Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Think we got enough?” Tristan asked.
“I think we got what we needed.” I rose, Tristan following. His elbow brushed mine—sparks. “I’m going to speak to the hotel and see if I can get any surveillance footage from the day Mason was there. We’ve got a decent description with an identifying feature, and we know how to contact Mason now.”
“I can’t believe he stayed at the same hotel we’re in. Jesus Christ.” Tristan gave a self-deprecating laugh, like wind being sucked out of a balloon. “What are the odds?”
“Not sure. I was never big into gambling. Or math.”
“Good, me either. Guess that’s why I stuck to working with words instead.” Tristan scratched at the back of his neck, the wings on his forearm tattoo flexing with his arm. “We can’t stay there. Not anymore.”
“That’s fine. I can look into other hotels.”
Tristan shook his head, hand falling on my wrist. More sparks. Fiery and bright, shooting up and down the entire length of my body. “No, no more hotels. I want to start getting things back to normal, and that means no more housekeeping.”
“I was just getting used to it, too.” I slanted my grin, cocked my head, stole a kiss.
Fireworks.
“How about I stay over your place and pay you back by making the bed, then?” Tristan’s smile was wide. It was just us in the courtyard, but looking down into those warm brown eyes made it feel like the entire world was emptied out except for us. He was perfection, in every sense of the word. How the hell had I been able to resist the pull I felt toward him from the second we met? The circumstances were complete and utter shit, but the result of us meeting was turning out to be beauty shining through the chaos.
“I can think of a couple other ways you can repay me,” I said, teasing Tristan with a nibble on his lower lip. Having him stay over my place was exactly what I wanted. It wasn’t as impenetrable as the hotel, but I’d installed a new security system that kept watch over the entire property, not just the front door. I also put in a fence crowned with sharp iron peaks that made it impossible to climb. I didn’t care that I was slowly turning my house into a fortress. It gave me a greater peace of mind knowing that Tristan would be safe, and that’s all that mattered, aesthetics and landscaping be damned.
“Come,” I said, my stomach rumbling. “Let’s get some lunch and talk about things that don’t have to do with the case. It’s been a long few days.”
“It sure fucking has,” Tristan said, leaning into me as we walked into the Mandarin Hotel, slipping back into its dark hallways and red satin walls. We decided to treat ourselves and have lunch there, where we sat in a booth underneath a plume of peacock feathers placed in the center of a golden frame.
I flexed my neck as I looked over the menu. “God, I could use a good massage.”
“I’ve been told I have golden hands,” Tristan smirked at me from across the table. His dark red polo shirt was nearly the exact same shade of red as the booth we sat in.
“Then maybe that’s how you can pay for your room and board,” I shot back before stretching my legs out under the table. I found his, resting my ankle against him. “Start with the knots in my shoulder.”
“And work my way down?”
“Exactly,” I said, hooking my foot against his leg. He cocked his head, brown eyes searching mine. He was so fucking handsome, with his short dark hair that was starting to grow back after a recent haircut, the top curls coming out tight, shining under the golden lighting of the hotel restaurant. I loved waking up to him nestled into me, that soft head of hair tickling my chin. I’d wake him up with kisses, which would slowly (and sometimes quickly) evolve into much more.
Things changed since we had made us official. There was no more beating around the bush, no more testing the temperature between us. It was now full throttle, like someone had slammed down on the gas and launched us forward. We fucked without reservations, giving it all to each other, letting the other take what they wanted. It was beautiful and primal and so fucking blissful.
As we looked through the menus and made our orders, still playing footsie with each other under the table, even as the waiter joked with us about the catch of the day, I realized then that I had found my one. He checked off all the boxes for me and made me happy in a way that I could barely even comprehend.
I realized then that I would do anything to keep him safe.