearly waiting to thrust again.

Although I was a little tender, there was no way I was stopping now. “That ship has sailed. Fuck me.”

He gripped my hair and pulled out only to slam back in. “Like this? Tell me if this is too rough.”

“No, it’s not. God.” He set a furious pace and, as I started to build, he reached around to rub my clit. The orgasm hit me like a freight train. A string of unintelligible words ripped from my throat as the rush started at my toes and didn’t seem to be stopping. Because neither was Shane.

“I can’t,” I mumbled, losing any strength I’d had in bracing myself against the glass. Boneless, I allowed him to turn me around, lift me up, and push my entire back flush with the wall before entering me again. My hands gripped his powerful shoulders while my legs wrapped around him. If I’d had a brain cell to spare, I would’ve marveled at the fact he could hold me up as though I was nothing. But I was too lost in the pleasure to think.

“Yes. Right there.” He’d found the spot and increased the pace until I was coming spectacularly, raking my nails over his back while he buried himself deep and growled in my ear.

“Your pussy is like a vice grip demanding I come with you.”

“Mm. I quite like that.”

He walked me over to the couch and, after pulling out, let me down easy. I watched while he expertly removed the condom and tied it off. He put it into a small trash can over by the bar area to one side.

“You’re welcome to spend the night in your room here.”

“Are you spending it with me?” The question was part curious, part challenge.

He came over and helped me up, his arm banding around my waist, eyes on mine. “It wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“No. I suppose not. Good night, then.”

“Good night.”

And yet he didn’t move. Neither did I. The temptation to lean in to kiss him was so strong I swore he could actually read my mind because he stepped back. “I’ll walk you out.”

The gesture surprised me, but I was grateful he led the way down the stairs and out the employee entrance to the hotel lobby next door.

“What room are you in?”

I fished the card from my bag with the number on it. “It’s on the eleventh floor. Eleven fifteen.”

He didn’t hesitate to put his hand at the small of my back and lead me into the elevator, pressing my floor. I turned to him once the doors closed. “You don’t have to see me up.”

“I know.” His handsome poker face gave nothing away.

We walked down the hall in silence until we reached my number. I swiped my key and opened the door to a beautiful junior suite with my suitcase in the quaint seating area.

He came in and glanced around. “I hope everything is to your liking.”

I nodded. “It’s nice, although you didn’t have to spring for a suite.”

“It wasn’t me; it was Max.”

“Oh.” Awkward.

“So, uh, I’ll see you in the morning.” Suddenly, he appeared anxious to leave.

“Yep. I finished two years’ worth today and will start again tomorrow.” I wasn’t sure why I felt this was the moment to tell him what my work plan was, but it came out before I could help myself. Perhaps it was to serve as a reminder of why I was really here.

He moved towards the door. “Great. Uh. Merry Christmas.”

Yeah. Merry Christmas. It had certainly been a strange one.