“Really? And how would you expect to do that without opening the door to our suite or leaving the room?”
“Seriously? Come on, Roark, it’s the Savoy, for heaven’s sake. What could happen?”
Roark walked back to her and leaned against the table.
“I knew that when I made the rule. Break the rule, little girl, and I can assure you won’t like the consequences.” He chuckled. “That’s not completely true. You won’t like part of your punishment, and you really won’t like that you like the rest. Keep in mind what I said about my taking your ass for the first time with you sporting a set of welts when I’m pissed. Don’t do it.”
Kissing the top of her head and leaving her in their room, Roark walked briskly down the hall and took the lift down to the main floor. He asked the front desk to find Felix since he wasn’t at his usual post. He was still a bit surprised when the staff seemed to know people who, until last night, had only existed on the pages of Sage’s books. Before Felix could be located, Gabriel Waverly approached him.
“Roark, I’m glad you’re back.”
“As am I. I wanted to personally thank you for your assistance in keeping Sage safe.”
The tall blond chuckled. “Not as well as I would have liked. She’s not very good at following directions, is she?”
Roark smiled. “She has her moments. For the most part, she minds me, but then I provide her with the structure and support she needs.”
“I understand. I must say when I first met her, I was unaware you had given up your womanizing ways or that Sage was attached to you.”
“I have, and she is,” Roark said in a steely tone. “When a man finds a rare woman of Sage’s fire and passion, he would be a fool not to do everything in his power to make her his.”
“Yes, Holmes said something very similar. But should she ever seek shelter elsewhere…”
“She won’t.”
“Mr. Samuels,” Felix hailed from across the lobby. “How may I be of assistance?”
Roark faced off with the Head of Security, the men taking the measure of the other as Felix joined them.
“Well, I’m sure Sage is safe with you. Should you need my assistance, please let me know,” Waverly said.
Roark inclined his head as Gabe turned back toward his office.
“Felix, what were you thinking, allowing that man to get close to Sage,” he snarled.
“I didn’t know if you’d be able to pierce the veil, and I wanted her safe.”
“Of course, forgive me. I find I’m a bit more overly protective of Sage than I had counted on. Let’s you and I go for a walk.”
“Do you think we can leave the hotel? I told them my flat was being painted, so I’ve been staying here. I’m a bit concerned about being away from whatever may be anchoring us to this place.”
“I don’t think it’s an issue. I was down by the Thames, and Holmes has been going between here, the yard, and his home.”
“Odd feeling, isn’t it?” Felix dropped his voice. “Knowing until just recently, we only existed on the pages of Sage’s books?”
“What I’m finding fascinating is everyone seems to know us.”
“I agree,” he said, smiling as they walked outside. “How can I help?”
“As you know, someone tried to have killed Sage last night. I need to figure out who. Trying to access the dark web from out here is a lot more difficult than when I was inside and connected.”
“Eddy should be able to help.”
“So, you can communicate with him as well and vice versa?”
“Yes. He managed to stay in the book, but I’ve been able to reach out. What is it you need, Roark?”
“Everything he can find on an American publisher, Gail Vincent, and the hired killer.”
“Do you think your need to protect her allowed all of us to leave her books?”
“Probably. It’s weird, though, isn’t it?”
Felix smiled. “Very. I’ll see what Eddy can find.”
Chapter 9
Roark headed back to their room, smiling at how quickly he had accepted not only his new reality, but sharing his life and everything in it with Sage. He wondered if she had any idea the depth of his feelings for her. Since she no longer wrote his dialogue, he hoped he would be able to find the words. Thinking of her waiting for him made his cock stiffen. If she wanted to go swimming, he’d take her down tonight after it was closed, and they’d go skinny dipping. She could be his personal mermaid. Between now and then, he meant to take her back to bed and have at her. God, he was like a randy schoolboy.
Stepping into the lift, he looked at the buttons. Their suite was on the sixth floor, but he feared if he went all the way up, he would find the room empty. Hoping against hope, he pushed the button for the third floor. He knew her sometimes better than she knew herself. He entered the atrium that housed the pool. It was empty save for a lone swimmer. He stealthily approached the end of the pool she was swimming toward.
When she reached the end of the pool, Roark grasped the top of her head so she couldn’t see who it was or break the surface. He pushed down, preventing her from coming up for air or swimming away. Sage’s hands flailed. He could almost feel her panic and desperation as she tried to break free. He held her under the water long enough to scare her, but not long enough to hurt her. When he released her head, he grabbed her by the ponytail she had used to pull her hair back and hauled her above the surface of the water.
Waiting until she saw it was him and she had placed her feet on the bottom of the pool, he silently dragged her toward the steps and helped her out of the pool. He handed her
