“Thank you.” He flashes his perfect smile and she flips him off. He watches my screen as I am typing.
“Can you not watch me?” Frowning, I lift my hand and push it into his cheek.
“I like to watch.”
I don’t miss the teasing drawl, or how his eyes are pinned to me. Slowly pulling my gaze, I keep it down as I type. After a huff, he reaches into his rucksack and pulls out a tablet.
“I’ll just do some reading.”
I still, fingers hovering above my keyboard. Nora clears her throat. Dane’s eyes narrow on Royce.
“What are you reading?” I whisper, but I didn’t even need to ask.
“What do you think I am reading, Lucky?”
My heart skips a beat, and I swallow down the anxiety that is caught in my throat.
“He can’t read very well, don’t stress.” Dane makes a joke and Royce mimics him.
“I can read very well, thank you, especially the bits where Rebecca and Duncan get down and dirty.”
“Oh my God.”
He shifts beside me, leaning close as his lips edge closer to my ear. “Remember what I said.” He pauses for a moment and suddenly I forget how to breathe. “If you need any help spicing these scenes up…”
“Royce,” Nora snaps.
He drags his bottom lip behind his teeth. Creed looks over, confusion painted over his expression.
“What’s going on?”
“Royce is being a fucktard.”
Creed rolls his eyes and my cheeks are still burning. Royce laughs beside me and at this moment in time, I wish I had a parachute so I could jump this plane.
Thinking about it, I could jump out the plane, parachute or not.
Walking into the hotel, Nora stands at check in and I am ready to face dive the bed. Royce is close to me, hand curled around my hip as a small crowd hover near us. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Cowan staring at me and I shrink into Royce’s body. He seems preoccupied though, so he doesn’t notice.
“Okay, here’s your key.” Nora walks over to us and hands Royce the room card.
I wait a beat or two for mine, but she just looks at me with a blank expression on her face.
“Royce.” She scowls and he pushes his tongue into his cheek, dropping his head as he focuses on something on the floor which is clearly more interesting. “You didn’t tell her.” Nora stamps her foot, her arms folded over her chest.
“Tell me what?”
“Why are you such a jerk at times?” I can hear the frustration in her voice.
“Hello.” I wave my hand. “Tell me what?”
“We’re roomies.” He wiggles his brow and now it’s my time to get annoyed.
Snatching the room key, I storm towards the lift.
“Top floor, kid,” he calls out and I hold my hand up, flipping him off.
Race weekend passes in a blur,and after the high of Melbourne, we’re in an almighty low.
