Okay, maybe just one more.
He’d shifted slightly, his attention now back on Mac—but his phone was still in his hand, thumb hovering like he was waiting for my next move.
And despite myself, the smile curved again at the corner of my mouth.
Danger:You’re going to get us caught.
Crash:We’re already caught.
Crash:We just haven’t crashed yet.
A full-body shiver ran through me. The music faded. The lights blurred. Everything narrowed to the tiny screen in my hand and the pounding of my heart. But I met his sincerity with my primary defence mechanism. Humour.
Danger:You must have concussion. You literally crashed a few days ago, Champ.
Crash:Touché. What are you doing later?
I chewed the inside of my cheek. Graham was watching the band, evidently having given up on trying to hold a conversation with me. Which was fair enough.
Danger:Why?
Crash:Well, I was going to give you my room number, but if you’re busy…
Damn.
Danger:Tempting offer. I might be able to squeeze you in, but I’m a very important person now. Did you see? I’m trending.
Crash:Because I got punched in the face and you callously wrote about it while my bruise was forming. You owe me.
Danger:I paid in full against the hotel wall. Remember?
Crash:Oh, yes. I remember it vividly.
Danger:I don’t know, your memory seems to be shaky since the crash.
Crash:OK, that’s enough. I’m coming over there to give you a spanking.
I gasped, my cheeks heating rapidly. Graham glanced at me, then shook his head.
“Get a room with whoever that is.”
“Sorry,” I said. I tried to put my phone away, but I couldn’t help myself. I looked across the plaza right at Aleks. He was listening intently to Mac, but as if he could feel my gaze on him, he glanced my way. Our eyes met, right through the group of people passing between us. Neither of us were smiling now. There was palpable electricity crossing the distance between us.
I looked back at my phone and typed with shaking fingers.
Danger:Give me that room number, I’ll see what I can do. I mean… if there’s spanking involved, you can count me in.
I glanced over in time to see his smirk as he read my message.
Crash:1004, top floor.
He looked back at me as I read it and gave me the tiniest nod before turning away and allowing his companions to lead him back towards the Obsidian suite.
It was like I was in his car, hurtling towards a hairpin turn at two hundred miles an hour. I could see the crash coming and knew it was inevitable. But I held on for dear life, the thrill coursing through my veins, lighting me up in a way that had been missing for far too long.
Chapter Twenty One – Seoul Thursday
Aleksandr Volkov – Seoul, Hotel Room 1004
