“Room 325.” He scrambles to get the keycard and slaps it on the countertop.
I scoop up the key and cradle Rowan as best I can while walking to the elevator. “You just saved a life, Thad.”
Once we’re on the elevator I hit the third floor button and when the carriage door closes we both burst into laughter.
“You’re a genius!”
“I can’t believe that worked,” Rowan says, smoothing her hair down and rubbing her forehead. “That’s going to leave a mark.”
“Did you have that planned?”
She shrugs, her laughter calming a bit. “What do you think I was doing in the car for the entire drive? No offense, but you’re not the best conversationalist.”
I chuckle, the tension in my chest decompresses a little. No one has ever made me feel this at ease except Theodore. Thinking of him sobers me instantly and when the double doors open I can’t get to his door fast enough.
She scans the key card and we slip inside the dark hotel room. Even without being able to see who is in the room, a zap of electricity thrums through my blood at the smell Theodore’s cologne. Rowan seems to have the same sense because she tiptoes to the bed closest to the window as if she recognized the sound of Carey breathing in his sleep.
“Shhhh, hey…” She whispers as Carey rouses. “It’s me. Is it too early for breakfast—oomph!” She’s pulled down and disappears under the covers against her boyfriend’s big body.
I look down at Theodore, surprised we didn’t wake him when we came in. I can’t make out much in the dark room, but I can see his face looks different. Dark spots under his eyes, another above his eyebrow, and on his lip.
What happens next can only be explained as elemental, a bone-deep need that can’t be explained.
I kick my shoes off, and strip out of my clothes down to my bra and underwear. I pull the comforter back and slip into the bed beside him. I lay on my side, my heart in shreds as I carefully run my fingers along the dark marks of his face. He moans and when he opens his eyes they look black and cold as it takes him a minute to decipher sleep from reality.
“You don’t have to wake up,” I whisper.
“Kitten?” That one word is laced with awe and yearning that chips away at my cold heart. “Are you really here?” He reaches for me, his big palms hot and greedy as he slides them around my waist, down my back to grip two fists full of my ass. “You are here.” He rolls to his back and pulls me on top of him with a grunt.
“You’re hurt.” I drop a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Now that my eyes have adjusted a little more to the dark I see the scab on his lower lip and the stiches over his eye.
“Not too bad.” His hands run up and down my back as if touching me comforts him and he can’t get enough. “Why are you here? I thought…”
“My stupid, stupid heart.” The backs of my eyes get hot and tingle, but I don’t wipe at them in favor of keeping my hands on him. “I am weak when it comes to you.”
“Fuck, babe.” His voice cracks and he nuzzles my throat, his lips moving slowly as if to keep from reopening his wound. “If you’re weak then so am I. I’d take a beating ten times worse if it brought you back to me.”
I kiss along his neck and jaw, steering clear of the dark marks on his skin. Usually this kind of touching would lead to sex, and although the soft kissing, his hands on my skin, and his body cradling mine are arousing me, there’s a deeper need that is new and unfamiliar, a desperate desire to give comfort that goes beyond orgasms.
“You were right, I am a liar. I’m afraid once you really get to know me, you’ll leave me.”
“I know you. And I’ve never wanted you more.”
Then, the words I never thought I would utter come pouring from my lips as if they were designed specifically to say them. “Can I hold you?”
He pulls back enough to get my eyes and even in the dim light I see awe and wonder in his gaze. “No one has ever….” Rather than finish, he shakes his head. I worry he’s going to reject me, but he rolls me to the side, wraps both arms around my middle, puts his head on my chest and softly, against my bare skin, he whispers, “Please.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Spider
The sound of my phone ringing on the bedside table wakes me from a warm, dreamless sleep in Emery’s arms. With my ear against her chest I can hear her breathing change and her heart pick up rhythm.
“Shhh, go back to sleep.” Reluctantly I roll away from her to snag my phone. It’s Kaipo. “This better be important,” I say, feeling as though I had only just fallen asleep.
“Did you get the text from Coach Norburg He’s calling an early team meeting.”
I grunt and squeeze my eyes closed feeling the ache from last night’s fight all over my face. “All right.” I hear Carey and Rowan talking softly in the bed next to us. “We’re up, we’ll be there.”
After disconnecting the phone I roll back to Emery and she accepts me into her arms. She runs her fingers through my hair and I could easily fall back asleep just like this. “Everything okay?”
“Shit,” Carey grumbles. “Early meeting.”
“Yeah.” I’m assuming this is because of what happened last night. I have to consider that I might be facing Brawley here soon, an unwelcome fucking thought.
“Who called the meeting?” There’s a hint of concern in Emery’s voice, and I hate that I feel responsible for putting it there.
“Don’t worry, Kitten.” I turn my lips to her throat and kiss her there.
“But what if—”
“Nope.” I drag myself from
