Thank you Mel, April & Luna for your insight and tips ;)
16. Isabella
As far as his behavior goes, he's surprising me.
We walk to the hotel in silence, and apart from the smoldering cigarette hanging from his lips, it's pitch black in this street.
My legs are a bit wobbly in my high heels, but there's no way I would have changed into my flats. I won't let him see me weak, not even a little bit.
I watch him as we walk toward the entrance of the Imperial Hotel, the glass walls creating a little box filled with water. It's a first-class, four-star hotel, and I know Jasper has connections, but it still feels like overkill. I could've just taken a cab. Then I wouldn't have to endure the presence of Mister Edward Masen. Intimidated. Sure. If that's not a lie, I don't know what it is.
We're in the lobby, walking up to the front desk when Edward grabs my bag. I turn to protest, but he just shoots me a wink, bile rising in my stomach as he blows me a kiss.
"Give. Me. That." I hiss, tugging at the leather strap of my duffel bag. He's slung it over his shoulder, ringed fingers clasping it tightly—too tightly for me to grab it from him. Fucker is too strong, even though I work out daily. He is a man, after all.
"Let me, Mistress. I'll carry your bag for you; it's the least I can do after I've treated you so poorly." He bows his head in a submissive way, but it makes me frown. What is he trying to do? Embarrass me? Make a fool of himself? What kind of Dominant does that?
"You're not my servant, neither are you my friend. So you don't need to do a fucking thing for me. Understood?" I poke him straight in the chest, feeling his body heat radiate through his expensive, soft T-shirt under the leather jacket he's wearing.
"Get over yourself, Havoc," he mutters.
Just what I thought … charades.
Masen wants to play? He better bring his A-game, then.
As he walks over to the girl at the front desk, I ogle him. Ginger has some ass hiding underneath dark trousers; it's like they've been sculpted around it just to mock me.
"Hale," he says to her. "Room for two?"
I gasp.
Fuck no.