The door shuts behind him. “The last few days have been a lot and I know you need time to process as well as rest. You don’t have to worry about Devon here.”
I hate the surge of emotion that comes over me, swelling in my chest and making my damn eyes water. This was thoughtful, kind, and thought out. That’s the reason Mabel and Zeke didn’t arrive with us; she needed time with me out of the house to get a few of my things put together.
“Thank you.”
In the blink of an eye, Xavier is against me, arms pulling me to his firm body. I hook my arms over his neck and stand on my toes to kiss him.
“I probably taste like French fries,” I say, wrinkling my nose.
“You do.” He replies back and rests his forehead against mine.
“You have to go back, don’t you?”
“Yes, the summit isn’t over.”
I let my eyes fall shut, drinking in this short moment of peace that I’m feeling from being in Xavier’s embrace. “How did you know to come down?”
“Your heartbeat,” he says softly. “I could hear it get faster.”
“You could hear it from all the way on the third floor?”
“Not the whole time.” He pulls his head back and looks into my eyes with a mixture of longing and curiosity. “I thought you were in danger.”
My lips curve into a smile. “When are you going to accept that I’m not a damsel in distress?”
“Never,” he says, returning my smile. “
“Right, I’m a weak, defenseless human,” I go on sarcastically.
“The weakest.” He kisses me again, hands running down my body. “Most vulnerable…” He kisses my neck and my eyes flutter shut. “Human.”
“Good thing I have my big, bad vampire husband to protect me.”
“Always.” He kisses my lips and then lets his hands slide away from me. “If I tell you to stay in the room with the door locked, it will just make you more likely to wander the hall, won’t it?”
“Probably.” I motion to the bag. “Any chance Mabel packed weapons?”
“Knowing her, there is a chance,” he chuckles. “Order as much room service as you wish.”
“I will,” I tell him and then he leaves. I lock the door behind him and take off my shoes, grabbing the plate of fries and going to the bed. I plop down, prepared to order a ton of food and really try and relax for a bit. I do have a lot to process, and Iwant to spend the next hour doing nothing but scrolling through social media while a movie plays in the background.
Digging my phone out of my purse, I see a text from an unknown number.
Text: I got your number from Sam. Is the TV still for sale?
It’s Antonio, using a code we have set up. He’s texting me from a new number because what he has to say is sensitive.
Me: Yes, but I already have one other person interested. How soon can you pick it up?
I sit up after I send the text. Now that Antonio knows I’m looped in, he can repay the message. He had texted me half an hour ago and I didn’t notice until now. He might not have this phone in his possession at the moment and it could be a while before he texts or calls back.
Staring at the phone for a few minutes, I shake my head and decide to order room service while I wait. I make it as far as logging onto the hotel’s website before my phone rings.
“Hey,” I answer right away.
“Hey Wren,” Antonio replies. I can hear the clicking of a turn signal in the background, letting me know he’s in a car. “You got a minute?”
“Yeah, of course. What’s going on?”
