Aaron's gaze seemed to move between us and something crossed his face that I couldn't put my finger on. But whatever it was he began to nod sagely as though he understood exactly what was happening. It was as though he understood what I didn't and I longed to ask him to explain to me what was going on.
"Well, if Carrie doesn't mind, I'd like to borrow you for a little while."
I smiled at him and nodded. "Not at all. I think I'm going to have a lie down anyway."
David's smile slipped and was replaced with concern. "Are you ill? Do you need anything? I can get a doctor."
I burst out laughing and David's expression looked both surprised and hurt. But I couldn't help it.
"I'm fine, really. I just need to chill out and relax like you said. I think it's after everything I'm a bit knackered."
He nodded but continued to look concerned. Aaron touched his arm, dragging his attention from me and back to him. "We need to discuss the deal. We need to ensure that we have Robert exactly where we need him. I don't want any mistakes. He has been a thorn in our sides for far too long."
"Our sides? Don't you mean my side? I'm the one constantly dealing with him. It was my business he threatened."
"Yes and all the more reason to ensure that his father is entirely on our side before proceeding."
I stood and watched the two men bickering for a few minutes more before turning and making my way to the bedroom. I found a remote on the bedside locker and used it to close the curtains. When the room was swamped in complete darkness I crawled onto the bed and lay on my back.
My mind insisted on playing back over everything that had happened. Being with David was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Of that I was certain. Part of me worried about what would happen once the week was up. What if he didn't want to continue on with the relationship? What if for him a week of fun was all he wanted? How would I handle the rejection when it was all over?
I closed my eyes against the thoughts. I didn't want to think of it. I wanted to simply enjoy what I had and be in the here and now. Dwelling on might bes and what ifs was a pointless exercise.
Slowly I drifted off to sleep, my head filled only with thoughts of David and dangers I couldn't see or prepare for.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Opening my eyes, the room was bathed in darkness. It took me a few minutes to adjust to my surroundings and remember where I was. A strange room, strange bed, and strange darkness surrounded me. When it finally came flooding back to me I relaxed and flopped back against the soft pillows
I had no idea what time it was or even how long I had slept. Sitting up I strained to hear any sounds from the room beyond but I couldn't pick up anything. I climbed across the bed to the edge. My legs dangled over the edge and it made me laugh when I noticed that my feet didn't even touch the floor. The bed was like something from a fairy tale. But I was no princess.
I dropped to the thick, plush carpeting and padded softly to the door. Peeking out into the room beyond, I noticed that it was bathed in moonlight. Through the windows the soft inky light filtered into the room. I had obviously slept much longer than I had planned. I searched through the other rooms but David was nowhere to be found.
Hurrying back into the room I found a light summer dress that I could pull on easily. It fitted around my breasts and nipped in at my waist before dropping to the floor in a fall of fabric. It was the perfect type of outfit for my shape and I really couldn't fault Rachel on her choices. She clearly knew what she was doing.
Finding a pair of sandals in the suitcase I tugged them on before getting ready to leave. I had no idea where I was going or even where David was. But I was sure I could find him. Someone had to know where he had gotten to.
Exiting the suite and getting into the lift I pressed the button for the lobby. The doors closed silently and the lift lurched gently into life. When the doors opened in the lobby I glanced around. A man stood at the reception desk, his uniform letting me know that he was an employee.
A handful of men milled around in the lobby and several young and very beautiful women lounged on the sofas. The sight of one woman wearing what appeared to me to be a collar caught my attention. Her brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail and the dress she wore only drew attention to her breasts and perfectly rounded ass. But that wasn't what I found interesting. The silver collar glinted in the light. It was fitted snuggly around her long and slender neck. Embedded around it I could make out what looked to me like diamonds.
I shook my head. There was no way a woman was wandering about the lobby of a hotel wearing a collar studded with diamonds. And certainly not diamonds of that size. Perhaps there was a convention of some sort taking place in the hotel. I appeased my questioning mind with that thought. The woman caught sight of me watching her and she stood.
I was frozen as she swayed towards me, her body undulating, which made me instantly think of what she would be like in bed. I flushed as the image of her naked crept into my mind. What was happening to me? It wasn't like me to act in this way. Was it the heat? Or was David having an effect on me, a far greater effect than I had originally thought?
"Who do you belong to?" Her voice held the slightest hint of an accent that I couldn't place.
"Who, who do I belong to?" I repeated her phrase in a stuttering voice. She looked at me, her expression quickly turning to one of irritation.
"Are you stupid? You obviously belong to someone, who is it?"
"I don't belong to anyone." Indignation rose in my throat until it hit me. For one week I belonged to David. Obviously this was the lingo used and I was clearly making a complete fool of myself.
She tutted and muttered something under her breath before once more talking to me. "You are new? Who did you come here with?"
I nodded as I finally understood what she meant. "David Ashcroft."
An emotion flitted across her face that intrigued me. It appeared David's reputation preceded him. Everyone seemed to know who he was. And they all seemed to know far more than I did.
"You are a very lucky girl. There are many here who would do anything to belong to him. You should be careful. When I say anything I do not say it lightly."
I could hear the implied threat in her voice but I could also sense that she intended to warn me more than do me any harm.
"You must be very special. He has never brought anyone here with him before." She eyed me up, her gaze taking in every aspect of my body, face and attire. It made me a little uncomfortable to be constantly under such scrutiny. But I was slowly becoming accustomed to it.