Chapter Five

Daisy took a deep breath, trying to adjust to being hung from a hook in the ceiling. Her feet were barely on the ground, her body strung out like a fiddle the man planned on playing.

He'd taken his time binding her hands together and then easing her on the hook of his choice. He'd stared at her for long moments, making her feel like a work of art.

She'd been so tempted to take off her mask when he'd asked about it. To rip it off and ask him to call her Daisy and to be her Dom forever.

And then she'd remembered.

It was better this way.

He was making her crazy. He was just standing there looking at her.

She started to open her mouth and a brow rose above his eyes, a serious expression that sent her subby self a stark warning.

Her butt still ached. Not in a bad way. In a kind of cool way, but she also wasn't some hard bottom used to getting her ass smacked for hours. It was the kind of thing a girl worked up to. Training. She needed more training. With him.

Nope. She wasn't going there. She was going to use this beautiful man and then get away with her whole heart.

And her whole ass.

"Good choice, love." The words rumbled out of his mouth. He was so sexy standing there in his leathers. The mask made him look slightly sinister, and it did something for her.

It made her almost forget what she knew about him. How calm he was, how easygoing.

Pretty much the opposite of her. The kind of man who would want some peace in his life, who would see her as flaky and ridiculous.

"These are coming off." He dropped to his knees but somehow still managed to be on the same level as her very excited nipples.

All of her pink parts were singing. She was going to have to replace the boy shorts because while the corset could be cleaned, she wasn't sure she could do the same for the shorts. They were soaked through after his spanking had brought her to new heights of arousal.

He eased the shorts down her legs, his mouth so close to her breasts. It was maddening. He was right there.

Well, he'd told her she would be frustrated. When he'd mentioned edging, she'd gotten excited. It wasn't something she'd tried before, but it sounded fun.

She might have to rethink the idea.

"I'll leave you the shoes."

It was good because without them she would be dangling. Still, she'd learned one lesson with him. When this man was in top space, she should rethink her sarcastic bent. "Thank you, Sir."

He stood, and the bastard brought her shorts right up to his nose, breathing in the scent. "You liked your spanking."

She was naked and bound. It was kind of everything she'd hoped for when she'd started this journey. To trust someone enough to try anything with him, to push all her boundaries. To take sex and her own pleasure seriously. "Yes, I did, Sir. Far more than I thought I would."

"You've never been spanked? What kind of training program are they running here?"

The kind where her training Dom used to play with her. With dolls and on playground equipment. Jamie Murdoch was the sweetest guy, but he hadn't put a lot of force behind his spankings. Which was weird since some of the other subs talked about what a hardass he could be. "I don't think my training Dom thought I could handle anything rough. I like it rough."

"You responded to it beautifully. I suspect you would like a lot of forms of impact play. Like flogging and paddling and getting a whip taken to your backside so you feel it all the next day." Every word out of his mouth was pure seduction. "If you were my submissive, I would train you all over again. I would make sure you understood every single filthy thing I want to do to you now that I have you wrapped in my ropes."

She felt her nipples tighten. "I think you should show me, Sir."

His lips curled up in the sexiest smirk. "I think you're right. We should begin. "

An hour later, Daisy was absolutely certain she was going to die. "Sir, please. Please."

"I am pleased," he replied, holding the vibrator in his hand and watching as she writhed on the bench.

He'd started his torture with a damn feather. He'd run it over her skin, leaving a trail of arousal everywhere he'd gone. He'd balanced it with a violet wand, sparking it across her skin and making her squirm. Every now and then he would touch the wand to her nipples, and she would bite back a scream. Then he would lean over and lick her and she would forget to breathe.

After a while, he'd brought her off the hook and tied her to the bench, her ass in the air and leaving her so fucking vulnerable to him. That was when he'd brought out the cane. It had been flexible and thin, and it had cracked over her like a revelation.

He would give her a few swats and then the man dropped to his knees and gave her a few licks. With his tongue. On her pussy. He would lick her until she was so close to heaven and then she would feel him move away and the pain would flare over her skin and he would start the process all over again.

And again.

And again.

After a while on the bench, he'd picked her up like she weighed nothing and moved her over to the bed.

Then he'd brought out the vibrator.

"I'm very pleased, love," Nate said, his fingers trailing down her torso. He circled her right nipple before giving it a nasty tweak. "You've taken everything I've given you."

"You could give me more." She'd been on the edge of orgasm more times than she could count. Every time she thought she would go off, he pulled away. Like he knew. Like he truly saw her. Like they were connected somehow.

He flicked the body wand on, the sound making her pussy clench. He stared at her for a moment as though memorizing the way her body looked, how it felt to be in this moment.

Needy. Wanton. Anticipation filling her whole world.

This was what she'd needed for so long, and now that she had it she wondered how she was ever going to live without it.

He moved in. "I want you to give me everything you have, Dee. I want all of it, and then tell me I can have you."

Again, not a question, but as much as she would get from a top like him. "Please, Sir. Please have me."

She wanted his cock more than she wanted her next breath, but beyond that she wanted connection to this man. Being here with him fulfilled so damn many of her fantasies. It would have to be enough since they only got this one night. She would dream about him for the rest of her life.

"Spread your legs wider."

Her arms were over her head, wrists still bound, and now she was as taut as a bowstring, every muscle waiting to go off. She spread her legs for him and felt the sweet pang of vulnerability. She couldn't guard herself here. He'd told her the mask was helping her to play a role, but he didn't understand how much of her secret self was here in this bed with him, a piece of herself she'd never shared with anyone else.

She worried she might never be able to share this part again.

Daisy felt the first hum of the vibrator, and it was all she needed. He'd been priming her for this for what felt like hours. All the sweet torture he'd lavished on her body prepped her for an orgasm like none she'd had before. It rolled over her, making her gasp and writhe on the bed as he stroked her clit again and again.

Then he tossed the vibe aside, and she watched as he shoved his leathers down and his cock sprang free. His cock was built to size. Nate Carter was six foot seven and massive and his cock was huge. She wanted to stroke him, to play with that monster cock and make him crazy, but her hands were tied, and it looked like her Sir was done playing.

He rolled a condom on and stepped between her legs. Then he slowly reached up and took off his mask, revealing his handsome, rugged face. "Dee, my name is Nathan. I want you to know I don't have any intention of letting you leave this club."

Before she could protest—she probably wouldn't have in the moment since it felt way too good to have him want her—he started to work his cock inside.

Daisy groaned as he thrust in gentle motions, giving her time to get used to his size. She stared up at him, wishing she could get her arms around him, wishing they could stay in this moment forever. They were too far apart. He was standing at the edge of the bed, tilting her hips for easier access, but she wanted him closer.

It was the sacrifice she would have to make to have this memory because even in the moment she knew she wouldn't be taking off her mask.

She needed it too much .

"You feel so fucking good." His eyes closed as he started to fuck her, holding her hips and finding a rhythm that had her panting all over again.

She'd thought the clitoral stimulation had been incredible, but this was more. He stroked inside her, waking up something that had been sleeping all her life.

Lust. Connection. Satisfaction.

When he went over the edge, she went right there with him.

Nate fell forward but caught himself with one hand. He stayed there for a moment, big chest heaving as he struggled to come down. She could still feel his cock inside her. If he was on top of her, would she feel his heart beating? Would hers synch up with his because they were so in the moment together?

She'd had sex, but it had been nothing like this. Nothing.

Sometimes her friends called her Pandora because chaos seemed to follow her, but now she understood. She'd opened the box, and nothing would be the same again.

Nate took a long breath and stood, gently easing himself out of her. "Stay there, love. I'll be right back."

He moved away, and she heard the door to the bathroom open.

What had she done? It started to crash in on her. She'd had this monumental moment with a man who was close to her family and who she had to pray never found out it had been her.

She'd followed her instincts, and they'd led her to fucking up once again.

Except it was something only she had to know about. She'd worn her mask and hadn't promised the man anything beyond a hot night. She wasn't Daisy O'Donnell here. She was Dee, and Dee was going to find a new club.

Daisy and Dee would both think about Nate Carter for the rest of her life.

"Here. Let me get you out of those and we can talk," he said, his lips curled up in a grin. "Although I have to tell you, you look like heaven, love. I kind of wish I could wrap you up in my ropes and drag you home with me."

Home would be lovely, but she wasn't allowed to go home tonight. Tonight, if she took him with her, Nate would be surprised when she gave him his own address. She had to hope he was an early riser. "I think it might be hard for me to get to my new job with my hands tied like this."

He helped her sit up, and it was weirdly not awkward as he started to untie her.

She didn't want this to end. She also wasn't sure he would simply let her walk away. Her night wasn't over. The only person who'd seen her walk in here with Nate was Hunter, and she had to make sure he understood it was in his best interest to keep his mouth shut. She had to get away without anyone else seeing her with Nate or there would be talk she didn't want to deal with.

She didn't want to leave him.

"Still not ready to take the mask off, eh?" Nate was staring down at her.

"The party's not over." She hoped she sounded way sexier than she felt. "Why don't you settle in and I'll go clean up?"

A big hand came out to smooth back her hair. "All right, love. You can hide for a little while longer. You sure you want to stay here with me? We could go out to the dungeon for a bit if you like. I'm…I don't want to hurt you. If you're sore…"

She could so fall in love with this man. She tilted her head up. "I'm fine. Someone made sure I was ready for him. But, Sir, I don't think I can handle more hours of torture. Maybe we can cuddle and see where the night takes us. I have no desire to leave this room."

Ever. They could lock themselves away, and she wouldn't have to worry about anything but taking care of him. The world wouldn't matter. Only Nathan Carter.

It wasn't going to happen, but they could hide away for now.

"I'm glad." He helped her to her wobbly feet. "I don't want to go anywhere either, love."

He lowered his head and kissed her. Every muscle felt well used and satisfied. Her head felt like she'd had too much champagne.

"Be quick." He laid his gorgeous body out on the bed, turning to his side to watch her as she walked across the room to the bathroom. He yawned like a lazy lion.

Daisy shut the door between them and turned on the shower.

"I'm only going to get you dirty again," he said from the bedroom.

"Then I'll make you clean me up." She found a towel and slipped out of the mask.

What the hell was she doing?

She heard him chuckle as she refixed her hair, ensuring it wouldn't get wet. Her brain was buzzing as she took her shower and dried off, looking for any way out of this trap. She wasn't sure she had the strength to walk out the door and tell Nate she needed to go.

But she needed to go. Aidan would be looking for her, and the last thing she needed was a big reveal "hey, you slept with my baby sister" scene.

Of course, if she stayed in the bathroom much longer, Nate himself would come looking for her.

She settled the mask on her face and wrapped the towel around her.

When she walked back into the room, she realized she didn't have to fight at all.

He was asleep on the bed, his whole body relaxed. He looked younger, carefree.

The idea she would never see him like this again made her heart ache, but she knew what she had to do.

She quickly dressed and forced herself to slip outside. The minute she left the room, the world came back into focus.

She didn't really belong here, and he did. He was starting a new life, and all she would do was complicate it. He was looking for something and it certainly wasn't her. All she would bring the man was trouble, and he'd given her so much.

"Dais?" Hunter had moved from his desk. "You okay? Are you here with the new guy? Dad told me they hired on the dude who used to hang out with you and Aidan. Nate? Nick?"

There was only one way to handle Hunter McKay. Shock and awe. He was a great guy, but he would talk if she didn't scare him out of it. "Aidan doesn't know and neither does Nate. It's masquerade night. You remember what that means?"

"It means Seth might have a shot at getting in Chloe's thong. It means all the subs who wouldn't touch Lucas because he's a manwhore can pretend they don't know what they're doing. I call it delusion night. It's precisely why I'm working the desk," Hunter shot back. "I know the rules, Dais."

She stared him down. He was a year older than she was, but she knew how to handle him. He was a rules guy. "Are you going to follow them?"

His eyes closed and he sighed. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"It doesn't matter. For now, I'm a member of this club, and you owe me discretion," she insisted.

"I know, but Aidan…"

She was sick of this. "Is my brother, not my father. And honestly, even if my father was here, I'm an adult. I have every right to do what I want in this club. Tell me something, if it was Devi or Bri coming out of a privacy room, would you be clutching your pearls and wondering how fast you can bring the patriarchy down on their heads?"

Hunter's hands came up. "I'm so fucking glad my sister is in London. Go on. I was only trying to look out for you."

It was the whole problem with the club. The problem wasn't that someone cared about her, but sometimes their caring became questioning her choices. If she had one more intervention…

"I'm great. Used a condom and everything." She'd one hundred percent protected her body. She wasn't so sure about her heart.

Daisy strode away and didn't look back.

* * * *

"Hey, how'd your night go, big guy? I asked around and no one said they saw you, but I noticed you weren't home when we got here." Aidan sat at the breakfast table, a mug of coffee in front of him.

Nate needed way more than coffee. He needed to find Dee and take his hand to her backside. He hadn't meant to fall asleep. He'd meant to get inside her again. As many times as it took to get her to take the mask off and get real with him.

That was the problem. It had all felt so real. He'd spent one night with the woman, and he was fairly certain he would never forget her.

The good news was Aidan had been a member of The Hideout since its inception, and he tended to be pretty observant. When the dungeon monitor had woken him up, the club had been closing and his Cinderella hadn't even left behind one of her high heels. No clues to track her by except her name. Well, and a couple of facts.

"I met a sub. We decided to play in private. Look, mate, I need to find her. You know a sub named Dee?" Nate got right to the point. He'd driven himself home and the house had been quiet, though he'd seen a light on in the room normally used by Cooper McKay.

Daisy O'Donnell was staying the night. Just yesterday meeting Daisy again after almost twelve years had seemed like it would be the highlight of his week. Now he could barely work up the will to say hi.

Because all he fucking wanted in the world was Dee.

In the course of a few short hours, he'd become obsessed with a woman for the first time in his life.

Aidan sat up. He was in sweats and a T-shirt, his hair still damp from a morning shower, and his gym bag was slung over his chair. "Dee? We have a couple of members with first names that start with D."

"She said her name was Dee. "

Carys walked in from the kitchen. She was dressed far more formally than her fiancé. She was in slacks and a pretty shirt, her hair up in a neat bun. "Who said her name was Dee? We don't have a Dee. We have a Daisy and a Devon and Denise. But honestly, it was masquerade night so we had some newbies, and almost no one goes by real names."

"It's kind of a free-for-all," Aidan admitted. "The only rule is what happens at masquerade stays at masquerade. It's a decadent, make-bad-choices kind of night."

"It's supposed to be fun." Carys placed a plate of toast down on the table. "I wouldn't know. I've never been because I've pretty much been engaged since I was five."

Aidan's lips kicked up in a grin. "She's right. Tris and I made this ring in art class…" He sobered as though remembering his partner wasn't here and wouldn't be coming home any time soon. "Well, I've never understood the appeal. I did hear Chloe dumped a beer on Seth's head when he tried to hit on her. I kind of wished I'd seen that."

Carys sat down beside her fiancé and put a hand over his. "You were far too busy playing doctor."

"Damn straight I was." Aidan gave her hand a squeeze before turning back to Nate. "So you got lucky last night? Good for you, man."

Had he listened to a word he'd said? "That's where you're wrong. I'm not lucky because I'm the arsehole who fell asleep on the hottest woman I've ever seen, and now I don't know how to get in touch with her."

Aidan chuckled. "Dude, you fell asleep on her? Seriously? So you want to find her again because you didn't get a chance to play with her?"

"Oh, we played. We played for hours, and when we were done she went to clean up, and I was out like a bloody light," he admitted. "When the monitor woke me up, she was gone. Everyone was, actually. I managed to sleep until the club closed."

"Damn, man. I wish I could help you. What did she look like?" Aidan asked.

"She was fucking gorgeous. I mean that woman was sex walking on two legs. Long, dark hair, gorgeous eyes." The sight of her spread out for his pleasure would haunt him until the day he died. Dee was… She was everything he wanted in a woman, in a sub. "I took one look at her and no one else mattered."

Aidan glanced Carys's way. "There are a lot of pretty subs, and a whole bunch who don't usually attend. I know Chloe brought some friends with her last night. They usually play at The Club. It could be one of them."

Carys was suddenly very interested in her phone. "Yeah, it really could be anyone. She could have been wearing a wig and going by a fake name. A lot of the subs do."

He didn't think Dee had been lying to him, and there was zero way all that silk hadn't been her real hair. "She was in all white. She looked like a fucking angel. And her mask had feathers around the eyes. She was in these super-high heels, and her corset had all these rhinestones on them."

"Sounds like Kenz," Aidan said with a chuckle. "Now that would be funny. It's not. I'm talking about Kenzie Taggart. She's somewhere classified. I'm sure she was pissed to miss the party. Chaos is Kenzie's idea of a good time. Also Kenz has pink hair, though she does have a lot of wigs. I always wonder how she gets all her hair under there. You okay, baby?"

Carys had a hand to her mouth. She'd gone a bright pink. "Yep. Yes. Went down the wrong pipe. I need some water."

Carys stood and strode back to the kitchen.

All of Nate's instincts kicked in. She hadn't taken a drink or eaten anything, so there was nothing to get stuck in any of her pipes, and was that the way a doctor should refer to pieces of human anatomy she'd been regularly tested on?

Carys knew something, and she didn't want to tell him.

"I'm intrigued," Aidan was saying. "I can't think of a single sub I would say is super hot. Now I did grow up with most of them, and I'm the weirdo who hasn't taken his eyes off one woman for years, but I can appreciate other women on a purely aesthetic level." He snapped his fingers as though remembering something. "Daphne O'Malley. She's got dark hair. Green eyes. Pretty girl. She might have come in with Chloe. Hey, Car, do you think it could be Daphne?"

A bright smile was on Carys's face as she returned. "That would fit. Yes, it could definitely be Daphne. She doesn't come into town often, but when she does, she usually spends a night at one of the clubs. I'm almost sure I saw her in the locker room last night."

And he was almost sure she was lying. Nate stared at Carys.

The redhead sat down but seemed to feel his gaze on her.

"Nate and Daphne O'Malley." Aidan didn't seem to feel the tension in the room. "I like it. She's actually a good match for you, man. Like I said, you got lucky. Her parents own this organic cattle ranch a couple of hours south of here. You have ranching in common. Now, I will tell you she's the product of one of those crazy threesomes. You might think about that. "

Nate never blinked, simply stared at Carys, who tried to look pretty much anywhere but at him.

"I'm joking," Aidan continued. "Not about the threesome part. Her mom is married to two men. Only one of them is a cattle rancher. Lucas is a lawyer. So when you think about it, it resembles your mom and dad. You've got hard physical labor mixed with super smarts. I mean, if you shoved a successful romance writer in there." Aidan stopped, seeming to understand he was missing something. "Uh, dude you look a little crazy right now."

"What do you know, Carys?" He asked the question in the same tone he would use if he was interrogating someone during an investigation.

Aidan sat up straight. "Hey, let's back down. She doesn't know anything."

Carys's jaw tightened.

"Yeah, she does. She knows exactly who I'm talking about. She knew the minute I described what she was wearing." Nate felt it in his bones. "She saw Dee in the locker room, I would bet. You know who I spent last night with. You saw her."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Carys wasn't a good liar. She had many tells, including the fact she couldn't quite meet his eyes. "Besides, what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room."

Aidan was now staring his fiancée's way. "Since when? I was joking about the whole masquerade thing. You know we'll be talking about last night until the next time. The club runs on gossip. Gabe texted me in the middle of a session to ask me if getting beer in his eyes could make Seth blind, and he was not texting for my medical advice."

"Who was she?" Nate didn't care about what had happened last night in any room other than the one where he'd made love to the most gorgeous submissive he'd ever seen.

"There's a reason we wear masks." Carys's pretty face went stubborn. "She has a right to privacy. If she'd wanted you to know who she was, she would have hung around."

"Or she's a scared little sub since something's happening to her at the club," he replied. He'd thought a lot about this.

"What do you mean?" Aidan asked, all of his focus on Nate again.

"I watched her when she walked out. I didn't like the way some of the Doms treated her." He'd been up early this morning, the problem grinding through his brain. He'd arrived at some conclusions. None of them made him feel better. She'd been happy when they were playing. It had been the minute they were done with the initial sex that she'd gotten anxious. Like she'd needed it so badly, needed the affection and pleasure he'd lavished on her, but when it was done the real world had rushed back in.

"How they treated her?" Aidan looked concerned all of the sudden. "I'm going to need some names. If we've got assholes mistreating the subs, I will handle it. I'm having a hard time believing one of our tops would abuse a sub. They're all well trained, and we have some very specific rules about how to behave in the club."

"She told me she's looking for a new club because she doesn't feel welcome at this one," Nate pointed out.

He'd come to the conclusion she might have been shamed for her sexuality. It was an awful thing to think about since the club was exactly the place where she should feel free to explore. He would bet it was about jealousy. She'd likely had some kind of relationship with one or more of the Doms, and they didn't like the fact she didn't want them now. He'd seen it before, and he didn't intend to let it happen to Dee.

He didn't give a bloody hell how many blokes she'd been with. As long as he was the last.

Aidan pulled his cell out of his pocket. "I don't want anyone to feel run out of The Hideout. That's not happening on my watch. I'll call Gabe. We're in charge while Cooper, Tash, and the twins are out of pocket. And Dare. I can call him in. We'll get to the bottom of this."

"I think Gabe is one of the problems." He hated causing trouble when it wasn't necessary. Drama tended to be a thing he avoided, but this was wrong. He'd seen how hurt Dee had been. "He was one of two tops I saw make her uncomfortable."

Aidan stopped as though the thought didn't quite make sense. "You're telling me you saw Gabriel Lodge abuse a sub?"

He was stepping in it now, but he had to speak up. "Well, he wasn't physical with her. I'm not saying he hit her or wouldn't honor her safe word. They were on the dungeon floor. I was watching from the lounge, but I know whatever he said hurt her feelings. And when we went up to the privacy rooms, there was some weird interaction with the monitor. Like he wasn't going to let her go back or something. I couldn't hear everything she said to him, but it felt like she had to force him to let us go back. Again, I feel like whatever he was doing hurt her."

Carys put a hand to her forehead like she had a headache. "Or maybe it was a misunderstanding."

"What kind of misunderstanding could there be?" Aidan was scrolling through his contacts. "I assure you Gabe knows how to communicate, and I know who was working the desk last night. Hunter is about to get a hearty fucking lecture."

"Please don't call him," Carys said, the tight set of her jaw proving she wished she wasn't having this conversation.

A suspicious brow rose over Aidan's eyes. "Why wouldn't I, baby?" His voice had gone Dom deep. "Are you trying to tell me my friend is lying?"

Damn. When Aidan wanted to top a girl, he knew how to do it. Nate felt a little bad for Carys. "I'm not lying."

Carys took a long breath and turned Nate's way. "No, but you also don't understand what's going on. I do know the sub, and she's got a reputation." She shook her head. "Not one she's earned."

"She was being slut shamed?" It was enough to make him see red, but he was going to hold it together because he was so close to finding out her name.

He would go to Dee and ask her why she'd left. He would ask if he could hold her. He would prove to her he wasn't like those other blokes, and they wouldn't step foot in The Hideout again. Even if it cut him off from his only friend.

"No," Carys said quickly. "It's not like that. Look, I can't say who it is. I can only tell you from what I understand every Dom there tries to watch out for her."

"Watch out for who?" a sweet voice said from the kitchen. "Did someone already make toast?"

Aidan sat straight up at the sound. He leaned over, his voice going low. "That's my sister. We'll talk about this later. I promise I'll get Carys to tell me what's happening, but not around Daisy. If Daisy finds out some sub is in trouble, she'll decide to intervene and then the club will burn down."

"I'll help you, Daisy." Carys stood very quickly.

"She means well, but… She can be a lot," Aidan whispered.

Then Daisy O'Donnell was standing there looking adorably sexy in a pencil skirt and flouncy top. She was not the awkward girl he'd known years before. She'd bloomed.

And she was also Dee.

"It's okay. I think I'll get breakfast at the office. Aunt Charlotte always has something in the break room," she said, and then seemed to realize he was there. Her eyes flared with recognition, and he watched as her breath hitched and for a mere moment there was longing in her eyes. Then her expression cleared, and she obviously chose her path. "Hello. You must be Nathan. It's nice to see you again."

It was odd. There was anger simmering below his surface, but there was also something else. Excitement. An edge of danger.

Damn. He kind of felt alive. He wanted to see how far the little liar was going to take it. "You, too, Dais. Although I will admit, it feels like yesterday."

"Oh, shit," Carys said under her breath.

"Really? It feels like forever to me," Daisy said with a smile. "So you're working at MT now?"

Aidan seemed happy he wasn't pushing it. "He is, but he's going to be on a different floor. Hey, since you're going to the same place, do you mind driving her in? It would save Carys and I twenty minutes."

Daisy's eyes went super wide. Like he'd only seen those eyes on Pokémon before. "Oh, I wouldn't want to bother him."

"Of course." He would love to get her alone. "We're going to the same place."

She just didn't know the place they were going was right back to bed. Or a desktop. Or a broom closet. He was flexible.

Did she seriously think he wouldn't recognize her? The mask had barely concealed some of her face. It hadn't covered her plump lips or the stubborn chin she lifted right before she said something bratty and sassy. It hadn't done a damn thing to cover all that fucking hair he wanted laid out on a bed again.

"I don't…" Carys began.

But Nate was already on his feet. "It would be a pleasure. I'm sure you two need to get to work, and it's been an age since I got to talk to Aidan's sister. The last time I saw you I think you were pretending to be someone you weren't."

"Uh, I did a lot of pretending. I was a kid."

"I do believe you and Elodie were pretending to be pop stars." The memory pierced through him. His sister was much younger, and Daisy had been sweet to play with her. Daisy had been the kid who took care of the other kids, who organized adventures for the little kids at The Garden so the older kids could play video games.

Obvious relief flooded through her, and she proved she did not have any instinct for when a predator was stalking her, planning on eating her alive. "Oh, yes. That. We had fun. I would love to hear how she's doing, but I don't want to be a bother. I can grab an Uber."

That wasn't happening. He knew why she was going in.

Daisy O'Donnell needed a bodyguard .

He happened to be a bodyguard.

The math was simple. One plus one was going to equal that little brat in his bed. "Oh, I'm sure your father would have a problem with you being alone. Come along. We should get in so you can meet your new bodyguard."

"I don't…" Carys began.

"No, you don't"—Nate moved into Daisy's space—"have to do a thing. I'm a trained guard. I'm going to the same place as a young lady who needs protection. I'll deliver her straight to her dad."

"You will?" Daisy asked, looking around like someone would save her.

"Daisy…" Carys kept trying, but it looked like she wasn't completely sure what she thought was going on was actually going on.

"Baby, are you all right?" Aidan asked. "She's fine with Nate. I've known Nate Carter since I was a kid. She's perfectly safe with him. I assure you my father would let Nate watch over her. His parents are my parents' closest friends."

Yeah, he should give his dad a call to let him know he was about to blow their friendship all to hell.

Because she wasn't getting away from him.

"Yeah, I can't think of a reason to not go," Daisy said with a nervous smile. "Like not a single one because we're all friends. So, we should head out."

Trouble. Everyone said Daisy O'Donnell was trouble.

It looked like he was up for a bit of chaos.