by Alexa Riley
“You poor thing. Don’t you worry, handsome, I’ll get you all fixed up.”
“Thanks,” he says to the nurse as his gaze flickers toward me. I give him a smile trying to mask my jealousy. I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m feeling right now.
“Let me go grab some things,” she giggles and then turns to leave the room. It’s obvious how she swings her hips as she goes, but Dasher misses it because he’s still looking over at me.
“I think the nurse has a thing for you,” I try and tease him.
“Not my type.” He winks at me and I guess he’s teasing me back? I thought he was flirting with me today, and I was wrong.
“Is it hurting?” My fingers itch to reach over and touch him. The need to soothe him nags at me but he’s not mine to soothe.
“No, and I’m not sure it needs stitches.” He inspects the cut. “The bleeding has almost stopped.”
“Better safe than sorry. I don’t want you coming down with an infection and ruining Christmas for Rae.”
“Do people always hit on you like that at your parties?” The question comes out of left field, or maybe not since I started it.
“Sometimes.” I shrug. “I’ve learned some men can be handsy once they start drinking, but for the most part I’m left alone. I’m the help.” He starts to say something else, but the curtain separating us from the emergency room is pulled back, and the doctor steps in.
“Dasher Sleigh,” the female doctor says, and her whole face lights up with a smile. “How long has it been?”
“A few years, I believe,” he answers as she walks over to him.
I see the name on her badge is Dr. Nina Porter, but she doesn't give me a second glance as she clears the space between Dasher and her. Maybe this is Dasher’s type.
The tall dark-haired woman is beautiful with plump lips and bright blue eyes surrounded by thick eyelashes. She’s tall, too, and I can clearly tell she’s fit even though she’s wearing scrubs. She picks up Dasher’s hand right away and takes a look at it.
“How are Jillian and Rae doing? I really need to call her. It’s been too long, but this place keeps me busy.”
“They’re good” is all he gives her. I stare at him trying to read his expression while he looks at the doctor. The nurse comes back into the room and stands close to the bed.
“I’ve got Dash,” the doctor says.
Dash? She has a nickname for him? She takes the box from the nurse, and the nurse’s face drops in clear disappointment.
“Are you sure? I can—”
“I’ve got it,” Dr. Porter says again, and this time she gives the nurse a quick glare.
Great, wow, women are fighting over him. The nurse huffs out a breath before stomping from the room. I actually want to laugh a little because this is getting ridiculous. Is this what it’s like to be out in public with Dasher Sleigh?
She gets to work cleaning the cut, and luckily he doesn't need any stitches. She patches him up and puts some glue on his hand while talking the whole time.
As I listen, I find out they went to college together and they ask each other about old friends. I start to feel almost awkward, because neither of them is saying a word to me. I thought at first that she didn't notice me, which is dumb, because we’re literally in the same room. A couple of times I catch her stealing a few looks my way, but my phone chimes before I can say anything to her.
When I reach to grab it, my purse falls onto the ground and everything inside of it spills out. The two of them look my way as I bend down to scoop everything back into my bag.
“Sorry,” I mumble, heat rushing to my face. When I sit back down in my seat, I keep my head down and put on my glasses so I can respond to Jewels’ texts. I let her know everything went off without a hitch at the Mills’ place, but I don’t mention that I’m at the hospital with one of our most important clients.
“Are you going to introduce me to your assistant?” Dr. Porter asks.
Ouch. Was it that clear that I couldn't possibly be a girlfriend? I guess I don’t scream money, because I think I’m what people might call mousy with a side of plump.
“She’s not my assistant,” he says but doesn't say anything else, and Dr Porter doesn't push.
“All right, I think you’re good to go.”
I finally look up at them and see Dasher nod. “Thanks.” Once again his response is short and borderline terse. This feels so awkward, and I wonder if they have a past or something. She stares at him for a long moment and looks like she’s about to say something but changes her mind.
“Tell Jillian I said hi. I think I might call her after Christmas.” He gives her a nod, and she finally turns to leave but stops after she pulls the curtain back. “You know I’m busy, but I’d always make time for you, Dash. Call me.” With that she’s gone.
“Okay.” I let out a breath as I stand from my seat. “Let’s get you out of here and home before the ladies around here mob your room,” I joke, but he doesn't crack a smile.
“Yes, let's get out of here.” His non-injured hand comes to my elbow to guide me out of the room and straight out the exit. We make our way over toward my car, and he opens the driver’s side door for me.
“Go to your home,” he tells me when I pull out of the parking lot of the hospital. “I’ll have my driver pick me up there.”
“I can take you home, Dasher. It’s fine, really.”
“No. It’s late and I want to be sure you make it home safely. Really, you should just pack a bag and stay at my place for a few days. A big storm is rolling in.”
“What?” I glance over to him when I pull up to a red light.
His eyes are on me again. “We’re going to your place to pack a bag. It’s not like you won’t be there first thing in the morning anyway. Then I can have someone take you over to the Bagshaws’ home. I’m sure that’s where you’ll be.”
“Yes, I need to be there mid-afternoon.” My plan was to stop at Dasher’s in the morning and make sure everything is on track and then head over to Rich Victormore’s to get things ready for the party. “I’ll be fine. They said it might shift and not even hit us.”
“Why risk it? I’m closer, and this car isn't made for heavy snowfall.”
“I don’t think—”
“You will,” he orders. “I have a dozen empty bedrooms.”
I have a feeling this is a fight I’m not going to win. I also think he might be right about the whole snow thing. It would suck to get stuck home tomorrow because of my car.
“Okay,” I agree, and I see Dasher smile out of the corner of my eye.
I’ve never in all my life met a more confusing man. I never know what mood he’s going to be in. The more I think about it, when I see him with other people he is cut and dried. That’s how he was with both the nurse and the doctor that knew him and how he was with me before I met him in person.
Then there is this other Dasher, the one that is relaxed and happy like when he’s with his family. Somehow I’m getting some of that, but I still get the other side, too, with his short answers and demands.
“You should have invited the doctor to your party.” I shouldn't want to know what’s up with them, but I do.
As I drive toward my place, I realize he’s going to see my small studio. I try and remember what my place looked like this morning before I left because I can be somewhat of a mess this time of year.
“She’s a crazy bitch.” I gasp at Dasher’s statement. “It’s the truth, and it’s why I didn't introduce you. She hasn't talked to Jillian in years because Jillian cut her out of her life. She was only my sister’s friend to try and get close to me.”
“You’re like a woman magnet.”
He grunts, and it doesn’t sound like he likes the description. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Dasher might not ever be mine, but I’m happy he isn't anyone else's at the moment. I need to get through the next forty-eight hours without falling even further for him. Then I need to get the hell away
from Dasher Sleigh.
I know without a doubt seeing him with someone else would crush me.
Chapter 8
Dasher
Her apartment is small and a little messy but not unclean. She blushed furiously the whole time as she ran around and grabbed things to shove in her bag. At first I offered to help, but then decided to stand back and watch her. I catalogued as much as I could in the short time we were there, but the weather was already beginning to change.
As we drive back to the estate, the snow gets heavier until it’s almost impossible to see. I don’t like that she’s driving, but she insisted when we got to the car. I try not to talk much because I don’t want to distract her, and I can see how tense her body is as she steers in the weather.
Once we’re back at the estate, I open the back door and grab her bag along with the other one containing the sweater I made love to earlier. I’ll have that cleaned before she can notice something on it.
“Are you sure this is okay?” she asks when we walk through the downpour of snow and into the house.
“Yes, I’m entirely sure,” I reassure her as the staff comes to greet us at the door.
I pass along the bags to the butler and give instructions on which room she should sleep in and what bag needs to be laundered. He raises an eyebrow at me and looks over to Eve, who is being helped out of her snowy jacket and doesn’t hear the exchange. I nod, and he walks in the direction of the stairs.
“Hot cocoa?” I ask, and Eve brightens.
“That would be great. I know it’s late, I can make it myself.”
“No, I’ll have some sent up,” I say, and she nods. “You need sleep.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” She blushes and nudges me with her elbow. “I’ve got a grouchy boss that’s going to be on my butt tomorrow.”
My eyes slowly move from her mouth down her body as I think about being on her ass. I think about having my face buried against it and holding it tight as I sink my cock into her.
“That sounds awful,” I tease and feel a smile tug at my lips. She somehow manages to arouse me and make me happy at the same time. “Let’s get you ready for bed.”
I move close to her so that I can catch the scent of her vanilla cookies, and my cock hardens. I have to place my hand on her back and lead her in front of me to hide it. It’s dark throughout the house, and as we go to the wing that I live in, most of the lights are off.
Jillian and Rae sleep on the opposite side and have their own area for relaxing and working. My side is simple with far fewer decorations and furniture. In fact, my room is the only one on this side that has a bed in it. After our parents died I took this wing of the estate and cleared it out. I did the same to Jillian’s side and over time she’s made it her own. I sort of left it as it was and only got the essentials for my room. Maybe there was a voice in the back of my mind telling me to wait on Eve, but even now as we walk to the bedroom I wonder what she will choose when she lives here.
Crazy? You have no idea.
“You’ll be sleeping in here,” I say as I open the door to the bedroom.
It’s larger than most living rooms, with a large bed surrounded by heavy drapes. The windows face the rose garden and there’s an en suite with a small reading area on the other side. There’s also a room attached that’s been converted into a closet, so that there’s never a need for more space.
The butler came ahead of me and turned down the bed and also placed her bag on the couch nearby.
“Oh my God, this is like a magazine.” She turns in a circle, and I see her wide eyes even in the dim light.
“There’s still so much left to do,” I say as I take her hand and pull her close to me. “But we have time.”
I can tell she doesn’t understand my meaning, but I don’t intend to ever let her leave. Is that potentially keeping her prisoner? Possibly. But I plan on making her cage so comfortable she never has a reason to leave it.
I touch my finger under her chin so she tilts her head back. “Dasher,” she says softly as her lips part, and I lean in close.
“Good night,” I whisper to her right before my lips barely brush over hers.
The door to the bedroom opens, and one of the cooks comes in with a tray. I see the cocoa along with some snacks, and I take a step back.
I look at Eve one last time and nod, then I turn to walk out of the room. “Good night,” I hear Eve say softly from behind me as I step across the threshold.
I try not to let the interruption make me angry, but I’m disappointed I have to let her go. Right now it’s after midnight and I saw her schedule in her apartment. She’s got an entire day of duties planned, and I don’t want to be the one that gets in the way of her work. Even if I don’t like that it takes her from me.
The next bedroom is down the hall, and I walk into it. It’s empty save for a velvet couch in the corner. It’s an incredibly large room for it to not have a use, but I believe at one point it was a nursery because it was so close to the master in this wing.
Taking off my jacket, I toss it on the back of the couch and then unbutton and roll up my sleeves. I kick off my shoes and then take off my socks and my bare feet sink into the carpet.
I fall onto the couch and look up at the gilded ceiling as I think about what it would be like to have babies with Eve. Obviously we would want them right away, and we’d have three. Maybe four if she would let me. I wonder if we could have our wedding in the rose garden this spring. An image of her surrounded by the blooming flowers as I make her mine has my cock hard once more.
I reach into my pants and grab my length, squeezing it lazily. I think about our wedding night and then our honeymoon, and I wonder where she would want to go. I can’t wait to show her the world and give her everything her heart yearns for.
It’s a long time later that I check my watch and see that I’ve been fantasizing about our lives together for hours. Pushing off the couch, I quietly pad out of the bedroom into the pitch-black hallway.
I glance behind me a few times as I reach the bedroom door, then press my ear to it and listen. When I don’t hear anything, I silently open the door and then close it quietly behind me. The room is so dark I can hardly see in front of me, but I know it like the back of my hand. I walk over to the bed, and as I get closer I can see some of the moonlight spilling onto it.
Eve is sleeping peacefully in my bed, and my body aches to lie with her. I’m desperate to feel her warmth against my body, but instead I grab the chair nearby and move it beside the bed. I sit down and lean back as I watch her sleep and every muscle in my body finally relaxes. It feels right being close to her, and I don’t realize how much I need it until I’m away from her for so long.
I memorize the curve of her lips and the flare of her lashes on her cheeks. After doing all of this I know that it won’t be enough. I have to touch her. I lean forward and brush a dark strand of hair off of her cheek, and to my shock she leans in to the touch. Her skin is so warm and soft, and I let my fingers linger there.
“Dasher,” she says softly, but her eyes don’t flutter as she continues to sleep.
My heart swells in my chest, and I feel myself smiling as I sit there until the sun comes up, just being with her. Maybe this is wrong, but everything inside me is telling me to protect Eve and to keep her safe.
Chapter 9
Eve
I should get up. Even as I think those words I snuggle further into the bed. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well in my life, and I decide I want my next vacation to be in this bed.
A soft tap on the door has me sitting up, but before I can say come in, one of the double doors swings open and Dasher enters with a tray in his hands. How does he look so handsome this early in the morning? It really isn't fair to us mere mortals.
“I thought you might want some coffee.” He comes in and sets the tray down on the bed, and I look down his body.
He has on a pair of slacks and a button-up shirt that’s rolled up at the slee
ves, making him look more relaxed. His short dark hair is tousled, and I itch to reach out and touch it.
“You didn't have to do all that,” I say, reaching up to try to tame my own hair. I’m sure I look like a hot mess right now.
“You have a busy day. It should start off with breakfast.” He lifts a silver lid to reveal pancakes and bacon.
“Oh wow,” I laugh. “You do know I work for you, right?”
He shrugs, and although I expect him to leave and say he’ll see me downstairs, I’m pleasantly surprised when he sits down in a chair next to the bed. I must have been really tired because I don’t remember it being that close last night.
“What time is it? Did we get snow?” I ask, looking over to where the windows are. Big thick curtains hang over them, not revealing anything.
“We got about six inches, but it’s stopped for now.”
“Oh, I guess that’s good. It gives them time to clear the roads.” Dasher nods in agreement.
“Eat,” he orders, and I give him a look before I pick up a piece of bacon. He really has two moods: sweet and stern. When I take a bite of the pancake, I let out a small moan, acknowledging that it beats out my normal breakfast of cereal by a mile.
“You better be careful or I’m never going to leave here. A girl could get comfortable,” I laugh, but Dasher only stares at me with that unreadable look on his face so I take another bite of my food. “Time?” I ask again.
“There’s no hurry. You’re here until the afternoon.”
“Yes, but I have work to do.” I turn, throwing my legs over the side of the bed. “I should get ready.”
“Eat.”
“You’re bossy.”
“I’ve been told.” He smirks, and I don’t know if I want to smack him or kiss him, so I go back to eating my breakfast.
