Page 12 of Fool's Gold

It takes Empire a beat to stand again. She flits past me like a ghost, her depression focused on the bathroom door. Once she’s out of view, I drop her bag and sigh, my head falling back.

I’m too old for this shit and definitely too old to deal with Empire the way she deserves. Someone her age, with her temperament, should have a chill life, joyful and full of riches and happiness.

Not the bullshit I’ve brought to her doorstep.

“I’ll order dinner,” I call out so she’ll hear me above the drone of the shower she turned on. “Is there anything you want?”

No answer.

It’s executive decision time. I’ve watched her eat too many times not to know her tastes. The room service menu in this hotel is extensive. I call down to the front desk, ordering us an assortment of dishes and some dessert—like an apology with a cherry on top.

Even if she only goes for the pastries rather than the fresh fish, it will be a good thing.

Dairy-free to make sure she doesn’t have an allergic reaction.

The moment I sit, I’m done for. My ass sinks right down into the mattress, and fatigue curves my shoulders forward. The longest day of my damn life, and it’s not over yet.

We’re not going to be safe here long term, and I half expect the manager to come up at any moment for a personal chat. At least I know the staff are discreet and trustworthy. How many nights will we be here before she gets a grip on herself? Two?

Empire might get over this eventually, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to. The part I’ve played, dragging her down into the muck, I might have come from garbage, but not her.

She doesn’t—

Every thought disappears out of my brain when she rounds the corner wrapped in a towel and dripping wet. Her blonde hair trails down her shoulders, plastered to her skin. Her eyes are larger than normal, and she swallows hard, tongue darting out to wet her pink lips; my dick goes hard enough to cut glass, fast enough to make me dizzy.

“I need some clothes,” she explains.

I’m speechless.

This perfect creature is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her skin tanned, supple—a youthful blossom of a woman. And I’m about ten seconds away from squashing her under my heel whether I want to or not.

I want her, I need her; if she’s not naked underneath me in the next five seconds—

“Marcus?”

The sound of my name rouses me enough to shake my head, my throat constricting, and my mouth fills with saliva at the sight. I want to lick every droplet of water off. All those nooks and crannies and secret places where only I’ve seen her. Only I’ve touched her.

Her sweet honey taste is something I’ve lapped at, but no one else.

Sullenly, I point to her bag.

She darts past me, grabs the bag, and strides back into the bathroom, leaving a dark line of wetness on the carpet. Unable to stop myself, I trail after her. Unable to look away.

I don’t want to look away.

I want to drink her in, until Empire is the only thing I see when my eyes close. I want to taste her on my lips all goddamn day. Suddenly I’m starving. Hungry in a way food won’t even touch. Nothing will until I get my hands on her.

She’s standing at the vanity by the time I round the corner, her clothes clutched to her chest.

Turning with infinitesimal slowness, Empire faces me, her eyes dark, expression impenetrable. She bites down on her lower lip and scans her gaze from my face to the bulge in my pants.

“What do you want?”

God, even her voice gets me hard.

She taps out an erratic rhythm with her foot, and the look on her face says she’s waiting for me to leave so she can get dressed. While the only thing I’m thinking about is continuing where we left off at the bungalow.

It’s a terrible fucking idea.

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