20 Chapter 20

She'd done it.

Addison had taken a break from Daniel Mercer. Although she was pretty sure he wasn't going to see it that way. He was going to think she had run away from him again. But dammit! She did actually need a break from the most intense week of sex she'd ever experienced. Literally. Her vagina was sore.

Daniel had come to her condo every night for the past week after they both finished work and made love to her in the most imaginative, dominant ways. He took her to heights she'd never before experienced and forced her constantly out of her comfort zone. Really, he did that simply by being present, let alone by tying her up and fucking her.

He made her body sing with pleasure. But he denied her any real connection to him. Every time she tried to have any meaningful conversation, he cut her off, or he forced her up against a wall, or bent her over a couch, or whatever his ruthless imagination could come up with. The result was a serious lack of life details on her new sexual partner. And sore privates.

She sighed as she enjoyed the luxurious feeling of the Four Seasons bathrobe against her skin. She sat on the edge of a deep tub and drew herself a bath. This was the second and last night of her impromptu "holiday." She'd decided two nights would be perfect. One would give her body time to recover from Daniel's merciless bouts of lovemaking and the second would give him time to recover from his undoubted fury over her disappearance.

She'd called in sick at the orchestra for the first time ever. She'd felt a little guilty when a concerned Maestro had called her back to check on her and tell her to take all the time she needed. She'd assured him that it wasn't anything too serious, just contagious enough that she didn't want to spread it around the symphony. She felt doubly guilty for using the orchestra's credit card at the hotel, but she knew Daniel would trace anything in her name.

Addison blamed Daniel. He was the type of person to prey on weakness and use any disadvantage. He was a bad influence and she'd been hanging out with him for a week.

She traced her fingers through the bathwater and sighed in satisfaction. Shutting off the taps, she stood and felt her way to the bedroom. Picking up the hotel phone she dialled room service and ordered strawberries, chocolate syrup and champagne. She knew it was cliche, but she was already spending $415 per night to stay at the Four Seasons. She was going to enjoy every moment of it before she had to return to her confusing new reality.

Her tastes were usually more bohemian, but she was overdue for a staycation and she had been trying to think of the last place Daniel Mercer might expect her to go. After her stay on Chris' couch, she didn't think he'd expect her to hide out in a luxury hotel. He'd probably traced her last time using security cameras, so she had been careful to leave her cell phone behind and take bus routes only. It must have worked, since Daniel hadn't come after her the night before.

Addison smiled to herself as she dropped the bathrobe and sank into the heated water of her bath. It enveloped her like a warm, wet kiss. She wondered what Daniel was doing. She wasn't looking forward to seeing him the next day when she returned to her apartment after work, but she did miss him a little. Over the past week, they had been as physically close as two people could get. It felt strange being alone in an empty hotel room and a big bed.