Chapter 8 #2
I yawn, stretching and rolling to snuggle into his body.
One of his arms wraps around me, pulling me tightly against him like he’s trying to mold my body into his.
The heat of his skin sinks into mine, making me feel sleepy and content.
It’s still morning, but I don’t want to head out until later tonight once the club opens.
For now, catching up on sleep sounds like a pretty solid idea, since both of us are running on empty.
“Love you,” I mumble into his chest before pressing a kiss to his pec.
His hand tightens on my hip, and I hear him gasp slightly.
“I will never tire of hearing you say that,” he replies as I drift off to sleep, feeling safe and comfortable and loved for the first time in a very long time.
We sleep soundly all day, and when I finally wake, we’re no longer wrapped in each other’s arms. I’m turned away from him on my stomach, my arm hanging over the side of the bed.
I frown and turn my head to find Sage spread out like a fucking champion, taking up every spare inch of the mattress.
“Well, that’s just fucking great,” I grumble as I slide my legs off and sit up.
“I should have guessed you’d be a bed hog.
” He doesn’t move, but his breath blows a stray curl that has fallen across his mouth.
He wrinkles his nose as it falls back down, tickling his cheek.
It’s so fucking adorable that I smile, making it hard to stay annoyed with him.
I lean over and push it behind his ear, and his frown smooths out as his mouth drops open in a quiet snore.
Rolling my eyes, I get up and head for the shower, groaning at all the aches and pains in my body. Damn it, I must have slept cramped up in that tiny space for a while. How did I not wake up when we shifted?
I remove my panties and turn the shower on, waiting for it to steam up the tiny bathroom before stepping in.
At least this hotel has hot running water.
I moan in relief as the water washes over my body, easing some of the aches.
As my body wakes up, so does my mind. I start running over a list of things that I need to do in my head, ignoring all the other issues niggling in the back of my mind.
First, coffee and food, but then I have to speak to Mickey.
I need to set him on that task of getting all the information he can about Vienna and the guys.
If they are going to live in my house, I want to know everything I can about them.
Then, I need to do some shopping. I want to buy a wig and an outfit so when someone looks at me, they won’t see Victoria Russo, enforcer for the Russo family, but just another girl out for a good time with her boyfriend.
Sage probably needs a disguise too. He isn’t as recognizable as me, but the two of us have become quite prominent back home, and I wouldn’t put it past Lorenzo to pass our photos around to anyone in his pocket.
I need to touch base with the manager of the Kitty Kat club here in Seattle as well.
Fuck, what was her name again? She was an old friend of Carla’s, so I’m pretty sure this town is safe from Lorenzo’s interference, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
It’s also a long way for them to be trafficking women to the cartels, since there is a higher chance of them being caught between here and the Mexican border, but I want to warn her just in case.
I’m so lost in thought that I don’t hear the shower curtain open, and it’s not until two hands encircle my waist and Sage nuzzles my neck that I realize I’m no longer alone.
“Hmm, you smell so good,” he murmurs, breathing in deeply. I frown. I haven’t even washed myself. I’ve basically been standing here, letting the water wash over me.
“Are you going to hog the shower too?” I ask, grumbling halfheartedly as his hands rub my shoulders, working out some of the kinks.
He chuckles, and I feel his hard cock brush against my ass as he deepens his ministrations on my shoulders.
“Sorry, babe. You should realize by now that I like my sleep, and I’m not used to actually having someone in my bed. Usually, I kick them to the curb before anyone can get too comfortable,” he admits unashamedly.
I turn around and glare at him. “Well, you better get used to it. I’m not waking up every morning feeling like a pretzel.” I stab a finger into his naked chest, but he just grabs it and smiles goofily as he presses a kiss to the tip.
“For you, anything,” he promises before we proceed to wash each other, just enjoying running our hands over each other’s naked bodies.
He washes my hair, and I return the favor, and his groans of enjoyment have my core clenching and my nipples pebbling with desire, but I have things to do, and my own pleasure is going to have to wait.
Once we get out, dry off, and dress, I place the call to Mickey. He puts me on speaker, and I tell him and Maeve what I need. They assure me they will get to it quickly.
As I hang up, a call comes in, and my screen shows it’s Gio. I decline the call, sending him to voicemail, and we head out in search of disguises.