Page 72 of Theirs to Possess: The Marriage Claim

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Isla

“No!” I hurriedly say, but I’m blushing at almost being caught talking about him.

“Isla didn’t eat,” Brennan supplies easily. “Discussing food.”

“I’m fine.” I give Brennan a reassuring smile. “Really.” And since we’re going to my place, I can grab a couple of protein bars.

While Dorian turns down his shirtsleeves, slides his cuff links into place, then pulls on his suitcoat, I grab my small purse from the sideboard.

Moments later, a knock is followed by a female voice calling out, “Bell service!”

Brennan answers the door, and the young woman grabs the two bags that he points out.

I give a last, wistful look at the coffee pot before moving toward the exit.

“Need another cup?”

“I’d kill for one.”

“There are to-go cups over there,” the woman says, pointing to the bar. “The cupboard right above your champagne bottle.”

I smile my gratitude.

Brennan follows the woman outside, and Dorian waits for me. “You can go ahead,” I tell him. Having him so near always rattles me.

“I’ll wait for you.”

Arguing will waste my breath, so I shrug.

Without being asked, he finds the cup and a lid and brings them to me. “Would you like me to pour it?”

“You’ve already done enough.” When he raises an eyebrow at my tone, I force a tight smile. “Thank you, though.”

Once I have my coffee in hand, extra creamer splashed in, he opens the door for me.

Brennan is standing next to a ridiculously large luxury SUV. When we approach, he opens the door.

I’m not sure I’ll ever figure out the relationship between the two of them.

Brennan takes the coffee from me. With his free hand on my elbow, he helps me slide into the back seat next to Dorian.

The interior swallows me whole, a cocoon of extravagance that presses in from every side. Midnight black leather gleams under the soft sunlight, and its rich scent fills my senses. The plush seat molds to me like it’s trying to hold me in place. On the far side, there’s a sleek console that holds a chilled bottle of champagne in a silver bucket. As if I have anything to celebrate.

Despite the SUV’s size, the space inside the passenger compartment seems tight because of the way Dorian’s broad frame fills the seat next to me. His thigh is mere inches from mine, spiraling me back to the way he felt when he was ontop of me last night. Suddenly the air is thick, and I feel trapped, like there’s no room for my thoughts to breathe.

Once I’m situated with my bag beside me, Brennan gives me back my to-go cup. “Thank you.”

After reaching across my body to fasten my safety belt, he climbs in after me, settling across from us in a rear-facing seat.

His knees nearly brush mine as he leans forward to pull the heavy door shut. The solid thud echoes, and I clutch my drink more tightly, feeling as if I’m suffocating in this ridiculous luxury.

I’m not accustomed to this. My family has plenty of money, and on rare, special occasions, my father would rent a limo. But we’ve never had a vehicle like this with a driver just sitting and waiting for us.

“Is this the way you always travel?”

Dorian glances up from his fancy-schmancy Bonds device. “It is. You’ll have a driver assigned to you. Just let them know if you need to go somewhere.”