Welcome to the Cameo Hotel

by K. I. Lynn

  The charity event was fast approaching, and I still didn’t have a costume. Gavin had told me not to worry about it, but we were only a few days away. On Wednesday, one of my first days off, I surfed the internet for anything I could get my hands on just in case.

  We had plans for a little more casual night out, but knowing him, that just meant no dress code.

  The buzzing vibration of my phone in my hand made me jump, and I had to swipe the screen a few times to answer. I couldn’t stop the smile from taking over my face at his name, or rather his initials, popping up on my phone.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Meet me downstairs,” he said, then hung up.

  I jumped up from the couch and slipped on some flip-flops on my way out the door and down the stairs. Parking was always a mess around my apartment, and I hoped he could find a space.

  Luckily there was one a few spaces down, and I walked over as he pulled in and climbed out of the car.

  “Hi, baby,” he greeted, leaning down to kiss me.

  “So, what’s this all about?” I asked, wondering why he had called me down.

  He leaned into the car and pulled a large box from the back seat and handed it to me.

  “My costume?”

  “Your costume, Aphrodite,” he confirmed, a smirk forming on his face.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “This looks a little too fancy of a box for costume wrappings.”

  After he grabbed his overnight bag from the passenger’s seat, we headed back up. There was a whole, wide-open table in my apartment, which still amazed me, to set the box on. Lifting the lid, I gasped at what lay inside.

  What Gavin had purchased could by no means ever be associated with the costume image I had in mind—cheap, overpriced, flimsy material.

  No, this was rich fabric and stunning glass crystals that formed the bodice. It was one shouldered, the fabric intertwining with the crystals.

  “Gavin . . .” I trailed off, staring at the dress in awe.

  He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Do you like it?”

  “I love it,” I replied. “But this is way too much.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “Yes it is,” I argued as I turned in his arms.

  “Nothing is too much for my goddess,” he stated, his eyes locked on mine.

  A groan left me as I wrapped my arms around his waist. “You spoil me too much. I’m not used to it. I’ve worked very hard to get what I need and what I want.”

  He leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Oh, I know how self-reliant you are,” he said with a chuckle. “However, I like to spoil you. I want to spoil you because you deserve the world at your feet.”

  “And what did I do to deserve that?”

  His hand moved to caress my cheek, his soft gaze making my chest ache. “You opened my heart, and that was no easy feat.”

  I touched the pendant around my neck, then ran my hands up his chest and into his hair. His eyes fluttered closed, and a moan escaped his lips and his arms pulled me closer.

  His words solidified the certainty I felt that we belonged together. I loved him, and I hoped soon I would be able to tell him.

  Two days later, my stomach was in nervous knots. Along with the dress, Gavin had purchased undergarments, shoes, and a long blonde wig. I had the dress on and was working on bunching my hair so that it would fit under the wig, which was also expensive and very fine quality.

  I stared into the bathroom mirror of the hotel room, shaking my head as I pinned the wig on. Gavin had rented a room at the hotel where the event was being held. To me, it was incredibly ridiculous to have two hotel rooms when he wasn’t even staying in one of them. I had tried to talk him into moving in with me since he spent half of the nights with me, but, in his direct way, he said my place was just too small for both of us.

  Not that I could really argue with that statement—the bed alone barely held the two of us.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him walk up to my side. I turned to look at him and nearly died on the spot from internal combustion.

  Gavin. In a toga.

  “Need any help?” he asked.

  I stood there, drooling at him. The cloth hung perfectly from his body and exposed part of his chest. “Yes, please. I need help out of this dress,” I replied.

  A cocky smirk formed on his face as my tongue swiped across my lips to wet them.

  “Emma, we need to leave, but I promise that I will rip you out of that fucking dress before the night is over.”

  I reached up to lay my hands on his chest, my fingers flexing and one hand fisting the fabric that crossed his pec. “Promise?”

  He leaned forward and nuzzled my nose, all the while his eyes never left mine. “I will worship you like the goddess you are before I fuck you like the slut I know you can be.”

  In one sentence, my panties were soaked. Gavin had a bit of a dirty mouth, but he’d never said anything like that before and I couldn’t help my body’s reaction. His lips met mine, and he pulled me tight to him.

  With a groan, he stepped back, his hands raking up and down my sides, his lips against my neck. I finished getting ready as best I could in the state in which he had left me.

  A few minutes later, we headed down to the event, and the butterflies returned. It was my first time out with Gavin at a professional event, and I hoped I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass him. There was so much riding on his shoulders with the company, and I was a stranger to everyone.

  When we entered, my mouth fell open as I looked around at the lavish decorations. The costume ball, I determined, was one that put all others to shame.

  “What’s on your mind?” Gavin asked, noticing my change.

  “I’m confused and in awe. All the money they spend on this event, why don’t they just use it?” I asked. It all seemed like a waste.

  He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Because what they spend is a minute fraction of what they will gain before the night is over.”

  We located our table where another couple sat; they were dressed as Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. Their costumes were also extremely detailed.

  Gavin recognized them right away and introductions were made. We sat and chatted for a while as the hall filled with people.

  “Gavin!” a man dressed as what I assumed was Henry the Eighth called out.

  “Alexander!” Gavin stood and smiled as he held out his hand.

  The two men shook hands and talked a bit while the woman with him and I just watched.

  “Oh, I’m being terribly rude. Who is your guest?” Alexander asked.

  Gavin pulled me to his side and gave me a calming smile. “This is my girlfriend, Emma. Emma, this is Alexander Cates, CEO of Cates Corporation.”

  I froze momentarily before reaching out to shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cates.”

  “Ah, no Mr. Cates’s here tonight. I am ‘Henry’ and this is my wife ‘Jane,’” he said, bringing his wife forward.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I said.

  “You as well, Emma,” his wife said. “It’s not often we see Gavin in the company of a woman at one of these. He’s usually just sulking in the corner.”

  “Sarah,” Gavin groaned at Mr. Cates’s wife. “I do not sulk.”

  We all laughed and moved to the table where our conversation resumed.

  Dinner was served not long after, and I was amazed at the food. It wasn’t your normal banquet spread. No money was skimped on the quality.

  The announcer took over as we ate dessert, talking about the silent auctions, stating that the live auction would begin a little bit after the tables were all cleared, and the dancing would begin momentarily.

  At the mention of dancing I looked to Gavin, who smiled and tilted his head. Just as he held out his hand, Alexander stood beside me.

  “Emma, may I have this dance?”

  “Of course,” I said, then glanced to Gavin as I stood. He didn’t loo
k too pleased when I took Alexander’s hand and moved to the dance floor with his boss.

  “So, Emma, what is it that you do?” he asked as we began moving.

  “Well, I just finished up my MBA, and am currently searching for a position,” I replied.

  “MBA? Hmm . . .” he trailed off. “You are quite the dancer, I must say.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled at him. “I took ballroom dancing once upon a time.”

  “Very nice. I must say, you seem to have my successor making faces I’ve never seen before,” Alexander said with a deep laugh as we swayed on the dance floor.

  My brow scrunched, trying to understand his meaning. “Sir?”

  “Please, call me Alex, Emma.”

  “Alex.”

  He grinned down at me. “That’s sure to get his blood boiling.”

  “I’m afraid I’m a bit lost,” I admitted.

  “You, dear girl, have the next in line of my company completely smitten with you. I’ve never seen him act this way with a woman before. Just look at his face!” he exclaimed jovially.

  I turned to find Gavin glaring at us as we spun around the dance floor. He wasn’t just glaring, though, he was . . . sulking.

  “He is very angry that another man is touching what is ‘his,’ even though it’s a sixty-five-year-old man. He can’t stand to be away from you, that much is obvious,” he explained.

  Gavin’s hand rubbed at his face. It was clear he was agitated.

  “Shall we really get him riled up? Enough that he will come and take you away from me?” Alex asked.

  I laughed. “You’re terrible! And yes.” The curiosity of his reaction gnawed at me.

  We put operation “make him take Emma away” in play and were soon a bit closer then we had been. The band switched to a tango and we were off.

  We moved gracefully around the floor as if we had done it before. Alex was a wonderful dancer, and the tango was such a sensual dance, I knew it would infuriate Gavin to see us touching so intimately.

  Unexpectedly, he turned me into a dip, his hand grasping under my knee and moving up my thigh.

  “Forgive me for . . . copping a feel, Emma. Just trying to give the best show for our audience,” he said with a wink.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. Poor Gavin. I was sure his head was close to exploding.

  He righted me, and we spun once more before I felt two large hands wrap around my waist, and I was pulled back against what I knew was Gavin’s large chest.

  “Mine,” he growled in my ear. A shiver ran through me, and I smiled up at Alex. Our operation was a success.

  “If I could cut in, Alexander?” Gavin asked, though his body had demanded it.

  Alex grinned at me. “Thank you for the wonderful dance, Emma. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope to see you again soon.”

  He took my hand and placed a kiss on it, his gaze looking past me to Gavin. I felt Gavin’s grip tighten on my waist and his chest rumbled.

  Alex merely smirked and turned to leave.

  “That wasn’t very nice, Emma,” Gavin said into my ear.

  I turned in his arms and smiled sweetly up at him. “Shall we dance?”

  He glanced around the floor, then to me.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”

  He let out a small snort. “I’m afraid you are a bit late on that.” His gaze softened, his hand reaching up to move the hair from my wig behind my shoulder. “I’ve been falling for months, and it’s entirely your fault.”

  I stretched up and wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing his lips down to mine. “Ditto, Mr. Grayson.”

  He beamed down at me. “And you really are mine and mine alone,” he stressed, pulling me tightly to him.

  I didn’t think about what he had said and how he had said it. All I heard was that I was his, and that was the truth. Gavin Grayson owned me: mind, body, and soul.

  Every day I fell further and further in love with him.

  I gave him one last kiss before assuming the position for the remainder of the tango. I was shocked and surprised when he expertly did the same.

  “You tango.”

  “Of course.”

  We finished up our dance and returned to the table where he let out a sigh. The auction took place then, raising lots of money for the local Children’s Hospital. Gavin had even bid on and won a week-long vacation on Mr. Cates’s personal yacht and promised to take me.

  I was excited by the prospect of a week alone with Gavin with no disturbances.

  After everything was over, we headed back up to our room. We were barely in the door when his arms wrapped around my waist, his lips kissing my neck and shoulder, a sigh of contentment escaping him. I had never felt so secure and as loved as I did in his arms. Did he have any idea? I wasn’t sure, but I wanted him to know. I was ready for him to know.

  I spun in his arms, gazing up at his face and the serene expression it held.

  “I love you, Gavin,” I said in a clear voice, my heart pouring out all of the emotion I felt for him.

  His eyes widened, and he stared down at me. There was silence, and I suddenly felt very self-conscious.

  All of the blood rushed to my face, and I had to look away. “I . . . I’m sorry, I just . . . I . . .”

  He silenced me by pushing me against the wall, and his lips crashing to mine. I was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, my hands grabbing for him with the same hunger that his roamed my body.

  When he pulled back, he was breathing hard. The look in his eyes set my being on fire. “I love you, Emma.”

  My world exploded when his lips met mine again. He loved me. Gavin loved me.

  Our kisses grew hotter, heavier. My legs wrapped around his waist, and he groaned; his hard cock rocked against my wet center.

  It was frantic, our need. Hands and lips roaming everywhere they could reach. I reached behind me and pulled at the zipper of my dress. Gavin’s hand clamped onto mine, stopping me.

  “Remember what I told you earlier? That’s my job,” he growled against my neck, sending shivers straight through my entire body.

  “Yes,” I replied, panting.

  I removed my hand from under his and he moved the zipper down before roughly pulling the garment over my head and throwing it onto the floor. He pushed me back up against the wall, his lips attacking my neck.

  My legs returned to his waist and his hand moved between us, freeing his cock from the toga.

  He lined up and thrust his hips forward until he was fully seated inside me.

  A tear escaped; my heart was unable to contain all that I was feeling. He leaned forward and kissed it away, whispering how much he loved me, all the while his body showing me how much he adored and needed me.

  I cried out, my nails digging into his back as I clenched around him, coming undone. Gavin’s thrusts became erratic, and I knew he was close. He reached between us and pulled his cock out, pumped it in his hands before he came, spraying all over my stomach and his hand.

  His forehead came to rest against mine, his breath coming out in hard pants. “Mine.”

  “Always.”

  We fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. For the first time in my life, I began to believe that fairy tales and Prince Charmings just might be real. Because I had found mine.

  “Shit, shit,” I hissed as I raced in from the parking garage. Traffic had been a bitch as it always was getting into downtown in the morning.

  Racing through the hall to the employee break room, I clocked in at five after seven. As I exited, Gavin emerged from the elevator bay. His eyes scanned to the front desk and immediately away when he didn’t find me. Almost as if he knew I was watching him, he looked again and my heart skipped when we locked onto one another before turning away.

  When I broke away, I found Jaqueline staring directly at me. It didn’t matter, I told myself, choosing to ignore her, and went to check in with the night shift.

  I was just happy to get a glimpse of him
before he left.

  The morning check-out rush was the same as any other day, no hiccups and only a few minor complaints. When ten rolled around, Jaqueline’s shift was over and she headed off to the break room, leaving her replacement, Caleb, and me out front.

  “By the way, I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I love your bangle.”

  “Thank you,” I said with a grin. The interlocking bracelet Gavin gave me was a perfect accent to my suit.

  “May I?” Caleb asked as he held out his hand.

  “Sure,” I said as I pulled it off and handed it to him.

  He looked at it in awe, his eyes narrowing in. “You know these are real, right?”

  “Real what?”

  “Diamonds.”

  The blood drained from my face as I stared at him. “Diamonds?”

  He nodded. “Mm-hmm. Platinum, too. From Tiffany!” His eyes lit up when he saw the marking on the inside. “Wow, your man spent a lot on you.”

  He handed it back to me, and I stared at it in awe as I searched out the markings. “How much?”

  “I’d guess around fifteen thousand, maybe twenty.”

  My eyes bulged from my head as I frantically put it back on my wrist. Thousands? Tens of thousands? Panic began to fill me. For weeks I’d worn the bracelet to work every day, not knowing it was worth so much.

  I swallowed hard, then pulled the pendant from under my collar. “What about this?”

  Caleb stepped forward, pulling on the chain as he scrutinized it, twirling between his fingers. “Same for the diamonds and platinum. Probably ten grand.”

  “Holy . . .”

  He glanced up at me. “You didn’t know?”

  I shook my head. “They were a graduation present. I mean, I know Tiffany is expensive, but I didn’t think to ask if they were real diamonds. Oh my God.”

  He stepped back and leaned a hip against the counter. “My sister works there, and I go see her a lot as an excuse to look at all the pretties.”

  “I was wondering how you knew,” I said as I slipped the pendant back under my shirt.

  “He’s a keeper.”