I ignore his question and answer the first. “No, I’m not cold.” I should spit in his face, but I’ve had enough drama for one day. I’m tired, emotionally-drained from my morning meltdown.
He pulls my body back into his snare. “Happy Birthday, Princess,” he whispers, his lips breathing over my ear, tickling my skin.
I swallow hard, then taking a deep breath, I respond, “Thank you, Nick.”
He nips at the base of my ear, and goose bumps spread all over me. “Do you like what I did here? It’s not as extravagant as it could have been, and I know you deserve over-the-top, but once you hand yourself over to me...the sky’s the limit.” He sucks my earlobe into his warm mouth, and I purse my lips together, staving off the unwanted arousal. Dear God, not again.
Travis sees the growing panic in my eyes, but he looks like he’s stacking bricks, reinforcing his infamous stone wall. I continue to watch him as Nick assaults my neckline. I shiver as Nick pulls my backside against his manhood and subtly grinds into me. Travis still remains impartial, and I can’t believe after everything we shared he would allow this.
“Yes...it’s beautiful.” I stifle a moan and try to keep my voice even. Does Nick know my erogenous zones, too? It’s either that, or the remnants of the drugs, because the sensations feel good…too good. I close my eyes, trying to fight the growing need inside me.
He chuckles, and I can feel him smiling into my neck. He knows he just affected me. Dammit! Why doesn’t he just lift his leg and pee on me, make it official? His assault on my neck stops and I hear his deep voice roll over me. He doesn’t sound like he’s in a good mood all of a sudden. “Travis, I need a word. Now.”
I can only presume he’s staring down Travis with a death glare, because Travis’ eyes are suddenly locked onto my neck in a heated gaze. I move my head to the side to find Nick shooting daggers at Travis. He lets me go and nods at Travis. Yes, he’s pissed.
“You think now is a good idea?” Travis nods his head toward me as if I’m a third wheel or a toddler who needs supervision.
“There’s no time like the present,” he says on a snarl. My hackles are suddenly rising. Who the hell pissed in his cornflakes? “Office, down the hall. Now.” Then Nick looks at me. “I’ll be right back, Princess. Don’t go anywhere.” The smug bastard winks. As if I could.
The curious spy in me surfaces. I want to know what’s going on, and I contemplate how I can follow them. I’d love to be a fly on the wall. I watch the men walk away, disappearing down the hallway. I stand there for a moment, not sure what to do. I would love nothing more than to run, and for a second, my heart races at the thought.
“Hey, I guess you’re the new girl?” Interrupted from my escape thoughts, I turn to see a girl about my age. She’s in a cocktail dress, and my brow furrows in question.
“Do you work here?”
She half-giggles. “No, darling, I’m just one of the girls. Just like you.” Her eyes drift over my body, taking stock of me like she wants to eat me for dinner. Did she just say ‘a girl like me’? Suddenly, I’m nervous, but curious.
“Don’t you want to...I don’t know...escape?” I ask in all seriousness.
She laughs at me, looking at me as if I’m a nut case. “Are you kidding me? Who wouldn’t want to live in this lifestyle?” she asks incredulously.
I’m appalled. “They are drugging you, and you’re okay with that?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“It’s not a drug; it’s medicine,” she says, almost offended. Well, excuse me! “I’ve never felt better in my life; not to mention, I’m living in the lap of luxury. Most women would give their left arm to be in our shoes.”
I huff with growing annoyance. “You mean to tell me you’re perfectly fine with this arrangement? Are you crazy?” I shake my head at her. “No, thanks, I would choose to eat mac n’ cheese every day and have my freedom over living in this...” I wave my hand around searching for the right word.
She interrupts me while waggling her manicured finger at me. “You...you’re that rich bitch who Nick wants, aren’t you.” She’s not asking, though. She narrows her beady eyes at me and says, “You need to get one thing straight here, Ms. High and Mighty Princess. The majority of the women here have been given a life for the first time, one they would otherwise have been a miserable failure at. But, of course, you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? You’re a spoiled little rich bitch.”