She blinked, still holding on tight to me like she wasn’t ready to let go. “I’ve got you,” I said again, lower this time. I laughed roughly. “I’d like to promise you that won’t happen again… but it’ll probably only stop once we’re back in Seattle.”
Her head whipped towards me, eyes huge. “You’re joking.”
“Welcome to stardom, dear.”
CHAPTER 38
He hadn’t lied.
A similar crowd greeted us once we arrived at the hotel.
I was a little more prepared this time, keeping myself tucked close to his side. Ansel’s arm was slung over my shoulders, stepping in time with me as he hurried us into the hotel.
The hotel room was… nice. Nicer than anything I’d stayed in, but not so over the top that I felt out of place. A king-size bed sat in the middle of the room, all crisp white sheets and too many pillows.
And just like that, my stomach swooped.
We’d shared a bed before — twice, actually — but this felt different. Bigger. More deliberate. There wasn’t a couch to retreat to, no excuse to say, ‘Oh, it just happened.’
My bag sat next to his at the foot of the bed. My heart did a weird little stutter at the sight. Like it was a preview of something I couldn’t let myself imagine.
“It’s not bad, huh?” Ansel’s voice pulled me out of it. He wasleaning casually against the wall, but his eyes were on me, watching the way I took it all in.
“Yeah,” I managed, my voice a little too thin. “It’s… nice.”
“There’s only one bed,” he said softly, almost like it was a question.
“I can see that.”
His smile was slow. “We’ll survive.”
My pulse fluttered stupidly at that.
“It’s late,” he continued, sliding my bags off of his shoulder and onto the small desk. “I’ll probably wash the airplane shit off of me… if you want to join?”
My cheeks heatedquickly, shaking my head. “I’ll shower after you.”
I was thankful for muscle memory, for politeness and quick answers. Foronce, it did me good to speak without thinking. If I had waited, if I had paused even asecond,I might have found myself in the shower with him.
He just nodded, like he’d expected that answer, and grabbed his bag to head for the bathroom.
The sound of the shower running filled the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts — too many of them. My eyes kept landing on the bed, onhisbag beside mine, like the universe was dangling something dangerous in front of me.
When he came out, hair damp, and a towel slung around his waist, bare-chested, he looked unfairly good — comfortable andso at home, like this wasn’t a hotel room in a strange city butours.
“Your turn, kid,” he said softly, giving me that easy smile that always made my stomach flip.
I nodded, grabbing my pajamas and slipping past him. “Juniper!” He called, and when I turned… he was holding one of his shirts out to me. “You were such a fan the other night, I packed extras for you.” God… something about the way he just…wantedto take care of me…
It had me in pieces every time.
When I came out, my hair still wet and skin warm from the shower, he was already in bed — lounging against the pillows, scrolling aimlessly through his phone like he belonged there. Against all better judgment, I forewent my packed pajama set and had slid his shirt over my head. Too big, too soft, toohim. It fell at the middle of my thigh. It was obscene, I was sure. But… it was almostsafe.
“You get the wall side,” he said gently, patting the mattress. “I’m not sure if you’ve ever shared the bed with analpha male,” I scrunched my nose, shaking my head. He just laughed. “But no man should let his girl sleep close to the door. I’ll be the one fighting the intruders.” His grin was smug, bordering on cocky. “Plus, less chance of you trying to escape in the middle of the night.”
I rolled my eyes but climbed in anyway, settling gingerly on my side. The moment my head hit the pillow, his phone disappeared, and he turned to face me.
“Comfy?” he teased softly.
