CHAPTER 4:BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
1566 Words
DAISY
Rowan led Daisy down the hallway toward a room at the very end. Her stomach twisted with nerves, but excitement bubbled just beneath it. This was new for her—completely new.
She couldn't stop the small giggle that escaped her.
Rowan glanced at her, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
“Are you okay?” he asked when they reached the door.
Daisy looked at him and gave a wide smile, nodding quickly.
“Okay then,” Rowan said.
He opened the door and gestured for her to go in first.
The room was quiet compared to the loud music downstairs. Soft lights lined the walls, casting a warm glow over everything. A large leather couch sat in the middle of the room with a glass table in front of it. Bottles of liquor and crystal glasses rested neatly on top.
Daisy slowly turned in a small circle, taking it all in. The room felt private… expensive.
She looked back at Rowan, who had just shut the door.
“You own this place, don’t you?” she asked quietly.
Rowan leaned against the door, his expression unreadable.
“Something like that.”
Daisy glanced around again, feeling that strange pull toward him she couldn't quite explain.
Her gaze drifted until it landed on the large bed in the corner. Dark silk sheets, plush pillows—everything about it screamed luxury.
She raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
“So… you even have a bed in here?”
Rowan gave a small shrug.
“Long nights at the club.”
Daisy smirked, her cheeks warming as she looked away.
Rowan walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, loosening his tie.
“Strip.”
Daisy blinked.
“Wh—what?”
Her heart began to pound instantly. The confidence she had downstairs vanished just like that.
“I said strip,” Rowan repeated calmly. “Or are you afraid now, kitten?”
The teasing in his voice made her scoff.
Daisy stepped closer to him, lifting her chin slightly.
She wasn’t used to showing a man her body. The only man who had come close to seeing her naked was Romeo. Even then, he always insisted on turning off the lights.
At twenty-three, she had only ever had one boyfriend, and he was the only man who had seen her body—barely.
“Daisy.”
Rowan’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
He sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees as he watched her. The soft lighting made the pink fabric of her dress glow gently against her skin.
Daisy suddenly felt very aware of herself.
Her fingers played with the hem of her dress as she tried to steady her breathing.
Rowan tilted his head slightly.
“You were very confident downstairs.”
Daisy let out a nervous laugh.
“That was the wine talking.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
She shifted her weight, glancing at him before quickly looking away again.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked quietly.
“Like what?”
“Like you're waiting for something.”
His smile grew just a little.
“Maybe I am.”
Daisy swallowed and tugged lightly at her dress.
Rowan leaned back slightly, resting one hand on the mattress behind him.
“Relax, Daisy. I'm not rushing you.”
She looked at him again and noticed the hint of amusement in his eyes.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?”
Rowan shrugged.
“A little.”
Daisy rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the shy smile that appeared.
After a moment, she stepped closer.
“You know,” she muttered, “this is harder when you're staring like that.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
“Would you prefer I close my eyes?”
Daisy laughed softly.
“No.”
She hesitated before slowly sliding the straps of her dress down her shoulders.
Rowan didn’t move, but his eyes followed every small movement.
“You’re beautiful, Daisy,” he said quietly.
Her hands paused.
“You say that like you mean it.”
“I do.”
Daisy bit her lip.
“Careful,” she teased softly. “If you keep saying things like that, I might actually believe you.”
Rowan leaned forward slightly.
“Good.”
Silence filled the room for a moment, thick but not uncomfortable.
Daisy shook her head with a quiet laugh.
“I can't believe I'm doing this.”
Rowan’s gaze softened.
“Neither can I.”
But the way he said it made it sound like he definitely wasn’t complaining.
He watched her for another moment before standing up.
The sudden movement made Daisy’s heart jump. Up close, he seemed even taller—broad shoulders filling the space between them.
He stepped toward her.
Daisy instinctively stepped back until the back of her knees hit the bed.
“You look nervous now,” Rowan said.
“Maybe because you're suddenly very close,” Daisy muttered.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
“You weren’t shy five minutes ago.”
“That was before I realized how tall you are.”
Rowan chuckled.
“Is that the problem?”
Daisy shook her head.
“No. The problem is you keep looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you already know what I'm thinking.”
Rowan leaned closer.
“Do I?”
Daisy swallowed.
“Maybe.”
For a moment neither of them moved. The quiet made everything louder—the soft rustle of her dress, the sound of her breathing.
Rowan reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
The simple touch sent a shiver through her.
“You’re shaking,” he murmured.
“You make people nervous.”
“Only you.”
Daisy blinked.
“That’s not true.”
“It is tonight.”
Her heart started beating faster again.
She looked down briefly before meeting his gaze.
“You're very dangerous, Rowan.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Dangerous?”
“Yes. Because I barely know you and yet…”
She stopped herself.
“And yet?” Rowan prompted softly.
Daisy gave a shy smile.
“I still want to kiss you.”
Rowan didn’t answer.
Instead, he gently tilted her chin upward.
“Then why are you waiting?”
Daisy rolled her eyes, but her lips curved into a smile.
Then she did it.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
The kiss started soft, almost hesitant. For a second neither of them moved, as if they were both surprised it was actually happening.
Then Rowan kissed her back.
His hand tightened slightly at her waist, pulling her just a little closer.
A warm rush spread through Daisy’s chest. The world outside the room seemed to disappear—the music downstairs, the people, everything.
There was only Rowan.
When she finally pulled back, she blinked up at him, slightly breathless.
Rowan studied her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her side.
“So,” he said quietly, “was it worth the wait?”
Daisy laughed softly, still catching her breath.
“Now I understand why you’re dangerous.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
“And why is that?”
She smiled.
“Because I already want to do that again.”
Rowan chuckled low in his throat.
“Good.”
Daisy’s breath caught.
Rowan’s hand was still holding her chin, his thumb resting just beneath her lip. His eyes were darker now, watching her in a way that made her heart pound even harder.
“Then why are you waiting?” he repeated quietly.
The challenge in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Daisy swallowed.
For a moment she hesitated, her mind racing. She barely knew this man. He was dangerous, mysterious, and far too confident.
But standing this close to him made it impossible to think clearly.
Her eyes dropped briefly to his lips.
Rowan noticed.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
That was enough to make her decision.
Daisy stepped forward.
Rowan’s hand slid from her chin to the back of her neck just as she leaned in and kissed him.
The moment their lips met, the tension between them snapped.
The kiss was nothing like the soft, careful one before. Rowan kissed her back immediately, deeper this time, his hand tightening slightly at her waist as he pulled her closer against him.
Daisy’s hands instinctively moved to his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt as her heart raced.
The warmth of his body, the steady strength of his arms around her—it made her dizzy.
Rowan tilted his head slightly, kissing her again, slower this time but just as intense.
A small breath escaped Daisy before she could stop it.
Rowan pulled back just enough to look at her.
His thumb brushed lightly along her jaw.
“You still think I’m dangerous?” he murmured.
Daisy was breathing harder now, her cheeks flushed.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Rowan’s eyes flickered with amusement.
“And you're still kissing me.”
Daisy smiled faintly.
“Maybe I like dangerous things.”
For a second Rowan just looked at her.
Then he pulled her back into another kiss.
This time slower.
Deliberate.
Like he had all the time in the world.
- Writer
