Bang(62)

Meet me at the hotel?





-D


FROM: Nina Vanderwal

TO: D. McKinnon

SENT: Jan. 10, 2:01pm

SUBJECT: Re: Greeting as suggested-HELLO.



We need to work on your social etiquette. Greetings in the subject line are rude as well. I can be there at 4:00pm.



-Nina




FROM: D. McKinnon

TO: Nina Vanderwal

SENT: Jan. 10, 2:04pm

SUBJECT: Etiquette Reject



4:00 then. Come to my room. I’ll leave an elevator key for you at the front desk.





-D


FROM: Nina Vanderwal

TO: D. McKinnon

SENT: Jan. 10, 2:05pm

SUBJECT: Cheap



Why do I feel like a prostitute or worse, a booty call?



-Nina




FROM: D. McKinnon

TO: Nina Vanderwal

SENT: Jan. 10, 2:06pm

SUBJECT: Cheap?



Booty call? What the hell is that? Regardless, you know damn well you are so much more than either of those. But I’m not going to sweeten it up for you; I need you, and I’m growing impatient and harder with each minute I don’t have your body all over mine. 4:00!!





-D


I laugh at the realization that he doesn’t pick up on the American slang as I delete the emails from my inbox and then delete out of my trash. Closing the laptop lid, I make my way into the bedroom where Bennett is walking out of the bathroom, covered in only a towel. I smile as I walk over to his suitcase.

“What’s that smirk all about?” he questions as he approaches.

“You.”

“What about me?”

“Walking around here wet, wearing only a towel, is a mean thing to do to your wife,” I tease.

“Why’s that?”

“Because you’re leaving me for a couple of weeks, and this is the lasting vision you’re giving me.”

“And what about what I gave you a couple hours ago?” he says, referring to the long sex session we had earlier.

“That will give me something to think about when I’m lying in bed at night . . . lonely.”

“You better call me when you’re feeling lonely,” he says suggestively, sparking me to laugh.

“Stop that. You need to go get ready before you start running late,” I nag. “I’ll finish packing for you.”

“Whatever you say, boss,” he jokes before kissing me chastely and then walking back into the bathroom.

I gather the rest of his things from his closet and make sure he has everything he needs packed up. Bennett and Baldwin will be in Dubai for the next two weeks, along with Richard. They will be working on hiring a team while the renovations are still underway. I shifted around Clara’s schedule to allow myself more freedom to come and go without her eyes on me.

When Bennett finally comes out of the bathroom about a half hour later, I decide to give him a proper good wife farewell. Maybe it’s my conscience weighing on me, or maybe it’s knowing I want to keep him from getting suspicious of me, but no matter what, I need to do whatever I can to make him think that what we have together is solid. So as I walk towards him, I reach under my arm and start unzipping the side zipper of my dress. He stays put, staring at me as I stroll across the room. When I’m standing in front of him, he slips his hands under the straps on my shoulders and allows the dress to fall to the floor around my feet.

“I just want you,” I tell him, “One more time before you go.”

“However many times you need, I’ll give it to you.”

And he does. Maybe I’m overcompensating, but I feel it’s needed as we lose all track of time. Once I’ve led him to believe that I’m fully sated, we pull ourselves together and regroup. I take a glance at the clock to see it’s already four and that I should be at Declan’s hotel. When Baldwin walks in to help Bennett with his luggage, I grab my coat from the closet and slip it on.

“Where are you headed?” Bennett asks, and I quickly lie, “I told Marcia I would meet her for a coffee when you left. But now you’ve made me late,” I flirt with a wink.

“I believe you made me late, Mrs. Vanderwal.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all, and please feel free to make me even later if it suits you.”

I catch Baldwin smiling as he overhears our conversation and turn to Bennett, accusing, “You’re a perv.”

“Only for you,” he laughs. “I’m going to miss you.”

We say our goodbyes on the elevator down to the lobby. Bennett seems genuinely sad to be leaving me while I’m anxious to get to Declan, knowing I’m running really late. I keep it hidden though as I take my time playing the loving wife who’s already missing her husband who hasn’t even left yet. But when he does, and we exchange our gentle kisses, Bennett walks out to the car where Baldwin is waiting and I head down to the parking garage.

When I arrive at Lotus, I leave my car with the valet before walking in and picking up the keycard Declan left for me at the front desk. As I step out onto the top floor, I use the keycard to let myself in to Declan’s penthouse room.

“Where the f*ck have you been?” he immediately shouts when I walk in, and the gravel in his voice startles me.