He dips into my tight, slick opening, slowly sinking his finger inside me.
"God, yes," I moan.
He parts me, his breath so hot against my damp skin as he moves closer. My body is quivering with anticipation, my clit begging for his touch. I open my eyes-
And let out a scream.
There's a man standing behind Dom, lounging in the doorway with his arms crossed and a smug grin on his face.
"Dom!" I slam my thighs together, almost crushing him. He turns. For a split second, he freezes-shocked like me-before pulling back.
"What the hell!" His voice rings out in anger. He grabs the comforter and throws it over my naked body.
"Please, don't stop on my account." The man saunters over to the bed. "I was rather enjoying the view."
I yank free from the restraints and clutch the bedcovers to me. I recognize him: he's the guy who was flirting with me at the front desk the other day!
Dominic points to the door. "Get the fuck out, Xander."
Xander?
I realize who this intruder must be. Alexander, Dominic's wandering, playboy, yacht-racing brother.
"Bad timing, big brother?" Xander's eyes fall to me, his mouth curving into a cocky smirk. "Well, maybe for her. Sorry, love."
Oh God. Humiliation slams through me. How long was he watching us?
Dominic shoves Xander back. "Out. Now."
He hustles Xander out of the room. I quickly grab my clothes from the floor and pull them back on as fast as I can. Shit. Shit!
When I nervously edge into the living room, the brothers are in the middle of a heated conversation.
"What are you doing here?" Dominic's voice is low, threatening.
Xander's eyebrows shoot up. "You didn't answer my calls, so I figured I'd stop by."
Dominic grabs Xander's shoulder. He says something that I can't hear.
Xander sighs dramatically. "It's getting harder to protect your throne, isn't it?" His gaze goes to me. "I'm sorry, we weren't introduced properly. Xander Rexford, at your service."
I stay frozen in place. "Umm, Juliet."
"How tragic," Xander smirks. Then I see it, the resemblance, the same superior confidence that Dom possesses.
"You should go." Dominic doesn't look at me. He's fixed on his brother, fury in his gaze.
"Don't leave on my account," Xander exclaims. "Please, stay, you looked like you were having fun."
Could this get anymore humiliating?
"Juliet," Dominic barks. "Leave, now!"
I flinch. A moment ago, he was telling me I was all he wanted, now I'm being ordered out of his sight like I'm some servant at his beck and call. Or his employee. Which technically I am. Shit. "Fine."
I stalk past them, trying to hold my head high, trying to ignore the sting of Dominic's rejection and the utter embarrassment of his brother finding us like that on the bed. I can't imagine ever getting over it. Remembering the keycard in my jeans' pocket, I lay it on the buffet in the entry. The door clicks softly behind me, feeling final.
What the hell just happened?
Chapter Two
"Juliet, get up!"
Something whaps me on the head, once, twice. I bolt upright to find Callie sitting beside me, a newspaper rolled in her hand.
"What am I, a bad dog?"
"Yes," she quips and flattens the paper. Thrusts it at me.
"It's Sunday," I groan. "I just want to sleep. Go away." I'm still reeling over what happened at the penthouse Friday night.
"Oh, Jesus, put your big girl panties on. Some random dude watched you get kinky, and Dominic humiliated you. I get it."
"Seriously?" I cross my arms. "Have you ever had a stranger walk in on you when you're tied to a bed?"
"Honey, that's a typical Friday night for me."
I laugh, but my heart's not in it. The naïve part of me thinks he still might actually call or text, something, to apologize. He hasn't yet, and I'm not sure why I'm hurting over it. Like Dominic ever apologized for anything. I should know better by now.
After I got home, Callie and Em kept me up until two AM to rehash every detail and speculate why Dominic turned so cold. We formed no satisfying conclusions, but polished off a couple of bottles of wine in the process. My head is not relishing the consequences. At the moment, I just need to sleep.
I try to pull the covers up and hide but Callie yanks them back.
"Nuh-uh. Read it." She drops the paper on my lap. It's a copy of the weekend papers, also known as ‘Rich People's Wedding Announcement Day.'
I groan. "I don't care if some trust fund private school teacher married a proctologist on the beach."
Callie flips the paper over and points.
REXFORD HEIR RETURNS FROM EUROPE READY TO TAKE THE REINS
Alexander Brigham Rexford has returned to his suite at The Rexford Chicago, after a lengthy sabbatical in Europe. The dashing Rexford heir has been well followed on the Euro touring car circuit, making a name for himself as a top racing contender. And let's not forget his drool-worthy modeling debut for designer Tom Ford in Morocco last year. With the very public division of company shares after the deaths of Xander's parents, which left him with zero control of the company but a massive inheritance, we can only speculate his return coincides with the recent Rexford drama involving hush-hush theft by an intern. (No worries, loves, we're still hot on the trail to find out exactly what went down and all the yummy details.) Is Xander back to challenge his brother and CEO of Rexford, Inc., Dominic, for control? It's no secret The Rexford has been on a downward spiral in recent years, due in part to the rise of more modern-suave luxury hotels, like the Prescott Group.
Is this recent drama yet another sign that Dominic Rexford has exhausted his ability to lead the historic hotel as a contender against younger, hipper challengers?
Blaine Prescott certainly thinks so. "The Rexford has been an old, dying horse for years. It's sad, really, watching it expire so painfully. It's easy to blame outside forces, like the appeal of better hotels drawing customers away. That may be true, but really, bad management is likely the bigger culprit."
Ouch! Perhaps Alexander's fresh, adventurous style is just what The Rexford needs to turn things around. Which bring us to the big question: Does the Windy City, and The Rexford, have room for two Rexford brothers?
Stay tuned!
Chapter Three
The minute I get into work on Monday, the other interns pounce.
"What's going on?" Brad demands.
"What do you mean?"
"The article, stupid," he stares at me like I'm a total moron. "The big feud. Come on, Juliet. Tell us what you know."
"Nothing more than you." I shake him off, determined to get out of here at lightning speed. I don't have the patience to deal with this drama. I've been thinking about Dominic all night and how this must be affecting him.
"Right." Brad sneers. "All that quality time you've been spending with Rexford, and you don't know anything?"
I'm tense.
"Are you referring to the time I've spent shadowing Mr. Rexford in the corporate office?" I narrow my eyes in challenge. Say no, you little round asshat, and I'll rip what's left of your hair out of your balding head.
"Come on." He blows it off. "Is the board thinking about voting Rexford out and letting the brother in?" He looks behind him at the group. "It's no secret this place is going down. Damnit, Shauna had the right idea jumping ship before it sinks."
I give them all a look. "Seriously? One little gossip column, and you're all ready to run? Maybe you should focus more on doing your jobs here, and less on that tabloid trash."
They don't look convinced. I sigh. "I know we're all worried about the rumors. But that's all it is, guys. Rumors from a gossip column. Our internships will go on as normal, unless we hear otherwise. Okay?"
I'm not sure when I became mother hen of this group, but the reassurance seems to work. We all head out to work, and then my phone sounds with a text.
My heart jumps, and then jumps again. What if it's Dominic? Shit, what if it isn't Dominic?
I dig the phone out of my purse.
I need you in the boardroom immediately.
I want to be cautious, but I feel a surge of hope. The last time he called me to the office … I shake it off. After Friday night, he owes me one hell of an explanation before I'm letting him get in my panties again.
At least, that's what I tell myself.
I head up to the boardroom, trying to calm myself in the elevator on the way up. When I get to the room, I see it's full for the morning meeting, every seat taken. Dom is at the head of the table, and Alexander is beside him. He has the sun-bleached, wavy hair of a beach God, golden tan skin and light green eyes. Dominic is his polar opposite: dark and foreboding.
Alexander sees me. He gives a knowing smirk as his gaze sweeps over me. I'm embarrassed, but I tip my chin up and stare right back at him. He's not going to get to me.