Chapter 6
DEVIN
Ifind that fortunately I'm still able to ski fairly well, even though it’s been a couple of years. Still, I stick to the medium hills and enjoy the scenery more than the speed.
I wasn't watching the time, so I missed running into Laila at lunch. It's about six-thirty when I wander back to our room to get ready for dinner.
At the door, I hesitate. A married man wouldn't knock before entering the hotel room he’s sharing with his wife. Luckily there's no one around, so I give it a brief tap, then crack the door open just two inches until I hear, "Come on in."
When I enter, I blink. Laila is already dressed for dinner, her gorgeous curvy figure wrapped in a dark green dress. However, she's lying diagonally across the bed with her head hanging off the edge so her face is upside down.
"Are you okay?" I ask slowly, closing the door behind me.
She smiles. "Oh, I’m fine. Just stretching out my neck. I figured I should get ready and be done in the bathroom before you got back, since you might want to shower after skiing."
"You're right. I do." My eyes dart to the clock. "But I also want to hear all about your day before we go downstairs. Can we talk while I shower?"
There's a brief moment in the middle of Laila's roll onto her stomach where she gives me a sly grin. "Sure."
I bring my clothes into the bathroom and start the shower while she pulls a chair over next to the door. She asks me all about the skiing, and I ask her about her own day.
"So, did you read a dozen books? Or were you a slacker and only get through ten?"
Wow, I love the way she laughs. My entire body does. I get an instant erection simply from the sound of her sweet voice, and the memory of the way she was draped so languidly across the bed. I try to ignore it while washing the rest of me, hoping it will go away.
"I actually got a lot of work done," she says. "More than I expected." She hesitates. "I just hope I didn't mess up."
“In what way?"
It's hard to hear clearly over the sound of the shower, but I may have just heard a sigh. “I was so into it that I missed lunch. Then I got chatting with Callan and gave her a bunch of book recommendations—"
"That's good."
"Well, yes. But she seemed kind of…surprised, I guess…that I didn't want to order room service, even though I was hungry."
"Why didn't you?"
"I can't bother a chef who is prepping for a large dinner just because I messed up. It was my own fault. Their workflow shouldn't be disrupted on my account."
"And this surprised Callan?"
There's silence from the doorway. I double check the opacity of the shower curtain. Hopefully it's good enough. I stick my head out of the shower. "Laila, could you please look at me for a second?" Her adorable face peers around the door frame. "Please tell me. Absolute honesty, remember?"
She bites her lip. "Okay. Well, I just got worried that maybe she thought I'm not used to ordering room service or anything. And I'm not. But if I'm supposed to be a stockbroker's wife, maybe I should be used to having…you know…plenty of money?"
Her eyes meet mine, then she ducks her face back behind the wall.
"Hmm. I see what you mean, but I'm sure it's not a big deal. I’ll bet she hasn't given it a second thought."
"I hope you're right."
“Let's assume I am. And let's also assume that after a couple of drinks we're going to kick ass at charades tonight."
Her head pops back around the door frame. "Charades? That’s really happening?"
Shoot. I didn't realize she was going to lean in again.
I'm not sure if she focuses on my ass, my erection that refuses to go down or the shower curtain as I turn off the water and whip it open a split second later.
Her face disappears again as I grab a towel.
The last thing I want is for Laila to be embarrassed, so I pretend I didn't notice any of it.
"There's also going to be poker, board games, that kind of thing,” I continue. “The wholesome family fun angle. But with plenty of cocktails."
"To break the ice. Yeah, I get it."
It's torture, but I splash cold water on my hands and then my cock to get it to settle down. Once I'm dressed, I come out to see that Laila has done her hair. The front half is now up in a little clip that sticks out like a medieval sword.
She points to it. "Too nerdy?"
"More literary and fantastic."
"Cool."
Dinner is amazing, mainly because I get to have Laila on my arm while attempting to make her laugh as often as possible.
Then I discover that after two glasses of mango vodka fizz, Laila is incredible at charades.
It's interesting how up and down her shyness is. If it's just her, she’s quiet and cautious. But if she's trying to help our team of four win a round, she loses herself in the fun and energetically acts out every word.
I can't wait to get to know her more with every passing hour and day. She's so sexy and bright and sweet.
It’s going to make it even more difficult for me to keep my hands to myself tonight, especially since I'm not sure that either of us wants me to.