I raised my brows at his arbitrary choices, but I put them on without a protest. I could at least see how they fit, and how they looked.
The shorts were very short, but stretchier than they looked, and oddly comfortable. I hadn’t ever owned a pair of white shorts that I could remember. I checked my panty line carefully, a little worried that my pink thong would show through, but the material seemed solid enough. The top was comfortable, hanging rather loosely to my hips. I decided I liked James’s choices as I studied the outfit in the mirror. It was flattering but tasteful. Well, as tasteful as short shorts could be.
I was nearly done with my easy hair and minimal makeup by the time James emerged from the closet, dressed and looking fabulous, as always. His attire was different than any I’d seen him wear before. He wore white linen shorts that clung to his hips deliciously. My eyes lingered there the longest. He wore a loose, brilliant blue dress shirt, sleeves rolled up and open at the collar. The color set off his eyes and his tan to perfection.
I was surprised that he was dressed down. I didn’t imagine that anyone at his resort had ever seen him in anything but a three-piece suit. He looked like he was about to go on vacation in the Hamptons, not spend a few hours working.
“That looks nice,” I told him as he approached my vanity, hovering behind me. “I’m surprised to see you in anything but a suit, though, for the hotel.”
He just shrugged, studying me with that razor focus of his. He reached past me, digging into the silver box of jewelry that had followed us from Wyoming. I’d taken off my collar before showering, and he clasped it back around my neck without a word. I fingered it as he reached back into the box, pulling out a pair of huge, princess cut diamond earrings I’d never seen before. He put them on me without a word, pressing against my back intimately.
“It’s all too much, James,” I said, but didn’t take them off. He seemed to need to do this, to shower me in gifts. I should have put up more of a fight, I knew, but his warm gaze stopped me. It pleased him to do this, and it killed any urge I had to stop him when I realized just how much it pleased him.
He reached into the large jewelry box again, pulling out a good-sized black jewelry box. I pursed my lips, knowing he had done yet another outrageous thing.
He opened the box, showing me matching diamond cuffs. The were thick, twinkling with more tiny diamonds than I could even guess at. It didn’t escape me that they looked like jewel encrusted shackles.
He studied my wrists, running a light finger over the abrasions still visible there. “These will have to wait a few days, I think.” He snapped the case closed, putting it back.
He pressed a palm flat against my stomach, pressing me harder against him. His other hand snaked down to my inner thighs, pressing past my scanty shorts and panties. It was shocking how fast and easily he could access me there.
I sucked in a breath as he worked a long finger into me. I sought out his hot gaze in the mirror.
He watched his hand as though transfixed. “My dresser is getting you more shorts like this. Not only do your legs look phenomenal, I can also do this anytime I please. Gotta love that kind of access.”
Regrettably, he extricated his finger rather quickly, kissing the back of my head. He sighed heavily before moving away. He went back into my closet, returning with two pairs of shoes that I hadn’t put in there. He slipped on a pair of white loafers that set his golden skin off to perfection, handing a pair of bright blue wedge heels to me. I saw immediately that they matched his shirt.
In spite of myself, I smiled.
“It seems you know the contents of my closet better than I do nowadays, Mr. Cavendish.” My tone was arch as I bent down to fasten the heels onto my feet. They were comfortable for three and a half inch heels, I had to admit.
He didn’t respond, just smirked, waiting for me.
“How did you get so much stuff into my house without my noticing?” I asked.
He pursed his lips, taking my arm and leading me out of the bedroom, making a beeline for the front door. “Stephan let my dresser in. When will I be getting my own set of keys?”
I stiffened. It didn’t escape me that he had somehow turned the conversation around on me. “Why would you need them?”
He sighed, aiming a hooded look at me as we walked out the front door. I didn’t even question that we would take his car. I couldn’t picture him in my own small car.
A new, creepy photographer had taken up residence on my sidewalk. However, he wasn’t snapping pictures when we walked out. He was far too occupied arguing with an intimidating Clark. Clark shifted in front of the man, blocking us from his view as soon as we were spotted. I couldn’t imagine the man got any clear pictures of us as James ushered me swiftly into the car. Clark didn’t get out of the man’s face until we were safely ensconced.
“Very good, Clark,” James said as Clark slid into his seat.
Clark nodded and began to drive. “I fired Stimpson, Sir. I’m very sorry about what happened this morning. I thought he was more reliable, or he never would have gotten the job.”
“Thank you,” James said, clutching my hand tightly. “Was he at least successful at retrieving all of the pictures taken?”
Clark’s voice was quietly furious when he answered. “He claims he did, but it’s impossible to say. I only have his account of events.”
James’s grip tightened almost painfully. “I should have handled it myself,” James said darkly.
He closed the privacy screen after that, brooding quietly for most of the drive. It wasn’t until we were nearly at the hotel that he spoke. The impressive resort was visible from far away. I watched it as we drew closer and closer.
“Have you been to the property before?” he asked.