Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Ricco chuckles and Sergio winces. Timeo doesn’t respond.
We have a lot to talk over.
I want him to explain to me what he did and why, and I am not super cool with letting Sergio think we’re jumping in bed with each other anytime soon.
My phone rings. It’s become almost routine now to ignore the notifications from my friends and followers as I answer the call. I know that Timeo wants me off social media and I’m not sure what I think about that myself yet.
I need time. Space.
“Hello?”
“Oh my God,” Eden says. I can tell she’s crying. “Your dogs are here, Starla, and they’re okay. I’m not sure who found them or how, but the kids are going crazy. And I’m so, so glad you’re okay. I heard that Fern turned on us and that you were in danger, but Sergio says he has you now.”
“Oh thank God! Thank you for taking care of them, please give them lots of hugs for me. And I’m fine,” I tell her, even though it’s a lie. I’m not fine at all. I’m alive, yes, but my emotions feel like they’ve been tossed into a blender and spun on high. “I promise. I need a little downtime tonight, and I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
We pull up to the largest hotel I’ve ever seen, with ornate columns, huge potted plants, and valet parking. Though it’s late at night, the bright lights of the entrance speak of opulence and wealth.
I hardly notice it. Sergio exits the car with us and gathers me in his arms. I want to sob against his chest, release all the emotions I have pent up inside me, but I know he’ll only worry about me. And when he goes home to Eden, he needs to tell her I’m alright.
So instead, I only hug him, and kiss his cheek. “Tell Eden I love her,” I say in a husky voice. “And I love you, too.”
He kisses my cheek and releases me. “I will. Stay in touch, sweetheart.” He presses cash into the palm of my hand. “And get yourself something to eat.”
“Thank you.”
A bellhop comes toward us dressed in a uniform. I expect him to lead us to the front door, but he doesn’t. Timeo doesn’t seem surprised at all as we’re led to a hidden entrance on the side of the building. “This way, please,” the bellhop says in a hushed voice.
A thick red carpet greets us as we enter the private entrance, as well as a large team of security personnel. “You may take the private elevator to the privacy suite,” the bellhop tells us.
And then we’re alone.
Timeo stands on one side of the elevator and I’m on the other.
“I love you so fucking much,” he says in a husky voice. “And I’ll explain everything.”
All of the words I wanted to say die on my lips. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out.
The elevator glides to a stop and the door dings when it opens.
I step past Timeo and enter the hallway. The carpet feels good, thick and plush under my feet. Between whatever Fern gave me and the crash of adrenaline, I could crawl into bed and sleep forever. I’d be willing to bet Timeo has similar thoughts.
Even though we came up in a private elevator after entering through a secure door, Timeo sweeps the place before he does another thing. We’ll be old and in a nursing home, and he’ll sweep the bingo room before we get our cards.
I step out of my shoes, almost beyond the point of caring if there is anyone here, as long as they’ll just let me sleep.
When he’s finally satisfied we’re alone, he nods toward the bathroom.
“Bathroom. Strip.” When I open my mouth to protest, he shakes his head. “I promise I’m not going to do anything. I want to wash tonight off, Starla. Give me that.”
I purse my lips. “Sounds like a thinly veiled excuse to get my clothes off,” I retort.
His eyes smolder at me. “If I wanted your clothes off, sweetheart, I wouldn’t be asking.”
Thump.
Goddamn him and his wily charms.
I look toward the bathroom. “Shower sounds nice, actually, but only if we order food, first.”
“Bath, not shower, we have a lot to discuss. I’ll order food while it fills.”
Stepping past me, he heads into the bathroom, weary but determined. I watch as he turns on the faucet and dumps half a bottle of bodywash in.
“Oooh,” I murmur. “Bubble bath. Nice touch. Do we have a menu?”
“Get in the tub, Starla. I know what you like.”
I have to give it to him. When I strip off my clothes and sink into the hot tub filled with fluffy bubbles, it feels amazing. I sigh so deeply it sounds like a moan.
Timeo’s out there ordering enough food to feed a small army.