Tex (Burnout) (51 page)

“He’s unhappy with the service.”

Abby stowed her purse behind the check-in counter. “Which room?”

“Princess suite,” Susan replied.

Abby frowned. “I didn’t know we had that room booked this weekend.”

“We didn’t,” Susan said. “We upgraded him. But he’s still not happy.”

Abby fastened the buttons on her blazer and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Thanks, Susan.”

“Sorry,” the other woman said, giving Abby a sympathetic look.

Abby took the elevator to the third floor and knocked on the door of second largest suite at the Custer. The door swung open and she nearly took a step back.

Mark grinned at her, wolfishly from the doorway.

She shook her head and he stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter the room. Abby went inside and he shut the door.

“Seems like this is the only way I can actually see you,” he told her.

“I’m sorry,” she sighed. And she really was. The Custer needed so much work and she put in ridiculous hours trying to drag the hotel back into the black.

“Don’t be sorry,” Mark told her, unbuttoning her jacket and peeling it from her shoulders. “Owning a place like this is takes a huge amount of effort.”

“But still,” she said. “I’m not around. I really miss you, though. I promise I’ll try harder to make you a priority. It’s just-”

“Abby,” he interrupted. “I understand completely. Believe me.”

“Do you, though?” Because sometimes, to her, it really did feel as though she was choosing the hotel over Mark. And she knew it was selfish of her to do it, but there just wasn’t enough of her to go around.

His hands slid down her shoulders to the buttons on her blouse and he began undoing them, one by one, reminding her of all the ways she’d told herself she would make it up to him.

“Do I?” he asked her, sliding the blouse off and letting it drop to the floor. “Do I know what it’s like to see something that’s been neglected, uncared for?” He reached around her, his fingers finding the clasp of her bra. As it slipped down her arms, it rasped over her nipples which were already hardening.

“Something that you know in your heart could be beautiful and unique, with charm and style all its own? If only someone could see past the facade, into the heart of it, and bring out its best qualities? What would I know about that?” He unzipped her skirt and pushed it, along with her thong panties down to the floor.

Abby stood before Mark in only her stockings, garter belt, and heels. He left her there and crossed the room to the table and chairs nestled into the corner. Apparently he
had
ordered champagne, because it was already chilling.

He took a seat at one of the chairs. His eyes were dark and lazy, seductive smile played over his lips as he gazed at her.

“On your knees, pet,” he ordered and still, after all this time, Abby’s stomach flip-flopped. “Show me what a good girl you are,” he demanded. “Crawl to me.”

A similar smile played on Abby’s lips as she slowly sank to the floor.

“Yes, Sir.”