Chapter Thirteen
Michaela stepped up to the hospitality desk.
Ruyn’s warm hand against her lower back sent tingles of anticipation through her.
She couldn’t recall the last time she’d looked forward to an assignment with such alacrity.
Since the solar storm two days ago, his every move, the rumble of his voice, every fleeting touch enflamed her libido.
GAL Friday prohibited sleeping with clients. She could be fired. Normally a rule follower, she felt a little guilty, but not guilty enough not to do it.
On occasion, she’d been attracted to men she’d worked with, but she’d never been even a little tempted before. No one had turned her on or intrigued her like Ruyn did. The cooling-off period had only made things hotter. Or maybe that was his diabolical, seductive plan.
The clerk was speaking, and she forced her attention to the man behind the desk. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“Two checking in?” He flashed a practiced smile.
“Yes. The name’s Perine. Michaela Perine.” Now that he had her attention, she tried not to gawk at his shock of red hair. It wasn’t auburn or carrot-red; it glowed like a neon light. Maybe he was an android? She dropped her gaze to his name badge. Bob. Bob?
“Your name is Bob?”
“It’s easier for people to say and remember.”
“What’s your real name?”
“Sleidndlaiocindalndneklsn.”
Beside her, Ruyn had turned to study the spacious lobby. In the center, a waterfall tumbled into a pool. Hover lights floated over a conversation area furnished with comfortable seating. Tiny lights twinkled in the soaring ceiling like stars against a faux night sky.
“Everything looks new,” he commented.
“Thank you. We at Starlight Interplanetary take pride in our hotels,” Sleidndlaiocindalndneklsn, aka Bob, said.
“The lobby was renovated. We’ve placed you in a suite in the Rigel tower.
Room 320, third floor.” Bob pushed a reader across the counter.
“If you’ll palm the scanner, we’ll get you checked in, and you’ll be able to go. ”
She flattened her hand on the scanner.
“Rigel tower?” Ruyn said. “Honey, didn’t you request the new Alpha Centauri bungalows?”
Her heart skipped a beat at the endearment, even though it was just for show. They’d come to check out the hotel. They were undercover, pretending to be a couple; they’d come to investigate the hotel. No one at the resort was supposed to know they were from Korsan Enterprises.
However, she anticipated there would be some sexy business, too. She’d booked one room for them, in the newly renovated Alpha Centauri bungalow complex. “Thank you for reminding me. I did request a private bungalow.”
“All our rooms are private, I assure you. During the renovations, rooms were retrofitted with privacy glass and sound buffers. I’m afraid we don’t have any standalone bungalows.”
“That’s very disappointing,” Ruyn said. “We had friends who stayed here. They loved them,” he lied. That wasn’t how or why they’d picked the bungalows.
“Yeah,” she said. “That’s why we came.”
“I didn’t mean we don’t have any available vacancies. I meant, we don’t have any at all. I don’t know where your friends stayed, but it would not have been in a bungalow. The only cottages are staff quarters, unsuitable for guests. You would not wish to stay there,” Bob said.
Michaela and Ruyn exchanged a glance like they were trying to decide whether to stay or not.
“We would be happy to provide a complimentary breakfast during your stay,” Bob sweetened the deal.
She sighed dramatically, still playing the disgruntled guest. “Rigel will be fine.”
“Are you sure? This is not what we came for,” Ruyn said.
“Well, we’re here now.”
He shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
“The Rigel suites are quite lovely and newly updated and decorated.” Bob flashed another practiced smile. Had his teeth gotten longer and sharper? “Sir, if you’ll palm the scanner…”
After Ruyn scanned in, they headed for the booster, a bellman leading the way with their luggage.
She leaned into Ruyn and whispered, “Was I seeing things, or did his teeth get longer?”
“You noticed that, too, huh?”
As they boarded the booster, the bellman said, “My apologies. I couldn’t help overhearing. On behalf of the Starlight, I apologize for Sleidndlaiocindalndneklsn’s unprofessional conduct.”
It impressed her that the bellman could say his name, but said, “He was perfectly professional.”
“He showed his teeth.”
“He’s not supposed to smile?”
“He is not supposed to show annoyance with guests. He is Azeryn. When Azeryns are annoyed, angry, or fearful, they grow fangs. It’s a fight mechanism.”
That’s an unfortunate tell. “So, he was irritated with us.”
“Very unprofessional,” the bellman said. “I will report the behavior.”
“No, don’t,” she said. “I don’t want to get him in trouble. He may have gotten annoyed, but he acted professionally. That’s what counts.” They had to avoid ruffling feathers. They were trying to fly under the radar.
“As you wish.”
The booster deposited them on the third floor, and the bellman led them to a suite midway along the corridor. They palmed into their room, and the bellman deposited their two cases inside. “Enjoy your stay.”
“No bungalows,” she said when they were alone.
“No.” Ruyn looked grim. “I saw the invoices. SIH paid an exorbitant sum to renovate the employee cabins to become guest quarters.”
“Maybe the renovations haven’t happened yet,” she suggested.
He shook his head. “The project was billed in stages—supposedly as the work occurred. I want to see those employee cabins. And the convention center, the pool area, the overall property.” He moved farther into the suite to study the sitting room.
To her eyes, the entire room looked brand new. Like the hotel had just been built.
A pristine white sofa with matching high-back chairs appeared as if no one had ever sat on them. There were no smudges on the walls, no nicks or dings. The wet bar had the latest high-end beverage dispenser.
“This room was redone,” he said.
She sniffed. “I smell paint.”
He nodded. “Faint, but yeah.”
The lobby. This room. Work was being done. The reno wasn’t all a scam. However, the best scams had the appearance of legitimacy.
They entered the adjacent room where a sparkling chandelier spotlighted a massive bed. Her thoughts shot to the evening ahead. She perched on the bed and gave a little bounce. “Much better than at home,” she said nonchalantly.
“The floor is more comfortable than the beds at home,” he said.
She chuckled and moved to the balcony door.
As soon as she opened it, the sound of the rushing, splashing fountain in the lobby below filled the room.
Stepping outside, she peered over the railing at guests lounging in easy chairs around the water feature.
A couple of people spotted her and waved.
She returned a half-hearted salute. “I sure hope Bob was right about the privacy glass.” She peered over her shoulder at Ruyn.
He shut the door and vanished from sight. Moments later, it slid open. “Did you see me?”
“No.”
“Did you hear me?” he asked.
“No, what did you say?”
He let out a sexual-sounding groan, and gasped, “I’m…going to come—”
“Ruyn!” Her face heated, but her body responded with a flutter of arousal.
He laughed. “That’s what you were worried about, wasn’t it? That someone might see in, hear us.”
She stepped inside, and he closed the door.
“You’re cute when you blush.” He kissed her nose.
Not cute. Because she didn’t blush. She turned splotchy. Totally unattractive. And annoying. At least my teeth don’t grow. What a tell!
She was no exhibitionist, but neither was she a virginal, spinsterish miss embarrassed by sexual matters.
She’d enjoyed a boisterous, private sex life—when she had one.
Her career had not been conducive to forming intimate relationships.
More like coitus interruptus. It had been a while since she’d slept with anyone.
Fortunately, she’d kept her birth control current.
He hugged her tight, and she felt his hard-on. She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m not one to say, ‘I told you so,’ but we could have done this sooner.”
His lips twitched. “That sounds like ‘I told you so.’” He brushed his mouth against hers.
“It’s not.” She touched her tongue to his bottom lip.
With a groan, he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth. Her senses filled with the sensation of him, his warmth, his scent, the rasp of his jaw against her chin. Her tight nipples ached, and her pussy clenched.
His hands slid over her back to grip her buttocks and squeeze.
“What’s…what’s…the plan?” she murmured as he kissed her throat. The last thing she wanted to do right now was leave their room and inspect the property, but that was the reason they’d come.
He lightly nipped her throat and pressed his erection against her stomach. “This is my plan.”
“Good plan, but I thought…you wanted to tour the property.” Tacitly, they’d kind of intended this for later, after dinner. From personal funds, she’d bought a sexy nightie.
“Tomorrow. The property can wait.”
“I hoped you’d say that.” She wound her arms around his neck and surrendered to the moment, to the desire thrumming in her veins.
“Besides, if I see what I think I’m going to see, it’s going to piss me off.”
“We don’t want that,” she said.
“No, we don’t want that. I was an idiot to let you go the other night.” His eyes glowed with regret and desire.
“Good things are worth waiting for,” she said.
Arms around each other, they shuffled to the bed then separated long enough to undress.
Naked, Ruyn was a sight to behold, toned muscle and sinew, broad shoulders and a barrel chest tapering to slim hips, the perfect frame for an impressive hard-on.
His skin was hairless and smooth except for the still-raw and painful-looking scars streaking across his flat abdomen and his left leg.