We walk inside and see Fritz sitting on the couch in the living room of the space. We both freeze, but he just grins, “I tried calling. Imagine my surprise when I hear the phone ringing from my entryway table.”
“Sorry,” I mumble.
“No apologies necessary. From you, anyway. Butyou,Caspian owe me both an apology and a thank you. A murder in the middle of the dance floor? Have you no decency?” He mock scolds, smirking.
Caspian only shrugs, “He put his unwelcome hands on Belissenda. Hescaredher, so he had to die.”
He nods and hums in agreement, stating, “He’s in the deep freezer in the basement if you get hungry.” He looks at us for a second, then stands, “Go take as long as you need to get cleaned up. I’ll make drinks and we can talk business.”
“Do we look that bad?” I ask Caspian quietly.
“No,” Fritz interjects, “In fact, you both look and smell so delicious I cannot promise to be a gentlemen until you appear slightly less freshly fucked.”
“Oh.”
“Oh.”he repeats with a smile, “Go on, I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
Supernaturally Stupid
Bel
After hopping in a quick shower and throwing on some sweats and a matching hoodie, I go back out to the common area of the suite, somehow having made it out before Caspian got himself cleaned up.
Fritz catches me looking around for him, smiling before he says, “Oh, I’m sure he’ll be a few more minutes. Your little game had him all worked up.” I go to ask how he knows, but before I can, he asks, “You know this hotel has security cameras covering every inch of it, right?”
“Oh. My God. I didn’t even think of that.” I cover my face with both hands, utterly humiliated, trying not to panic.
He hurries over to me, gently prying my wrists away, saying, “No, no, no. Shhh, it’s fine. I took care of it. No one saw or will see anything, myself included.” I look up at him, tears starting to blur my vision when he says, “Hey, it’s alright. I jammed all the circuits when I saw him chasing you across the casino floor.”
“Really?” I’m almost too nervous to be hopeful.
“Really. You are safe here,” Fritz searches my face, “okay?”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“I can’t have you two getting public indecency charges on my watch, can I?” He teases.
“Or a murder charge?” I ask, somehow finding humor in the situation.
“Oh, that. That’s nothing,” he pauses, “In fact, let me tell you a secret.” He urges me closer, “I would have killed him if Cas had not.”
“Why?” I’m truly dumbfounded.
“Because he put his hands on you against your will. He frightened you.” He’s acting like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“So you wouldkillhim? For me?” I ask, dumbfounded. “You don’t even know me.”
“I’m sure we will be getting to know each othervery wellbefore too long,” his tone has me thinking about just how well he’d like to know me. “And besides that, I don’t need to know you to protect you. You are my guest, so you’re under my protection. Plus, you are Caspian’s lady friend. Anyone who matters to him matters to me,” he tells me vehemently.
This brings another question to my mind, one I can hopefully get answered before Caspian interrupts. “What were you and Caspian to each other? Before he… died?”
He grins salaciously before answering, “Well, technically, we can’t die. Not exactly.” He drops one of my hands but holds onto the other, pulling me toward the couch to sit. Once I do, he hands me a jalapeño margarita, andholy shit, I’m in heaven.“To answer your question though, we were friends. Begrudging allies first, then friends.”
He drapes one arm behind me on the back of the couch and holds his drink out for a toast. Even through my sweats, I can feel his attention gracing every inch of me, making me hot all over. As I clink my marg against his, a smug voice sounds from behind me, “We were, in fact, very good friends whooccasionallyenjoyed each other over the years. Or did you forget?”
Oh, fuck.
The images filling my head at his admittance are utterly depraved, but I can’t help myself. I wonder who—no. Stop that. Don’t think about it.
