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His eyes glaze over me like he’s never seen me before. “The usual room, please.”
“Yes, sir, it’s available.” I type through the booking flow. He says nothing, only impatiently looks at his phone and glances over his shoulder like he’s waiting for someone.
I want him to look at me. I need him to make eye contact, to acknowledge that something good happened between us. A week ago he was thrusting between my legs, kissing me, worshipping me, tasting me and making me feel beautiful. What happened to that?
It’s like he’s never seen me before.
Like I’m back to being the hotel girl.
I feel small and awful by the time he inserts his credit card to pay for the night. What did I expect? Did I want him to lean across the desk to kiss me?
No, it’s better this way.
Keep it professional.
“You’re all set.” I pass his key across the desk. “Have a nice stay, Mr. Bass.”
He glances at me but doesn’t walk away. Instead, he leans in closer. “Can you send up the usual in a couple hours?”
“Of course,” I say, heart racing wildly.
His eyes are heavy-lidded, almost bored. His lips turn up, bow-shaped and lovely. I know how good they feel. How his rough hands can make my spine arch and my toes curl.
His voice lowers to nearly a whisper. “What color tonight, Mari?”
I almost melt right then and there.
Oh fucking hell.
I wanted this, right? But maybe it was better before.
I’m such a freaking mess. All I can do is chew my lip and answer, “Black.”
His eyes widen a fraction. We stay like that, leaning in too close, on the edge of inappropriate, until he slips the room key into his jeans and heads off.
“Damn, what I wouldn’t give to be in those pants right now,” Sara says wistfully. “I’d die to cup his ass like that.”
“You’re a sicko.”
“Come on, Mari, look at the guy. He’s prime real estate. Grade-A Fuck Beef.”
“Gross? But yeah, I agree.”
As he nears the elevators, I catch motion to my left. A person’s coming into the lobby and instantly my smile evaporates.
Ruben strides toward Bass. He’s got a smarmy, cocky smirk on his nasty face. He doesn’t glance in my direction. I’m about as important as the chairs and the tables. But I can’t stop staring at my cousin as he reaches him and they shake hands. Ruben says something, Bass answers, and Ruben laughs. They act like they know each other.
What the hell is happening right now?
I want to scream. It makes no sense, but I should’ve realized. A man like Bass comes to this hotel for one reason and one reason only.
To meet with my family.
Ruben and Bass get on an elevator and are gone.
“Wasn’t that your cousin?” Sara’s leaning over the desk. “What’s his deal, anyway? Is he single?”
“Sara, I’m not even kidding when I say this, stay the hell away from Ruben. No matter what you do.”
