Desiree

CHAPTER ONE

“I’ve never been so glad to see someone leave,” Lois sighed.

“Look, for a moment there, I thought she was about to murder you.” I laughed. 

“There are bitches, but Miss Bell is on another level. Christ Almighty,” Lois said. 

We watched from the second floor window as the brunette got into the cherry red Chevy and sped off. 

“Good riddance.” I said. 

“Honestly.” Lois replied. 

Lois and I had been best friends since I had walked into the hotel for my interview and stumbled into her bucket of soapy water. That had been four years ago. We weren’t exactly opposites, but we differed in some visible ways. 

Like for example Lois was loud and a spitfire while I was more quiet and reserved. We somehow made it work though regardless of our differences. 

“I call dibs on her tub.” Lois said. 

I gave her a smug look, “you have to go attend to the Forsythe Heir, have you forgotten?” 

She groaned, “that little shit. He’s always trying to hit on me and he doesn’t even leave tips. He also leaves the room in a complete mess every time. Only heaven knows what kind of whirlwind sex he’s having in there.” 

“Only heaven should know,” I shuddered in revulsion. 

Not only was Ben Forsythe a creep, he was also very overweight and was a misogynistic asshole. I pitied Lois for the fact that Ben had picked an interest in her and now always requested she be the one to clean his room. 

Lois hadn’t been shy about telling me the horror stories from cleaning his room. 

Suffice it to say, Ben was a disgusting pig. 

“Well, I’m off to dip myself in a sunken, jet bath tub with amazing water pressure. Toodles,” I winked at her and hurried away amidst her angry mutterings. 

I got to the room Miss Bell had just vacated and sighed with happiness. I had three hours until her check out time when I’d have to turn in her key. Three hours where I could soak in her tub and give myself an illicit moment of enjoyment. 

I immediately locked the door before ditching my uniform and walking into the bathroom. 

I tirned on the hot water and shook with excitement at the steam rising up the room. I grabbed the bottle of essential oil and poured a generous amount into the water. 

Minutes later, I slid into the water and felt it soothe my tense muscles.

I groaned. 

It was so amazing. But of course, it had to be amazing. This room cost an arm and a leg. All rooms in the BellaClavé were exorbitant, but these row of suits were something else. 

I could feed myself for six months with the cost of this room. 

I was too lost in the feeling of bliss that it took me a moment to hear someone clearing their throat. 

My eyes flew open in shock and I stared at the tall figure standing before me. I immediately pinched myself to make sure I hadn’t fallen asleep in the tub and was now dreaming. 

I realized too late that I was stuck in the tub. The towel was too far and before I could reach it, I’d have flashed this man all the goods. The water was the only thing keeping me decent. Or decent-ish. 

I cursed myself for not making this a bubble bath. 

“Hello, Vittoria.” He said. 

I took a moment to admire him. Lord, but he was divine. Over six feet tall with a head full of inky black  hair, sharp blue eyes, and a bone structure that rivaled Michelangelo’s greatest work. 

A leanly muscled body was encased in a dark, tailored suit with a dark, silky shirt inside. 

He looked like he’d just stepped off a GQ magazine. 

How the hell had he gotten in here? Who the hell was Vittoria?

“I’m surprised you’re still here. Patience was never your strong suit.” He said. 

Oh God. Did he think I was Miss Bell. We had the same brown hair, but that was all. What the hell was going on here?

“Come.” He held out his hand. 

I gulped, waiting for a miracle to save me from the inevitable. It was clear this was some kind of sex meeting. I couldn’t tell him I wasn’t his Vittoria of course. I’d lose my job and I really needed this job. 

Why hadn’t I let Lois take the tub? She’d have known how to deal with this mess. 

I took the man’s hand and he pulled me out of the tub and out to the bedroom  His eyes didn’t leave mine as he wrapped me up in a towel.

I couldn’t do this. I had to say something, but just as I opened my mouth, he spoke again. 

“You’re far more stunning than in the photos,” he said, one big hand cupping my jaw, his thumb brushing over the bottom of my lips in a maddeningly slow move that made my legs tremble. 

The man was sex personified. Just being this close to him with his scent filling my legs was making me feel a stirring at the junction of my thighs. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time. 

“Thank you,” I squeaked out. 

“Far more modest too,” he observed, eyes narrowing. 

I froze, thinking that the jig was up,but a second later, he relaxed. 

Then he took a step forward. I tensed as he entered my personal space and I craned my neck to be able to meet his gaze. 

“Turn around,” he ordered. 

I turned slowly, facing the full length mirror. The discordance between us www striking. While I was pale and wrapped in a fluffy white towel, he was tan and dressed entirely in black. I looked like a virgin headed for the slaughter and he looked like the devil whose altar I would be slaughtered on. 

His hand wrapped around my throat lightly and he bent his mouth to my ear. 

“You look like a little angel. I cannot wait to corrupt you.”