he tipped his head toward the door. “Nap.”
“Is it a rule that you have to be bossy to work for Maximo?”
“Work for him? No. Work closely with him? Yes. Now go.”
I sighed, and my dramatics would’ve been more effective had a massive yawn not snuck out.
I was down the hall when Ash called, “Juliet.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw him open Maximo’s bedroom.
He knows.
He definitely knows.
Does everyone?
Since it was pointless to deny it—not to mention, Maximo’s bed smelled like him and that sounded heavenly—I turned around and headed in.
Once the door closed behind me, I stripped off my jeans and flopped onto the bed, not expecting to sleep.
I was out within minutes.
_______________
This is the best dream.
Ever.
Lips, teeth, and a tongue trailed across the back of my neck. I tilted my head—or thought I did, at least—to give better access.
If I was dreaming, it could only be one person.
“Maximo,” I moaned softly.
A hand pushed under me, cupping me over my undies. Hardness pressed against my ass, and I arched into it.
“You awake?” he whispered in my ear.
I shook my head. “No, this is definitely a dream because dream-you has an unreal, massive…” Just in time, my brain pulled out of its fog before I finished my sleepy rambling.
“Massive what?” he asked, amusement in his cocky tone.
“Ego,” I finished. “An unreal, massive ego.”
He flipped me to my back. My startled laughter died when his hips fell between my spread legs, his dick pressing against me.
The sleeves of his shirt were rolled, the muscles of his tattooed forearms defined as he held his weight off me. “I promise my ego is very real and just as massive in real life as it is in your dreams.” He smirked, but his eyes were filled with an inferno not humor. “But I like that you dream about me.”
I shrugged as best as I could. “Dreams, nightmares. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”
“Brat.” He dropped his head to kiss me. Unfortunately, it was just a quick one. “Sleep okay?”
I nodded. “What time is it?”
“Almost four.”
“In the afternoon?” I tried to scooch away so I could sit up, but he gripped my hip. The movement pressed him harder against me, and I forgot about getting up.
And thinking.
And breathing.
And basically anything else that didn’t involve how good he felt.
Maximo’s dark eyes scanned my face. “You okay after last night?” At my nod, he prompted, “I need to hear the words.”
“I’m good.” I hesitated, my heart pounding as I added, “Daddy.”
His groan rumbled against me and he dropped to take my mouth in a kiss that was not quick. He took his time, slowly tasting me until I was rocking my hips, needy for more.
Pulling away, he rested his forehead on mine. “Christ, you drive me wild.”
It may not have been a flowery compliment, but it was an effective one.
He lifted his head, his gaze dropping to take in the smile I couldn’t hide. Moving suddenly, he got out of bed. I was about to ask what was wrong when he said, “If I stay in bed with you smiling that fucking smile, we won’t be going anywhere.”
Sounds good to me.
Sitting up, I figured it was best to keep that thought to myself.
“We’re going to dinner before the fight. Go get ready.” Maximo watched me climb out of bed like it was the most interesting thing he’d seen. Giving him my back, I shimmied into my jeans. Before I could turn back around, his arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me against him.
He didn’t speak as he held me, so neither did I. I leaned into him and soaked up his warmth.
When he slowly pulled away, he hooked a finger in my belt loop and twisted me toward the door. His palm landed a sharp slap on my ass.
“Ouch!” I yelped, rubbing the sting that really wasn’t that bad.
“Promises, promises, remember?” His hand connected again. “We leave in an hour.”
“I’m going, I’m going.”
He took a step closer, and I burst out laughing, hurrying out of spanking range as I bolted out the door.
Like the day before, a garment bag and shoebox were waiting for me.
Unlike the day before, a rectangular black box with a pretty silver bow was sitting with them.
Unable to fight my curiosity, I hurried to open it.
Holy shit.
Too much.
This is definitely too much.
The velvet lined box held a delicate tennis bracelet made of oval diamonds. Afraid to even breathe on it, I closed the lid and carefully set it down before unzipping the garment bag. Silver with a