“It… it does?” My voice shook. I already wanted to beg. I couldn’t believe he was paying me for his attention. I would have been willing to pay him at that moment. What would it be like after two weeks with him?
“Oh, yes, very much. Now come on. It’s time to get dressed.”
“Do you always have someone else drive you?” I asked as we climbed the stairs.
“Not always, but I only take my Ferrari out when I can be sure of its safety.”
“I guess it’s in the garage to the side of the house.”
“Of course. I’d never leave my baby out in the elements.”
I was still laughing as he sent me into the shower, saying he had some emails to answer. He took his turn after me, and when he stepped out of the bathroom, he was naked and totally unselfconscious about it as he walked across the room and opened the closet door.
He stood there, contemplating the row of suits I imagined had all come from Maximilian’s. I couldn’t take my eyes off his ass. It was so round and tight. I wanted to touch it. I wanted to drop to my knees and—
“Are you getting ready or watching me?”
“Sorry, sir. I…”
“I’m not saying I mind. In fact, I like it, but I still expect you to be ready on time. I’m never late.”
I’d already guessed he was a man who valued his time and expected others to as well. Reluctantly, I turned away, biting back the question I wanted to ask. If he wanted me to get ready, why was he standing in front of me naked? I still wasn’t sure how far I could push him. I had a feeling I’d enjoy a spanking from Remington, but now wasn’t the time to find out.
11
Remington
I didn’t like the pain that flashed in Henri’s eyes. He turned, but I reached out and grabbed his arm. “Look at me.”
When he did, I stepped closer and brushed an errant curl from his forehead. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“I told you I wouldn’t hurt you. I meant it.”
His expression softened, and whatever was troubling him seemed to melt away. I was going to find whoever had hurt him in the past, track them down, and make sure they paid.
I turned my attention back to my closet. After I put on my suit, I realized Henri was fully dressed. He was stunning, but he needed one more finishing touch. I pulled out a silk pocket square that matched the pale blue stripes of his suit perfectly. “Come here.”
He did, and the way he stared at me told me he was pleased with how I looked. I knew I looked damn hot in the suit I was wearing, but it was nice to see how much he appreciated it.
I tucked the silk square into Henri’s pocket, and when I looked up, his lips were parted and his pupils blown. “Why are you doing this?”
“Dressing you up?”
“No… Well, yes… But I really mean making sure I have everything, all these little touches and…”
“No one’s ever done that for you, have they?”
He shook his head, and I brushed the backs of my fingers over his cheek. “I will make you work hard for these next two weeks. I’ll ask a lot of you, but I’m also going to spoil you rotten because that brings me pleasure too.”
“It does?”
“Yes, it does.”
I could tell how nervous Henri was as we entered Commander’s Palace. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Just be yourself.”
He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “But I’m—”
“Good evening, sir,” the hostess said. Henri tried to step away while I spoke, but I held his hand tightly.
“Good evening. I have a reservation under Theriot.”
“Oh yes, sir, for four. Would you like to wait for your other guests to arrive or be seated now?”
“We’re ready to be seated.”
“Right this way.” I placed my hand against Henri’s back and encouraged him to walk in front of me. We followed the hostess to the table I’d requested when making the reservation. It was tucked into a quiet corner, the perfect place for the kind of discussion I needed to have with X or for the kind of night I wished I could have with Henri. Maybe I’d bring him back here one night and seduce him course by course until it was all he could do to sit still in his seat.
I pulled out Henri’s chair, and he looked at me with surprise. “I told you I was spoiling you.”
I seated myself, and the hostess handed us menus and wished us an enjoyable evening. “I know exactly what you are,” I said, returning to our earlier conversation. “You’re the man I’ve chosen to bring with me tonight.”
“I don’t know what to order or what all the forks are for.
“It’s not that complicated. You’ll be fine. You have a natural grace.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m always sure of everything I say.” I wished that were actually true. I faked it when I wasn’t, though, and that had served me well enough.
“Are there any foods you don’t like?” I asked.
“Raw tomatoes.” He screwed up his face in such an adorable way that I had to smile.
“Nothing else?”
“Not really.”
“Then I’ll order for us. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Henri didn’t look at all convinced of that, but when the hostess headed toward us followed by X and Emilio, he put on a fake smile and listened intently as I introduced them, though it was obvious he already knew X by his public identity, Thomas Carrington, billionaire philanthropist—and until he’d gotten together with Emilio, the nation’s most eligible bachelor. I did not like how star struck Henri was over X. There was nothing X could give him that I couldn’t.
X was giving me a knowing look that I hated. Lance had raved about how impressive the man was after assisting him in a take down, and our phone conversations had gotten friendlier since
