Chapter 11

She watched him, through hooded eyes as he secure the scarf around her wrist and lifted it above her head. He looped the scarf through the slats on the headboard, then lifted her hand and secured her other wrist. "Okay?" he asked.

She tested her bindings and a giddy thrill raced through her at the realization that she was now at his mercy. On a nod she swallowed hard. His lips tipped up at the corners. "That's my girl." His words warmed her at her core.

He took a step back and pulled his black T-shirt up and off. Her heart sped up, beating faster as anticipation began to build. Next he stripped out of his black cargo pants, taking his boxers with him. The pounding in her chest grew until she could hear it in her head.

Aroused and ready, he climbed onto the bed and settled himself between her legs. "I love you, Amber."

"I love you, Seth," she replied, her voice lost to now incessant pounding. 'Amber?' She shook her head at the far away voice suddenly calling to her only to hear it again. 'Amber open up.'

Amber opened her eyes and sighed at the loss of such a wonderful dream. The pounding came again, louder this time and she realized not all of it was a dream.

She glanced at the clock, threw the covers off and scrambled from the bed. Who in the world was pounding on her door at six o'clock in the morning? She paused only long enough to check the peephole. Seeing a mass of two-tone hair through the tiny glass she pulled back and frowned. Why was Kaitlyn pounding on her door? She flipped the lock and pulled back the door. "Kaitlyn?"

"Amber, are you okay?" Kaitlyn asked her voice tinged in fear.

"I'm fine. Why did you think something was wrong?"

Kaitlyn grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face the open door. For a moment Amber wondered if she was seeing things. No way was the word Slut spray painted in red on her hotel room door. She stared blankly at it while reality slowly sank in and her body began to shake. "Oh My God."

"Now do you understand why I thought something was wrong?"

"W-why?" Amber asked. "Why would someone do this?"

"I don't know." Kaitlyn walked further into the room and looked around. "Where's Seth?"

"H-he's not here," Amber replied as she stared at the dripping red paint.

Kaitlyn held out her arms. "What do you mean he's not here? I thought you two were a couple?"

"We are," Amber said, "I think." She frowned as Kaitlyn's question distracted her. Were they a couple? "But that doesn't mean we're sleeping together." At least not yet.

"Well if he's not with you, where is he?" Kaitlyn asked as she reached for the phone.

Fifteen minutes later, wrapped in her robe, Amber sat on the edge of her bed ensconced in Seth's arms. Roman held Lexi close and Dean paced back and forth while the hotel manager spoke on his cell phone.

"Okay," the manager said as he hung up. "The police are on their way and I've asked corporate to pull the last six hours of video feed for this floor."

Hunter rushed through the open door, stopped and stared at the paint. His mouth turned down in a frown before he continued inside. "Amber, are you okay?"

She nodded.

"When did this happen?" He pointed to the door.

"We're not sure," the manager replied. "I've contacted the police and we're pulling the video feed. I assure you Mr. Helmsley, we'll find out who did this."

"You do that," Hunter replied. "In the meantime I want Amber given a new room."

"She's going to stay with me and Dean," Seth added.

Kaitlyn shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's a good idea."

His arms tightened around Amber. "And why the hell not?"

Kaitlyn pointed to the door. "That's why not. It's obvious by that statement somebody already thinks you two are sleeping together. Hell, I thought that. Take her into the room you share with Dean and see how quickly the rumors fly." She turned to face Hunter. "She can stay with me. Aksana's been bitching about the newbie getting a room by herself. Put Amber with me and let Aksana room alone."

Hunter nodded. "Agreed." Seth opened his mouth to protest only to have Hunter hold up a hand silencing him. "We'll arrange to have Kaitlyn and Amber in a room next to you and Dean. That way you can keep an eye on her without making things worse."

"I'd still rather have her with me," Seth grumbled.

Hunter nodded. "Understood, but I'm with Kaitlyn on this. Considering the situation, I really think that would just make things worse right now."

"Excuse me," a uniformed officer walked up. "Ms. Star can I ask you some questions?"

Three hours after finding graffiti on her door Amber sat with Lexi and Kaitlyn in catering and picked at her scrambled eggs. Lexi eyed her with some concern. "Eat, Amber. You can't afford to be missing meals again."

Kaitlyn nodded. "Seth let you off easy the first time. You really don't want him hovering over you like a mother hen, do you?"

Amber sighed. "No, but it's hard to eat when my stomach is in knots." She glanced between her friends. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"Nothing," Kaitlyn replied. "Except for possibly falling for one of the sexiest, eligible bachelors to come through here in a while."

"I didn't intend to fall for him," Amber set her fork aside. "He's just so."

"Sexy?" Kaitlyn grinned.

Amber returned her smile. "Actually I was going to say commanding."

Lexi nodded. "I know what you mean. After my last relationship I didn't want to get hurt again and I tried really hard not to fall for Roman, but he was just so overpowering."

"Luckily," Kaitlyn interrupted. "Your plan failed miserably."

Lexi grinned.

Desperate to turn her mind on something else Amber jumped on the opportunity to change the subject. "Speaking of which," she began. "You look awful happy for someone who was seriously pissed off at her fiancé last night."

Lexi's grin widened. "Water under the bridge."

"Really?"

Kaitlyn leaned back in her chair and laughed. "Roman has ways of getting her to forgive him."

"That's what I hear." Amber leveled a look on her friend. "So is what Seth and Dean told me true?"

Lexi's smile turned mischievous. "That depends on what they told you."

"Are you really going to make me say it?" Amber asked, though, by Lexi's response, she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.

Lexi cocked her head to the side and shot her a wry look. "Say what?"

Amber couldn't help but laugh. "You really are a brat, you know that?"

Lexi giggled. "I try. But to answer your burning question...yes, Roman and I are in a dominant-submissive relationship."

Amber leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand. "Fascinating. You have such a strong personality. I'd never peg you for being subordinate to anyone."

"Me either." Lexi shook her head. "Until I met Roman. He's a man who not only knows what he wants in the bedroom he also knows how to please a woman." She lifted her good hand and fanned herself. "He has this way about him that usually makes me want to give him whatever he desires."

"Lucky bitch," Kaitlyn grumbled.

"You say that now," Lexi argued, "but I'd bet you'd feel differently the first time your ass was red and sore."

"I have a solution to that problem," Kaitlyn replied.

Lexi quirked a brow. "What's that?"

"Stop provoking him."

"Now what fun would that be?" Lexi countered.

Amber bit her lip as she tried to hide her grin. Dean was right, Lexi had a masochistic streak in her. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot," Lexi lifted her coffee for a drink.

"Do you like being a submissive?"

Lexi lowered her cup and leveled her gaze on Amber. "I never thought I would, but I really do. Roman respects me enough to allow me to be my own person and express myself, except when it comes to the bedroom. Then he's in charge."

"What about situations like what happened last night?"

Lexi smirked and set her coffee on the table. "We disagree and we argue. Sometimes I win and sometimes he does. Sometimes we agree to disagree. I'm not his slave and he doesn't make decisions for me. Last night was a spat that we eventually settled."

"But who won?"

Lexi tilted her head and rolled her eyes skyward. "Let's just say that on that one we agreed to disagree, but I will admit, I did have to apologize for being disrespectful."

"He made you apologize?" Amber asked.

Lexi nodded and a small smile tipped her lips. "Naked and on my knees. I had to give him an oral apology, if you get what I mean. Still," she shrugged. "Even that wasn't really a punishment since I enjoyed it nearly as much as he did."

Kaitlyn shook her head. "Why is it I'm the only one around here not getting any action?"

"You're not the only one," Amber added.

"At least you have the promise of sex on your horizon." Kaitlyn replied. "I'm trapped in a desert with no oasis in sight."