After an overtly dramatic sigh, he responds, “I suppose you’re right. Weshouldjust step aside and let some mortal man have the honors.” The growl building inside me at that thought has him looking at me skeptically, “You and I both know that you won’t let anyone else have her. You care too deeply for her. And her, you.”
“Do I only care for her this way because of the summons?” I ask the question I haven’t dared even ask myself. “I mean… I did try to kill her when she summoned me.”
“Try?” he laughs.
“I tried. I had my hand around her throat, using all of my strength to crush her,” I recall, “I was so confused as to why I couldn’t squeeze the life out of her.”
He raises his brows in question, “And did she yell at you before or after that?”
“After. She shot me before,” the memory has me smiling.
More laughter before he answers me. “The only thing thehostiabond promises is just that. Protection. Whatever else you may be feeling is all on you,” he explains.
“She is magnetic,” I confess, “I’m unsure how to deal with these feelings I’m having. I’m not ready for our journey here to be over. I fear she still wishes herself rid of me, but I’ll never be ready to leave her side. As I can see from your face, you feel the same pull I do,” I consider throttling him for it, but I can’t bring myself to harm someone who would only ensure her safety and happiness.
He nods in thought, saying nothing to refute my statement about their connection, “You two should stay another day or two. I’ll schedule Bel a day at the spa. She needs a little TLC.”
“I don’t understand anything you just said,” I hate the modern world.
“TLC is tender, loving care. It’s like colloquial for relaxing. Kinda. A spa is a place where they’ll let her lay back, take care of her skin, maybe a massage, style her hair. I don’t know, Cas. It’s just fun. All three of us can go if you want.”
“It will be relaxing for her?” He nods, “Then let her do it by herself. She has not been allowed to leave my proximity for days. Let her have some semblance of privacy for a moment.”
“I’ll have them schedule a full day for her, then we can get a table to drink and dance tomorrow night. No playing chase or murder this time, okay?” He’s barely containing his laughter.
“Yes, yes, very funny. I’m going to bed. Be quiet in the morning, Bel prefers to sleep well into the day.” I begin to make my way to my room when he yells goodnight to me, so I respond, “Goodnight, Fritzy. See you tomorrow.”
As I crawl back into the warm embrace of Bel, I wonder if we could somehow make this work. If we could stay here indefinitely in the safety of Fritz’s home. Right now, she lives alone, paying for her home all by herself without the income necessary to do so. Nowhere could be safer for her than right here.
I can’t stop my mind from wandering to indecent places. Images of Fritz cradling her the way I am, images of them in far less innocent embraces. The jealousy I feel is greatly overshadowed by the need to see it come to life. She’d be so beautiful falling apart wrapped around him, so stunning lost in the rapture of us both worshipping at her altar.
I’ve never felt anything like this craving for the three of us together. Like something is pulling is all here, against all odds. As if this is where we were always made to be. I fall asleep wondering if fate could be kind enough to me to bless me with such a gift.
* * *
Walking into the common area in the morning, I find a scribbled note with drops of last night’s liquor from Fritz. Instructions on summoning Norman so he can show me where the body is being kept. He leads me down to the lower level of the hotel, allowing me privacy to have a little bit of the dead drunk man for breakfast. I don’t want to take too long, but Idowant to be at full power before the day begins.
When I return to the kitchen, I realize it’s nearly time for Bel to get out of bed, and I search for breakfast and coffee. Thankfully, Fritz has a machine similar to the one in Bel’s apartment, so I place a premeasured cup into the brewer and find a mug. While they’re nowhere near as humorous as the ones she has at home, they’ll do for now.
“Good morning, Caspian. No Sleeping Beauty yet?” Fritz asks, snatching the freshly brewed coffee from my hand.
“That’s for Bel.” I tell him.
“Yes, I know,” he winks at me, “Does she use creamer?” I nod at him, and he prepares it for her, not unlike how I would.
Just then, she toddles out of her room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She spots me, and her whole face lights up before she becomes more solemn and states, “You weren’t in bed when I woke up.”
“I wanted to start your coffee,” I explain, pointing at the cup in Fritz’s hand. He gives it to her, and she glances at him before expressing her gratitude with a little kiss on the corner of my mouth.
“Thank you,” she tells me, “and you,” she points her mug at him, a smirk playing on her lips.
“You’re welcome,” we say in unison, and Bel’s sleepy, flirtatious smile as she looks between us has me grabbing behind her neck to give her arealkiss. When I try to slide my tongue into her mouth, she releases a peal of laughter and pushes me away.
“Come now, Caspian,” Fritz begins, slinging an arm around Bel’s shoulder, pulling her close, “you two have all night to do that. For now, we have plans.”
“We do?” Bel asks, practically bouncing in excitement. She returns his affection with an arm around his waist. Whatever he plans, I’ll go along with, so long as she keeps smiling at us that way. She turns to me, “I thought we were going home?”
“It is your choice, Bel. If you’d like to go home, we can pack up and go right now. I know you wanted to finish your current read and there’s noneedto stay.” I tell her.
