Читать книгу Finding Lily - Vivacia Ahwen K - Страница 15

The next morning, Dorian nudged me awake. ‘Lily?’

‘Go away,’ I said. ‘I’m not ready to be awake yet.’

Good lord. The idea of moving seemed sheer madness. Every part of my body ached.

‘I’m going to work,’ he informed me, voice brusque, ‘and am hoping you’ll join me for lunch and an afternoon orientation session. It’s time for us to think about getting you back into the office. Acclimate you to the new environment. Things have changed considerably over the past few days.’

Tell me about it.

‘OK. Can you just give me a wake-up call at nine-ish?’ I asked. ‘I’ve got my dance lesson at ten, and can be at Apollyon by noon. Will that work?’

‘Excellent.’

I opened one eye and marvelled at the gorgeous man-creature towering over the bed. As much as I adored Dorian, something about ‘Mr Holder’ always thrilled me to the core.

My boss.

Today he sported a charcoal-coloured Brooks Brothers number, grey shirt and the gold tie of which I’d grown quite fond. His hair was tousled adorably, and he had just the slightest shadow of scruff. It looked to me like he might’ve overslept as well. We had, after all, worn each other out the night before. To say the least.

Oh, right. I never finished that story.

Here’s how the rest of our ‘date’ went down: so, after Master Dorian had fucked the living hell out of me and done what I can only describe as ‘ripping me a new one,’ he quickly shifted from post-scene elated into his full-on sweetest Dorian Being Concerned mode, ready to spoil his submissive little waif.

‘Lily?’ He lifted my chin. ‘You can look at me now.’

Rather than wait for him to ask if I was all right, I reached out to rest a hand against his chest, and felt his heartbeat, fast and furious.

We shared relieved smiles and he said, ‘Allow me to worship you, now, Ms Dewitt.’

Yes.

Dorian drew me close, caressed my skin, stroked my hair. ‘Just one moment, love. Time to clean up my dirty girl.’

Wait. Did he just call me ‘love’? Oh, Lily, shut your lizard brain off for a few minutes, would you?

I forced myself to return to the moment, empty my head, to just be …

I lay on my belly while Dorian gave me a gentle, cool sponge bath (remember, I still was all sticky-popsicled up) and turned on a fan so the gentle breeze would cool and dry my stinging flesh. Everything that could smart smarted. Then there was a soft, soothing, light texture, rushing over my skin.

‘What is that?’ I mumbled. ‘It feels like fur.’

‘Feather duster. Ostrich. Am I being gentle enough?’

‘Perfect. It’s so … nice.’ I pictured crawling around his apartment in a French maid’s costume, using the very same duster, and decided I would have to make that happen. ‘Don’t stop, Dorian. Please.’

‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ There was a note of amusement in his voice. ‘What kind of master doesn’t clean up his poor little sub after he went and got her so very, very dirty?’

So, yeah, that was how the rest of our evening went.

* * *

‘Hey. Sleeping Beauty. Trying to say goodbye here.’

‘Oh … OK.’ I pulled myself up and shook my head around, trying to clear my thoughts and become reoriented. ‘Gotta say, look even hotter than usual this morning.’

‘Knock it off.’ He ran a hand through his hair, bashful.

‘Just say thank you.’ I grinned. ‘You need to learn to accept compliments.’

‘Don’t tell me what I “need” to do.’ He paused. ‘All right. Thank you, Lily. Will that work?’

‘You’re most welcome, Mr Holder.’

‘I’ll ring you at nine, then?’

‘Please do.’

Dorian brushed his lips against mine and asked, ‘What did you and Beezus talk about last night?’

‘Nothing,’ I said, which was kind of true.

He must’ve checked his call history.

‘Good. Let’s keep it that way.’ He tugged at his necktie.

‘Or what? You’ll tan my hide?’

‘Don’t tempt me.’ He placed his index finger to his lips, then leaned over and touched mine. I tried to nip his finger, but he pulled away too quickly. ‘Be quiet, Lily. Go back to sleep.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Excellent. You’ll be needing some extra rest.’ He winked. ‘I’m looking forward to lunch. Hungry already.’

‘Got it.’ I winked back. ‘See you soon.’

‘See you soon …’ He cupped his ear.

‘See you soon, Mr Holder, sir.’

‘Yes, you will, Lily Dewitt. Be on time.’

With that, he left me, and – always the obedient girl – I closed my eyes and drifted off.