Next time, do better
Carlos' POV
The soft hum of the bathroom fan faded as Daisy stepped out, her skin still glowing from the warmth of the shower. She was wrapped in a plush white robe, her hair damp and clinging to her shoulders. The scent of lavender and vanilla trailed behind her, filling the room with a calming sweetness. I leaned against the edge of the bed, my arms crossed, trying to keep my focus steady. It wasn’t easy.
“Where’s my dress?” she asked, her voice soft but clear.
I gestured toward the other side of the bed where I’d laid out a sleek black dress and a fresh set of undergarments. “Over there,” I said, my tone casual, though my mind was anything but.
She nodded, murmuring a quiet “Thank you” as she moved toward the clothes. I turned my head away, giving her privacy as she slipped out of the robe and into the dress. It wasn’t that I hadn’t seen her before; I had, more times than I could count, but every time felt like the first. And if I let myself linger too long, we’d both end up staying far longer than we should.
“I’m done,” she announced, her voice pulling me back to the present.
I turned to face her, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The dress hugged her curves perfectly, the hem stopping just above her knees. She looked stunning, and the way she carried herself only added to the effect.
“Thank you for this,” she said, her eyes meeting mine.
I shook my head, forcing a small smile. “You don’t have to thank me, Gold. Especially not for something as simple as this.”
She pressed her lips together, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “I should get going. My friend’s probably annoyed with me by now.”
She turned to leave but hesitated, her hand resting on the door handle. Then, as if making up her mind, she spun back around and took a few quick steps toward me. She stood on her tiptoes, her face tilted up toward mine. I bent down slightly, and she pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.
“Thank you for the lesson,” she said, her voice light and playful. Then, with a giggle, she hurried out the door, leaving me standing there, my heart racing.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “Get it together, Carlos,” I muttered to myself.
The truth was, I’d been dangerously close to losing control earlier. When I’d pushed her panties aside and felt her warmth against me, it took every ounce of willpower not to take her right then and there. All the lessons, all the teasing—it was supposed to be about teaching her, about control. But at that moment, all I could think about was how badly I wanted her.
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. “Next time, do better,” I told myself.
*********************
Daisy' POV
“I’m so sorry, Irene,” I said for what felt like the hundredth time as I climbed into the car Carlos had arranged to take me home.
Irene waved a hand dismissively. “Daisy, seriously, it’s fine. I told you, I took a walk, called my mom, and just hung out. It’s not a big deal.”
I bit my lip, still feeling guilty. “I just… I didn’t mean to keep you waiting so long.”
She laughed, her tone light and easy. “Honestly, I’m more shocked that Carlos Blaze is the guy you’ve been talking about all this time. I mean, the man’s a billionaire, and you were out here looking for a part-time job? Girl, you’re living the dream.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “I guess I don’t need a job anymore. I’ll just focus on school and figure things out after I graduate.”
Irene raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to my outfit. “Why’d you change clothes, though? Not that I’m complaining; you look amazing.”
I hesitated for a split second before coming up with an excuse. “Oh, I spilled some wine on my dress. Carlos had this one ready, so I just changed.”
She smirked, clearly amused. “Of course. When your… what did you call him? Father figure? When he’s a billionaire, you don’t just wipe off the stain. You change into a whole new outfit.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing despite myself. “It’s not like that, I promise.”
“Sure, sure,” she said, still grinning. “Just call me when you get home, okay?”
I nodded, realizing we hadn’t even exchanged numbers yet. “Oh, right. I don’t have your number.”
She pulled out her phone, and we quickly swapped contacts before I settled into the car. As the driver pulled away, my mind wandered back to what had happened in the suite. My cheeks burned as I remembered the way I’d practically begged Carlos to take me. If he had, I knew it would’ve been incredible. But he hadn’t, and now I was left with this ache, this longing that only he could satisfy.
When I got home, my mom was in the living room, lounging on the couch with the TV on. She looked up as I walked in, her face lighting up with a smile.
“Hey, Mom,” I said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“Hi, sweetheart,” she replied, returning the gesture. “How was your day?”
“It was… good,” I said, my voice trailing off as I thought about everything that had happened.
She noticed the hesitation and gave me a knowing look. “And how was your day, Mom?” I asked, quickly changing the subject.
Her smile widened, and she held up her wrist to show me a familiar bracelet. “Look what I got back today.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “Dad’s bracelet? How?”
“I met with Mr. Blaze this morning,” she explained, her voice filled with joy. “He said it’s been with him all this time. I can’t believe I have it back.”
“That’s amazing, Mom,” I said, genuinely happy for her. “I’m so glad you got it back.”
She nodded, her fingers tracing the bracelet lovingly. “Me too. It’s like having a piece of him back.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment before she spoke again. “You know, it’s been a while since Linda came over. Why don’t you invite her for dinner tomorrow?”
I stiffened at the mention of Linda’s name. “That’s not going to happen, Mom.”
She frowned, concern etching her features. “Did you two have a fight? If you did, dinner would be a good way to work things out.”
“We’re not friends anymore,” I said, my voice firm. “It’s not something that can be fixed over dinner.”
“What happened, Daisy? Friends fight, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end.”
I sighed, not wanting to get into the details. “When someone betrays you, it’s hard to come back from that.”
My mom’s expression softened, and she reached out to take my hand. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know how much she meant to you.”
I forced a smile, not wanting to dwell on it. “It’s okay. I’ve found someone else who makes me feel better.”
“Oh? Is it a boyfriend?” she asked, her tone teasing.
I shook my head, my cheeks heating up. “No, it’s not like that. She’s just a new friend. Her name’s Irene, and she’s been really good to me.”
“Well, maybe you can invite her over instead,” my mom suggested.
“Maybe,” I said, standing up. “What should we have for dinner tonight?”
She thought for a moment, then smiled. “How about yam? Your father loved it, and it feels like a good way to celebrate getting the bracelet back.”
“Yam it is,” I agreed, heading toward the kitchen. “I’m just going to change into something more comfortable first.”
“Alright, baby,” she called after me, her voice warm and loving.
As I walked to my room, I couldn’t help but think about how much had changed in such a short time. Linda was out of my life, Irene was in, and Carlos… well, he was in a category all his own. And as much as I tried to push the thoughts away, I knew it was only a matter of time before I gave in to what I really wanted.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
