I could have soaked in that glorious tub for hours. Oliver was right about me being exhausted. At one point, I actually dozed off, waking only when I heard someone enter the guest room. Suddenly alert, I held my breath and hoped it was Oliver returning. But no one knocked at the closed bathroom door, and silence fell again. I figured Damien had brought dinner and then promptly departed.
Hunger coaxed me out of the tub. I quickly dried off and slipped into a fluffy robe, and when I returned to the bedroom, I found a tray waiting for me on the table. I also saw my purse resting next to it. On the bed, the toiletries I would need were neatly placed in a row, along with a roomy cotton T-shirt for me to sleep in. I had to smile as I wondered whom the shirt belonged to. Holding it up before me, I thought it looked brand new. "Damien really is indispensable!" I said to myself. I could only hope he would become something like a friend to me as time went on.
Turning my attention to my purse, I rummaged through it and found all my belongings there. Of course, I hadn't really expected the guards to confiscate anything, but I was a little anxious that they might hold onto my phone. Peering at its screen, I discovered my father had called over a dozen times. A painful knot formed in my stomach at the thought of talking to him. But along with that dread was a surge of anger. If Oliver was to be believed, Dad had chosen some shady woman over me. And I realized I did believe Oliver. The fact that my father had dragged me into the middle of all this in order to save his own skin revealed volumes about his character.
I decided to eat dinner before calling him. The meal consisted of chicken salad on a croissant, along with a side salad, and a custard tart for dessert. I practically inhaled the food, wolfing it down in an effort to ease both my hunger and my nerves. As I moaned from how delicious it was, I gave a silent thanks to Damien for keeping the late dinner simple, for I doubted I could have handled a rich, heavy meal.
Once I'd eaten every bite and gulped down another glass of water, I retrieved my phone and headed out onto the balcony. Only the faintest trace of light remained in the sky above the hills; darkness would fall within minutes. I was glad for the shadows. Somehow, they made it easier to call my father. Still bundled up in the robe, I sank onto a chair. The warm night breeze caressed my face.
Dad immediately answered the call, giving me no time to speak before barking, "Dreama, what the hell is going on?"
I knew better than to show weakness at this point. Keeping my voice low and steady, I told him, "I did what you asked me to. And now I'm staying here."
"Like hell you are!" His booming voice made me pull the phone away from my ear. "I send you on one errand, and now I'm being told that I have to clear out of my own house tomorrow so you can come and get your things! Are you out of your damn mind?"
Agitated, I jumped up and started pacing the balcony. Its floor was cool beneath my bare feet. "You sent me because you were too afraid to show up here yourself! How do you think I felt? I was terrified!" I hated the way my voice quavered. Stay calm, Dreama, I told myself. Don't lose your shit. "You're supposed to protect me," I went on, my tone icy.
"Oh, for God's sake, I knew he wouldn't hurt you!"
"I sure as hell didn't!" I shot back.
Dad's impatient sigh was audible. "Dreama, you need to come home. That man is my age! Don't you see what he's trying to do? He's pissed about the money I owed him—"
A bitter laugh escaped me. "Oh yes, the money you owed because your girlfriend didn't repay her loan!" I waited for my father to reply, but he was utterly silent. "I know all about it, Dad."
"That doesn't concern you. None of this does!" Dad was breathing faster; I could easily imagine him trying to control his fury. "You need to realize that you're just a pawn to Oliver. He's using you to get back at me. It's his sick way of exacting revenge!"
Those words stung like a slap, but I refused to let my father manipulate me. He was the one with all the secrets, the one who'd made me a virtual prisoner in our home. "You know what I think is sick?" My voice dripped with venom. "What you made me do today. You threw me into the lion's den! Turns out, I'm safer with the lion than with you."
"You ungrateful little cunt!" my father shouted.
A tear spilled down my cheek, and I hurried to wipe it away. Taking a deep breath, I managed to steady myself. "Don't you dare talk to me that way!" I growled. "I'm the only reason you don't have broken bones right now. But just remember, Dad, I can always change my mind about that."
Before he could say another word, I ended the call. Though I wanted to throw my head back and scream at the sky in rage, and in grief for having lost the last member of my family, I also felt a heaviness lift from my shoulders. I could breathe easier now that I was free of my father.
Soon after I stepped back inside the bedroom, I heard a gentle knock on the door. "Come in," I called, pasting a bright smile on my face.
Damien entered the room, his own smile warm and genuine. "Just came to make sure you have everything you need, Dreama."
Despite my inner turmoil following the argument with my father, I couldn't help but feel more relaxed in Damien's presence. "I do, thank you so much. And dinner was delicious."
Before gathering up the dinner tray, Damien showed me how to use the high-tech intercom system. I hadn't even noticed the panel on the wall. "This way, you can instantly reach me if you need anything at all," he said. "And this is how you can contact Oliver, and also Ted." I watched closely, then nodded that I understood. "That's all there is to it," he concluded cheerfully. "Oliver mentioned you'll be staying with us, so I want you to feel comfortable here, okay?"
Without thinking, I reached for Damien's hand. At first, he seemed surprised by the gesture, but his smile quickly widened. It was as if he intuited my hopes and uncertainties, for he winked and said, "I think you and I will be great friends."
It was then that Oliver appeared in the doorway. He grinned at the sight of me and Damien. "Glad you two are getting to know each other better."
Instead of releasing my hand, Damien gave it a gentle pat. "Just making sure Dreama feels at home."
I thanked him again, and he offered another smile before carrying the tray out of the room.
Oliver closed the door behind him, then turned to me. "How was your bath?"
"Heavenly," I responded.
"And dinner?"
"Absolutely delicious."
"Wonderful." Closing the distance between us, Oliver held out his hand. "And now I'll need your phone."
"What?" I squawked. "Why?"
"I'll provide you with a far more secure one," he said. "What you have now is a piece of shit."
He wasn't wrong about that. And it wasn't as if I was glued to my phone like most other people. I'd mainly used it to let my father know where I was at practically all times.
No need for that now.
Striding toward the table, I grabbed my phone and took it back to Oliver.
"Thank you," he said, slipping it into his pocket. "And one more thing." Again, that deceptively mild tone. "You should be careful in your phone conversations, Dreama. You never know who might be listening."
My cry of shock emerged as a pitiful squeak. "You heard what I said to my father earlier."
"I did," Oliver replied. "I'm quite impressed by the way you handled yourself."
"So you're spying on me? Is there a fucking camera in this room?"
Oliver merely smiled at my indignation. "You made that call outdoors. The exterior of this property is heavily surveilled for security reasons." I noticed he didn't answer my question about the camera. Instead, he added, "Trust, like loyalty, must be earned."
I felt utterly foolish, which made me lash out even more. "Not even my father surveilled me!"
When Oliver stepped closer, I forced myself not to retreat. "Don't pout," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You don't expect me to let you immediately run free around here with no monitoring whatsoever, do you?" Taking hold of the belt that held my robe closed, he gave it an insistent tug.
I gasped as the robe fell open. The sight of my naked body made Oliver's stare grow hot. His hands were greedy in fondling my breasts, and I couldn't hold back a moan. My nipples immediately hardened from his touch.
Oliver gave me a deep kiss, his tongue meeting mine. Slipping a hand between my thighs, he teased my clit with a fingertip. Then he whispered, "I'm glad you're enjoying the lion's den."
I shivered at his words, fully expecting him to fuck me again. But he only stroked my cheek. All the while, he regarded me with something like fondness. "Get some rest," he said. "You'll have a busy day tomorrow."
Moments later, I was alone.
*****
Almost as soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell into a sound sleep, not waking until after nine the following morning. I wasn't used to sleeping in, for my father usually woke me early so I could make his breakfast. Bright sunlight now spilled into the room. I peered around with bleary eyes while getting my bearings.
Once I realized where I was, I hurried out of bed. It didn't take me long to get ready, and after I'd run a brush through my tangled hair, I put on my tank top and shorts. I'd gotten my panties so wet yesterday that they'd need to be washed before I wore them again. It felt more than a little weird to walk around with no underwear, but I didn't have a choice.
I spent several minutes making the bed and neatly arranging my few belongings; I didn't want Oliver or Damien thinking I was a slob. Then, I tentatively opened the bedroom door and peeked outside.
A guard started down the hall toward me. Had he been stationed nearby, simply waiting for me to come out of the room? This guy was younger than Ted, and his expression wasn't as stern. With dark hair and eyes, he was quite good-looking in a beefy, hugely muscular way.
"Good morning," he greeted me. "I'll take you to the dining room for breakfast."
"Thank you," I murmured, falling prey to my shyness again. "Is Oliver here?"
"He's in his office."
I followed the guard down to the main level and into an enormous dining room. The table could seat well over twenty people. I felt mildly ridiculous sitting all alone, but after the guard left me, Damien soon appeared. He was his usual cheery self, wishing me a good morning and asking if Eggs Benedict was okay for my breakfast.
I had no idea what Eggs Benedict was, but I immediately responded, "That sounds fantastic! Thank you."
It turned out that I loved Eggs Benedict, as well as the freshly squeezed juice Damien served me. When I was finished, I offered to help clean up, but he shook his head firmly.
"That's my job, and I'm happy to do it. Now, let me show you where Oliver's office is."
Simply knowing I was about to see him again made my pulse quicken. After all we'd shared yesterday, the man could still affect me as powerfully as he did when we'd first met.
Like everything else in this house, Oliver's office was enormous. Its windows offered a picturesque view of his property. He was sitting at his desk, but when Damien and I entered the room, he quickly rose to his feet.
Again, he played the perfect host, asking if I'd slept well and if I needed anything. It was only after Damien left, closing the door behind him, that Oliver's smile grew sly. "Come here," he said.
I slowly approached, coming to a stop in front of his desk.
"Come here," he repeated, a little more insistently this time.
Swallowing hard, I circled around the desk to stand at his side.
His kiss was tender, and the feel of his fingers weaving through my hair instantly put me at ease. But my eyes widened when he suddenly lifted me off my feet and sat me on the edge of his desk. "Today," he said, "one of my men will drive you to your house. Your father won't be there, so you can take your time getting your things."
"That's a long drive," I pointed out. "I'm sure your men have better things to do than chauffeur me around." Even as I protested the plan, I was secretly glad someone would be with me. My father might not stay away if he figured out I was alone at the house.
"The matter's already settled," Oliver told me.
I ducked my head, trying to hide my smile. I wasn't used to someone looking after me. "I'm going to need some of my money to buy new clothes." My face burned with fresh embarrassment. "Nothing I own right now is appropriate to wear around here."
"Alright." Oliver's voice was gentle. "I'll have someone drive you into the city. Damien can recommend some shops that you might like."
I snapped my head up at the mention of Damien. "Can he go with me?" I blurted out. "I've been to the city only a few times in my entire life. I won't know where anything is, and honestly, I have no idea what kind of clothes I should buy."
Oliver rested a hand on my thigh, his touch as warm as his smile. "Of course, sweetheart."
"But only if Damien won't mind. I don't want him to feel like he's babysitting me."
Oliver laughed at that. "Are you kidding? Damien will be thrilled to take a day off to go shopping."
Another worry gnawed at me. "Will I raise suspicions by paying for everything in cash?"
"Here's an idea." His hand moved a little farther up my thigh. "How about you consider today a gift from me? I'll pay for everything."
"No way!" My vehement tone made Oliver raise his eyebrows. "I mean, I really appreciate it, but you're already letting me live in this beautiful house, and I'm being waited on hand and foot. I won't take anything else from you."
"My God, you're stubborn!" he sighed. "But fine. Damien will pay with a card, and I'll deduct the total from your account. Happy?"
"Very," I answered with a sweet smile.
"Good. Because I want you happy, Dreama." When he lowered his lips to my neck, I let my head fall back, welcoming his kiss. Soon, his hands were everywhere: beneath my tank top so he could cup my breasts, and then inside my shorts. "No panties?" he asked, feigning surprise.
"They're dirty, and you're the reason for that. You got me dripping wet yesterday!"
Oliver's touch grew more demanding as he tugged at my shorts. "Yeah? Well, I want you dripping right now, because I'm dying to taste your pussy."
I actually moaned at those words. It felt like my entire body responded with a fierce throb. Even as I weakly said, "We can't do this here," I planted my palms against the desk and lifted myself up a little. Oliver easily stripped me from the waist down. I was breathing fast and already wet, just the way he wanted me, but my stare was fixed on the window. What if someone saw us?
Oliver seemed completely unfazed by that possibility. Once my bare ass was on his desk, he sank into his chair and moved it before me, positioning himself between my open legs. I draped a leg over his shoulder, keeping myself spread wide. It felt wicked to do this in his office, but I couldn't deny the thrill it gave me.
The moment Oliver leaned forward and began nuzzling my outer labia, I let out a soft cry. He licked and teased, his breath warm against my skin. I was close to begging by the time he drew my inner folds between his lips. Gazing downward, I eagerly watched him feast on my pussy. Soon, he had me trembling with need.
Now, I did shamelessly beg. "Lick my clit, please!"
As Oliver readily did what I asked, I ran my fingers through his hair. His talented tongue made my muscles slacken; I felt like I could melt into a blissful puddle on that desk. And I was certainly wet enough! All the while, I couldn't believe this powerful man was happy to spend part of his morning eating me out.
"You've already got me so close!" I lewdly rocked my hips, which made Oliver even more fervent in pleasuring me. As my grasp on his hair tightened, I sensed his satisfaction at again making me lose control.
Just as I was about to surrender to the bliss his mouth relentlessly delivered, I glimpsed a guard strolling past the window. Startled, I let out a shriek, but Oliver merely took it for one of my myriad horny vocalizations.