Chapter 29 #2
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I rested against the desk as excitement danced with nerves, making it difficult to move.
Another night with Tori and Reid. A full weekend with them.
It sounded like heaven, save for the fact that I would have to face her family.
There was no way that would go well, and I suspected I wouldn’t be welcome enough to do more than drop them off and pick them up.
Reid opened the door, his eyes growing large at the tub of movie theater popcorn in my hand.
“Whoa, is that for me?” he asked, his hands reaching up for it.
“Yup. Only the good stuff for movie two.”
I handed it to him and entered the suite. “Where’s your mom?”
“Right here.” Tori’s head popped up from behind the counter in the kitchen. Her black hair was piled on her head, messy strands sticking out in different directions. She had a band T-shirt on that was splashed with globs of strawberry.
I walked over to her and wiped a pink splotch from her cheek. “Rough night?” I asked, glancing at the mess on the floor.
“Something like that.” She grabbed more paper towels and returned to the floor. Taking a handful, I joined her. “I was trying to make strawberry milkshakes, but the blender went wonky on me.”
I picked up the lid that must have flown off during the incident, studying it. “Is this the same blender I bought you?”
Her eyes leaped to mine. “Yes.”
My smile was quick. “No wonder. I’ll get you a new one.”
“But I like this one.” And I could see the emotion in the subtle creases that formed around her eyes. I had bought it for her when we decided on milkshakes and a movie night, running to the store to buy it when she realized she didn’t have one.
“I don’t think it’s working properly, luna mia.” The nickname flowed like it always had, and I dropped my sight back to the mess.
She pressed her hands to my cheeks and forced my head up. “I missed that.” Her face morphed, and she cringed, bringing her hands back down. “Oops.”
Swiping my finger where her hand had left a sticky strawberry residue on my cheek, I brought it to my mouth and tasted it. “Would have been a good milkshake.”
Her laughter bounced through me, and I tried to capture it for fear of being without it again.
“Can we start the movie?” Reid yelled from the couch.
“Give me five minutes,” she replied, returning to cleaning up.
I stopped her hand and took my phone out.
“Housekeeping, Sheila speaking.”
“Hi Sheila, this is Mr. Icinda. There’s been a strawberry milkshake mishap in Miss Heck’s suite. Can you kindly send someone up to clean it? She’s not as adept at the skill as your team is.”
Tori threw a wad of paper towels at me, and I ducked it.
“No problem, Mr. Icinda. I’ll have someone there in a few minutes.”
I thanked her and disconnected.
“I could have handled this,” Tori said, standing and walking out of the kitchen.
“Perks of owning the hotel. Besides, housekeeping expects extra duties with the executive suites. I don’t bother them often, nor does Liv.”
I followed her through the suite, tussling Reid’s hair as I walked by. He peeked up from his game and smiled at me. Not thinking, I continued to trail Tori.
“I’m quite capable of cleaning up my messes.” She took her shirt off and threw it into her hamper, walking into her closet.
“And I’m quite capable of spoiling you. Let me.”
Not once did it occur to me that we hadn’t been doing this for years, that we weren’t like every other couple. It seemed natural until she turned, her eyes wide, and my heart thundered at the sight of her in her bra.
I wiped my face, cursing. “I’m sorry. It just…we were…I didn’t think.”
“Neither did I,” she said.
I tried to keep my eyes from devouring her, but it was difficult. “I really want to kiss you right now,” I muttered, causing her frown to turn.
“Then you should,” she breathed.
In two steps, I closed the distance and had her in my arms. She smelled of strawberry cream and tasted like a summer day.
Her skin against my hands sent rivulets of desire careening through me, and I let them explore, soaking in the softness.
I walked her into the door frame, pressing into her as she tugged at my shirt, and all awareness fled so that only Tori filled it.
The promise to take things slow rushed away, a mere whisper in the back of my mind.
I unhooked her bra, cupping her breast and relishing her moan, my own joining hers when she pushed my shirt up higher.
Only the knock and Reid’s call that someone was at the door stopped the inevitable. Reality slammed back into me—the risk that our son could have walked in on us, that I had pushed Tori too fast. I moved from her, an apology on my lips until she stopped it with another kiss.
“It’s okay, Gabe,” she said. “Middle, right?”
I dropped my head to hers, trying to control the raspy breaths that were clawing at my throat. “Middle.”
She adjusted her bra and pulled my shirt down just as another knock came.
“Mommy!”
With a laugh, I tucked my shirt back in, thinking of anything but how sexy she was.
“I’ll deal with it. You get changed. And…” I kissed a spot of strawberry from her cheek. “…wash up.”
Walking to the door was difficult because my body’s reaction to Tori was still uncomfortable.
I let the staff in and sat with Reid while the two cleaned up.
Tori joined us not long after, and we listened to Reid’s explanation of the game he was playing.
After tipping the staff and thanking them, I saw them out just as room service came up to the door.
“Your shakes, Mr. Icinda.” I exchanged the drinks for a tip and turned to find Tori’s stunned eyes.
With a shrug, I passed the shakes out, saying, “I may have made a quick call while you were changing.”
“Strawberry! My favorite,” Reid exclaimed, slurping on his.
Tori shook her head, but her grin told me everything.
“Like I said, I plan to spoil you in every possible way.”
Her blush was my reward, and as I sat back to watch the movie, it dawned on me that with everything I’d strived for—revenge, wealth, power—only now did I have everything I needed.