His Four Poster Bed (Bedroom Secrets Series Book 2) by Emma Thorne Page A

branches and the cages. It was such a clever way to display the birds. “It’s gorgeous, so modern.”
    “I have a gift for you,” he said.
    I tensed up looking at the tree. “Not the cages, I’ve told you it’s too generous.”
    “And I listened,” he said. “This is a different kind of gift, something that I think you will consider more reasonable.” His lips against my ear he gave me a soft kiss sending chills through my body. “Follow me,” he whispered, leading me across the room.
    “You know I don’t want anything from you,” I said, as we walked into his bedroom.
    “You don’t?” He turned and smiled at me, one eyebrow arched.
    “Well, there is something I do want from you actually,” I said, placing my hand right on the bulge in his pants. I felt him harden at my touch.
    I moved to kiss Marco when he pointed to the bed.
    Sitting on the edge of the mattress was a blue toothbrush boxed up and tied with a crisp red ribbon.
    My eyes widened. “A toothbrush?”
    He nodded and picked it up handing it to me then dropping to one knee.
    “Stop it,” I said, laughing nervously shocked at the rush of emotion I felt at seeing that man on bended knee.
    “Odessa Starr,” he said, with reverence. “Will you take this toothbrush and keep it in my bathroom as a sign of your commitment to fuck my brains out every night if you so choose.” He looked up at me grinning.
    “You are ridiculous,” I laughed, pulling him to his feet. “Stand up, come on.”
    “It’s time,” he said, reaching for the toothbrush and handing it me. “I want you to know that you belong here, to not worry about packing up all your belongings and disappearing in the morning light.”
    I stood in front of him my mouth dry. He had a point. Hauling my things back and forth was becoming more of a chore and I constantly worried I’d screw up again and end up walking the hospital halls in slutty red heels.
    “I told you the night I met you that I don’t believe in cages, but I want you to know that you have a place with me.” Marco nodded towards the closet. “You’ll find an empty rack inside if you so choose to bring a few things here.”
    My eyes darted from the toothbrush to the closet to Marco to the bed. Heart racing I took a breath. My normal play was to cut and run but here I stood not speaking and not taking a step away.
    “I’ve freaked you out,” he said, cringing. He brushed a hair off my forehead. “You have to speak, say something. I’ve turned you into a mute.”
    “I’ll take the toothbrush,” I blurted throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him as a rush of adrenaline raced through my body.
    He laughed kissing and undressing me with every stumbling step we took towards that bed. “Stay with me,” he said when we’d fallen onto those gorgeous gray sheets. He stopped kissing me and gazed directly into my eyes with a seriousness that surprised me. “Promise me you’ll stay with me as long as you can.”
    “I don’t expect to go anywhere,” I said. “Are you?”
    He answered me with a kiss and within moments I’d forgotten that he’d never really given me an answer.
     

The next night Todd did not meet me in the garage. I took the back staircase and was about to head up the private elevator when Veronica intercepted me placing her hand on the up button.
    “Veronica. Hi?” I said, my finger poised awkwardly close to her skin.
    “We need to move,” she said, taking my arm and pulling me away from the doors. “Quickly.”
    “Excuse me?” I said, stumbling a bit as she led me around the corner and past the front desk. With every step I became more confused and irritated. I hadn’t seen Veronica in weeks and here she was dragging me around the hotel as if I were a piece of property.
    “I’ll explain,” she said, walking me across the lobby into a small bar that faced First Avenue. The walls black, blue neon accents lit the walls. A woman stood at a small stage in the back of the room