Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
Serena
Tonight, has been more fun than I’ve had in a while.
Hazel and I showed Bentley, Jordan, his wife, and Ross some of our favorite places.
From the pizza joint down the street from the stadium to the bar we frequent.
It was amazing to show him my city. The place I’ve called home since I left my parents’ house.
Now, though…my feet are killing me. After being on flights all week, and the late night with Bentley last night, I can hear my bed calling me. It’s too bad that’s not the bed I’m going to tonight. Or maybe not?
Bentley reaches for my hand as the elevator doors open.
Everyone else has gone to their respective rooms, and Hazel headed home after the bar.
Which was kind of odd since she’s usually a night owl?
I didn’t miss the looks her and Ross were giving each other.
There has to be something there. Who knows?
I could be reading into something that doesn’t exist. Especially since I’m caught up in my own euphoria with Bentley.
As soon as we’re inside the box and the doors close, he pulls me to me. His arms wrap around my waist. “Are you sure you don’t want to go home tonight?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “It’s late. Besides, you’re here and I’d much rather be with you.
” Gah, that sounds so mushy. Like something a teenager would say on a date with her first actual boyfriend.
He makes me feel that way, though. Everything around us doesn’t exist. It’s just me and him, and all the fucked up things that screw with our hearts.
It’s not impossible to overcome, but we’ve torn down each other's walls. He knows about my shitty family, the horrible idea that was Braxton, and that I’m not a flashy girl.
And yet…he still hasn’t walked away. He hasn’t given any sign that I’m too much trouble even with me being states away from him.
That speaks more to his genuine character than anything I’ve read.
Or the cocky, self-assured persona he has on the court.
We’re more alike than I think either of us has realized.
“That’s good to know.” He bends down, blocking the already dim lighting in the elevator, and brushes his lips across mine.
The kiss isn’t rushed, or hurried. Nothing like the frantic pace we had last night.
No, it’s the exact opposite. Soft. Gentle.
Promising me he’s all in. That he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure things between us work.
It’s reassuring, knowing he seems to feel the same way I feel about him.
I lean into the kiss, letting him know I trust him.
As soon as the elevator doors open, he’s backing me out, our lips never parting.
As awkward as it is to walk backward, not knowing how far we are going, I don’t pull away.
I don’t break the kiss. I meld with him completely until we come to a stop and he moves one hand to fumble in his back pocket.
“Damn it,” he mumbles against my lips before pulling back. “Why is it so hard to get your wallet out of your back pocket?”
“I don’t know,” I lean against the door we stopped in front of. “Maybe it’s because your jeans are so damn tight that it would take a force of nature to pull it out.”
He looks down at the jeans in question. “You don’t like them?”
That doesn’t deserve an answer, but I give it to him, anyway. “I do. But it is making it take longer to get into the room,” I pause for a second, “and so does sitting outside your room talking about your clothing. It’d be a lot better if we were inside and they were on the floor.”
His mouth drops open. I guess he wasn’t expecting me to say that.
It’s not like I’m a prude or anything, but I can see why he might be surprised by my comment.
“I guess we better remedy that.” He finally gets the wallet out of his pocket, and searches for the key card.
He waves it in front of the door, but the light stays a steady red.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he groans.
“Did you have it in the little paper sleeve while it was in your wallet?” I’m ninety percent sure I know what happened, and he’s not going to like the answer.
“I’m not sure?” It comes out as a question, and I have my answer.
“Are you sure we’re at the right room?” Might as well, figure that out while we’re at it.
“Yes,” he nods emphatically. “We definitely have the right door. What does that have to do with anything?”
I shake my head at him. Amateur. “Well, if we’re at the right room,” I yank the key card out of his hand and try waving it in front of the reader with no luck. “That means the data on your key card was erased.”
“How is that even possible?”
“There’s a reason they tell you to keep it in the sleeve.
” I’m always amused at how many people don’t know this.
It’s happened to me on one occasion and that’s all it took for me to remember to put in in there.
At his raised eyebrows, I continue, “If you put it in with the rest of the credit cards in your wallet, it can sometimes erase the card.”
“How does that even work?” He gently pulls the card from my hand, turning it back and forth. Looking for something that can explain this.
“I don’t know,” I shrug. “Technology magic?”
He pulls me back to him and brings his mouth to my ear.
“I guess it’s a good thing you came back with me after all.
” The way his breath tickles my ear sends tingles down my spine.
I know what that mouth is capable of, and if it wasn’t for this damn door, I’d be experiencing it right now.
He leans back. “Seriously,” he smirks, knowing damn well what he’s doing, and how it affects me.
“I would have been here for another thirty minutes trying to get it to work before admitting defeat.”
“Well, I guess you better get your ass down to the concierge desk and get a new one.”
“Why’s that?” An older couple walks behind, knowing smiles gracing their face as they pass us by.
No doubt thinking about what they were like when they first started dating.
Or hell, maybe they still act that way. I’ve never seen a long-lasting relationship except my parents, and half the time they don’t look like they even like each other. At least, not then. “Serena?”
His voice breaks me out of my thoughts. “Um, because the bed is in there, and we are out here.” I’m playing innocent when he knows damn well why we both want in that room.
“You mean, you want to use the bed to sleep?”
“I do like my sleep,” I tap my finger against my chin. My lips curling at the game we’re playing.
“Hmm, I guess I could go get a new one so you can get some sleep.” He winks at me as he turns back toward the elevators. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Rolling my eyes, I slide down the door until my butt hits the floor. “Hurry up, tease. We’d already be in there if you listened to the clerk when they gave you the card.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he mock salutes and picks up his pace.
My heart soars as I watch him rush down the hallway and then disappear into the hallway. This is a playful side I’m not sure others get to see. I’m only happy he allows me in. Allows me to witness the soft side of his hard exterior.
I know I have a good ten or fifteen minutes until he comes back. I might as well do something useful.
Serena: Hey girl, did you make it home okay?
Hazel: Yep. Snug in my bed. You home?
Serena: Nope. At the hotel with Bentley.
Hazel: Why the hell are you texting me?????
Serena: He had to get the key card reprogrammed.
Hazel: That’s funny. Maybe next time he’ll learn.
Serena: Maybe…
Hazel: Y’all look really happy. You have a glow you haven’t had in months.
Serena: Thanks. Do you think it’s too soon to be this into him?
Hazel: Nope. If you’re happy, run with it. You gotta do you.
The elevator door dings, and seconds later I see Bentley step into the hallway.
Serena: Thanks. He’s back, gotta go.
Hazel: Have fun. ;)
Serena: I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.
Bentley nods to the phone in my hand when he reaches me. “I wasn’t gone that long.”
“Oh hush,” I raise my hand in the air so he can pull me up. “I wanted to make sure Hazel got home safely.”
“And did she?” He raises an eyebrow as he pulls me up.
“Yep.”
Somehow in all that he also waved the new key card in front of the door lock, and it flashes green. He turns the handle and pushes the door open. “I think we should pick up where we left off.”
Bentley’s arms wrapped tightly around is all the comfort I need. His breathing is soft and measured, and I’m almost certain he’s asleep.
I scoot over the tiniest fraction. Just enough to get away from the insane body heat he gives off. Seriously, no person should be able to produce that much heat. I don’t make it far, though. “Where are you going?” he whispers against my neck.
“You’re too hot,” I grumble as he pulls me even closer. “I even have my foot sticking out of the bottom of the blanket.”
“Fine,” he concedes. Even though it’s what I wanted, I miss the contact when he scoots away from me. He might be across the bed now, but he’s still on his side, and his finger runs slowly up and down my arm. The room is quiet, and soft light filters in around the curtain. “I have a question.”
My eyes were drifting close until he spoke again. “What’s that?” The words almost connected together.
“How do you feel about meeting my mom?”
That one small question has my eyes popping wide open. There’s no way I’ll fall asleep now. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I take a deep breath. “I mean we haven’t really been together that long. Isn’t it a little soon?”