Page 95 of Just This Once

She laughed, appearing as if she were full of life and vigor before she curled up next to me and cuddled close.

I managed to wrap an arm around her and turn my face in toward hers. “I take it you’re feeling better.”

“Much,” she answered with a spirited grin as she slid her hand up my chest.

I caught her fingers and pulled them to my mouth so I could kiss her palm. “I’m starving,” I said. “Tell me what you want for breakfast, and I’ll order room service.”

A second passed before she answered by pulling in a big breath and then patting my chest in farewell. “I’m good,” she told me. “I should get going, actually.”

“Going?” When she sat up as if to leave, I sat upwithher and caught her wrist. “Going where?”

She turned back, sending me a puzzled blink as if she couldn’t believe I didn’t already know.

“It’s morning.” She spread out a hand toward the window where light was flooding in around the curtains. “The night’s over.” Turning back, she took in my expression, clearly seeing that I didn’t understand. So she lifted her eyebrows. “Just onenight, remember?”

I blinked. “The time didn’t seem to matter two minutes ago when you had my dick in your mouth.”

Hope blushed. “God. You are so—” Breaking herself off there, she muttered, “I was just saying goodbye. Okay?”

I lifted an eyebrow and tugged her toward me. “Then, I should get to say goodbye too. With my tongue between your legs.”

When I tried to tow her in for a kiss, however, she resisted. “Parker. No.” She shook her head and then looked at me directly. “The night isover.”

The fuck if it was.

Firming my grip on her, I said, “I’m feeding you breakfast before you go. You haven’t had anything since at least seven last night. That’s over half a day without food. Youneedto fucking eat; I don’t care how much appetite you’ve lost.”

Brows furrowing, she asked, “How did you know—” Grinding her teeth as if vexed, she narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Stayed up all night, researching my symptoms, did you?”

“Just until three,” I shot back, only to sniff moodily. “I had to dosomething. You sure as hell weren’t giving me a heads-up of what to expect.”

Regret flashed across her features. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. The hot tub really?—”

“Stop blaming the fucking hot tub,” I snapped before motioning to all the bottles sitting out on the nightstand. “Your liver’s fucking failing.That’sthe culprit. Now, you’re staying for fucking breakfast so that I can see you actually eat something.” Lifting my brows sternly, I growled, “You got me?”

She stared back a moment before groaning and rolling her head on her shoulders to consult the ceiling. “Fine,” she muttered, relenting reluctantly. “But I’m taking one last shower in that big-ass bathroom while we wait for the food. That thing has, like, a million jets. It’s freaking amazing.”

I chuckled, satisfied that I’d gotten my way. “Take your shower,” I allowed. “I’ll get breakfast ordered.”

I ordered her fruit,oatmeal, and coffee, trying to keep it mild so nothing upset her stomach.

And as she took her time in the shower, I contemplated the idea of joining her. But I’d probably pressed my luck to the limits already. I had to balance the fine line of being persistentenough to convince her to stay longer and not-so persistent that I annoyed her into fleeing.

So I bided my time by checking messages on my phone after I’d found my clothes strewn around the suite and pulled them on. I was lounging on the bed, feet kicked out comfortably and fully dressed when the door to the bathroom came open.

Arching an eyebrow, I glanced over to watch her emerge in one of the hotel’s fluffy signature bathrobes with her hair wrapped in a towel. She was so fucking adorable that it made my stomach clench.

“I’ve never actually worn a hotel bathrobe before,” she announced giddily as she kicked out her foot. “And look. They had slippers too. They’re so comfy. I swear, they have some kind of memory foam in them. You think I could stash them in my bags and take em’ home with me when I leave?”

“You want them, they’re yours,” I assured, still lounging against the headboard as I watched her.

Face blooming with pleasure, she wandered toward me, saying, “Sweet. Thank you.”

I could see it on her face, then. She was ready for me to seduce her again. She wouldn’t deny me this time.

But I had more in mind than a quickie on the bed while we waited for breakfast to arrive. So I slid off the mattress evasively before she could reach me.

“I think I’ll rinse off before the food arrives too. A million jets, you said?”

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