Page 31 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part One
“No.”
I slammed into the bathroom. While it wasn’t as small as the bathrooms in economy, it wasn’t huge either. Throwing on my clothes, I brushed my teeth and wet my hair, combing it back into something that resembled a style. I didn't look too bad, considering I’d barely slept before this flight.
By the time I emerged from the bathroom, a sleep-tousled Aviva was standing outside, her clothes clutched to her chest. She was frowning, and I paused in the doorway.
“What’s wrong?”
She screwed up her nose. “I didn’t bring fresh clothes on the plane with me.”
I shrugged. “Just wear yesterday’s. We’re going straight from the airport to the hotel.”
She sucked her lip between her teeth. “I don’t have any clean underwear.”
She’d been wearing an adorable skate skirt yesterday, and I desperately wanted to see her in a pair of lace thigh highs, legs wrapped around my hips as I buried myself deep in her—
“I don’t actually haveanyunderwear. Hendrick didn’t give them back yesterday. After…” She trailed off, her cheeks so red I thought they’d catch on fire.
Which meant I couldn’t help but needle her a little. “After Drix ate you out on the bathroom counter like youwerethe breakfast buffet?”
Her lips parted, and she gave me a short nod. I grinned. I could ask Drix to give them back to her, but I kind of liked the idea of her sitting across from me, her bare ass on the plush leather seat.
“Well, looks like you’re shit out of luck because there’s no way he’s giving them back. I’d be surprised if he didn’t hug them to his chest like a teddy bear while he slept last night.”
“That’s gross,” she huffed, and pushed past me into the bathroom. I stepped to the side, but didn’t move out of the way, so she had to squeeze that delicious, panty-free ass against me before she could slam the door shut.
Otto looked at me suspiciously as I sat down opposite him. “What are you so happy about?”
As the attendant wheeled breakfast down on a polished silver trolley, the red Occupied light above the bathroom caught my eye. I slid him a grin. “I’ll tell you all about it later. Let’s eat.”
Chapter17
Aviva
“Why is there always so much marble?” I whispered, and Otto stifled a laugh.
Hendrick waved a hand. “It’s usually because these places are old as fuck.”
Men in red uniforms gathered our bags onto gold luggage trolleys, and Hendrick swaggered up to the reception desk, giving a broad, good ol’ American boy next door grin to the receptionist, who had an honest-to-goodness chignon.
I stood sandwiched between Otto and Sampson, both of whom looked bored. Well, maybe not bored, but like they’d done all this before. It wasn’t new and exciting.
I was in fucking London. England. Holy shit. My whole body felt tingly and electric, and I felt giddy.
Otto’s phone chimed and he stared down at it, before stuffing it back in his pocket. “I hope Hendrick got us a suite. I want Aviva with us.” He looked down at me, a soft smile curling his lips. “You’ll be better company than these two assholes. You definitely smell prettier.”
I snorted. Doubtful. These guys smelled like six-hundred-dollar cologne and sex. If there was a better scent than that, I was yet to find it.
Hendrick tilted his head at us, and Otto placed a hand on my spine, gently guiding me to the elevators. Or lifts, as the sign said. All my awareness narrowed to that one spot, to the touch of each fingertip through my dress.
It didn’t help that someone opened the front doors right then, allowing that London breeze to sweep up my skirt. I’d made a grave error letting Hendrick Kenley between my thighs, and I didn’t think it was something that could be undone. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to undo it.
Being crowded into the elevator together felt different this time. The energy around us felt fraught with tension, and I didn’t know if it was just me and Hendrick, or Otto as well. I turned my head and caught Sampson looking down at me. It was definitely Sampson too.
We were going to have to talk about Rule No. 1 again. This time, I was going to have to follow my own rules though.
The elevator doors slid open and Hendrix strode forward, flinging open the hotel room door. I stepped through and gasped. We were in the goddamn penthouse.
“Holy shit.” My eyes flew to Hendrick. “This is too much.”
