Page 54 of Vienna Betrayal

“Sugar, I know I said I wanted another night, and if I didn’t have to go I’d be—”

“One of their volcanos is spewing ash,” he interrupted. Later he’d think about what she’d been saying and parse out what it made him feel. “Flights are grounded.” Alexander turned the phone screen so she could see it.

Alena took his phone, quickly scanning the article. “No flights in or out. Well damn.” She passed back the phone and started to reach into her bag when the doors opened.

Alexander cupped her elbow, guiding her out. Most of the lobby was draped in plastic that sealed off the areas being remodeled. Tall, slim windows above the main doors allowed in light. Alena paused in a streak of pale pearly white luminescence that painted silver highlights on her cheekbones and hair. Dawn was approaching, and quickly.

She dug her phone out of her purse and checked it, making a frustrated noise. “My flight was most definitely canceled. My assistant, who I hope is now asleep, poor thing, canceled my meeting, but didn’t make me another reservation.” Alena tapped her nail on the phone screen. “I don’t like to make unnecessary trips, or waste trips.” Alena was speaking fast, her fingers sliding over her phone screen. “Just paying for carbon offset won’t do as much good as not flying when I don’t need to.”

“You are an environmentalist?” Alexander asked. His company moved goods by plane, train, and cargo ship, all of which produced pollutants.

“No, just want to make sure the earth survives.” Alena sighed. “Anyway, apparently I don’t have a flight to catch. Would you be so kind as to recommend a hotel?”

“You’re planning to stay in Vienna?”

“I’m already in Europe, so hopefully I can bring forward some meetings I have scheduled in France for next month, and avoid flying to Europe again.”

“The planet thanks you,” Alexander said while internally wincing.

She tucked her phone into her bag. “My clever plan to have my luggage held at the airport doesn’t seem so clever now. Once I check in somewhere, hopefully I can get a messenger service to deliver my bags.”

She looked up at the windows above the door. The roof of the building across the street was visible, and a little patch of pale gray-blue sky.

“I’m glad we’d already made plans for breakfast, otherwise I’d be standing here lost.” Alena’s wry smile and the way her eyes sparkled made him want to kiss her.

He looked at her lips, and remembered how pretty they’d looked wrapped around his dick.

“I doubt you’d be lost,” he said.

“At five a.m. with nowhere to go, and no plans? That seems like lost to me.”

“The captured queen is never lost, only waylaid.”

Her eyes widened.

Damn it, remembering her sucking his dick had made him speak out of turn. He shouldn’t have mentioned, even obliquely, her submission.

“Maybe you’d care to escort me to the hotel you’re planning to recommend?” Her gaze darted to his bag. “You have your kit with you…”

Alexander nearly choked on his surprise.

Alena’s cheeks heated and she looked away. “I’m so sorry. I forgot that club members aren’t supposed to do things like that.” She adjusted the bag on her arm, then reached for her phone once more. “I’ll find a hotel and—

“We didn’t get our third night,” he said softly. He probably should have taken longer than a few seconds to think about what he was doing.

Alena turned slowly, one brow arched. “Oh?”

“You said you wanted another night.”

“I did. I do. You’re not offended I suggested it.” She gestured to his kit once more.

He shook his head. “No. I would never have proposed it, as we’re too close to the last scene.”

“You’re worried if you suggested it, I’d only agree because I was still feeling submissive?”

“Worry? No. You are perfectly composed. But it wouldn’t be proper.”

“Your faith in me is complimentary, but I assure you I love to make bad decisions.”

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