Page 78 of Captain's Claim

I slide my hand around Blake's solid waist, feeling his muscles tense under my touch. Rising on my tiptoes, I press my lips to his stubbled cheek just as the elevator doors ping open.

The explosion of camera flashes is blinding. Reporters shout questions rapid-fire. Blake's arm tightens around me, and I catch his surprised look - a rare crack in that controlled expression.

"What was that for?" he murmurs as we step into the elevator.

I just smile mysteriously, watching the doors close on the media frenzy we've created. Let them chase this story instead. Every headline about us is one less about the program Blake protects so fiercely.

"Just because."

Soon, the door clicks shut behind us with a soft thud, and I drop my bag, stepping into what has to be the most luxurious hotel suite I've ever seen. My jaw literally drops.

"Oh. My. God."

Marble floors stretch out before me, leading to floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase Chicago's glittering skyline. The king-sized bed looks like it could fit the entire hockey team, draped in what has to be the finest Egyptian cotton I've ever seen.

But it's the balcony that makes me gasp.

A steaming hot tub sits under twinkling string lights, steam rising into the soft evening air. I peek into the bathroom and freeze – the marble and glass oasis is bigger than my entire apartment back in Iron Ridge.

"Um, and thisisn'tthe penthouse suite?" I spin around, gesturing at the ridiculous room surrounding us.

Blake chuckles, tossing his bag onto the bed like this is just another day at the office for him. "Sweetheart, I'd never survive a penthouse with you."

"Excuse me?" I plant my hands on my hips, trying to look offended despite the smile threatening to break free.

He smirks, that dangerous gleam in his eyes that makes my knees weak. "This room has enough space. Barely."

I scoff, crossing my arms. "I’m sorry, are you implying I require an unreasonable amount of space?"

Blake kicks off his sneakers, stretching out like he owns the place. The look suits him. "I’m saying if we were in a penthouse,you’d find some way to take overeveryinch of it. Closet, bathroom,bed—”

"My needs are important, thank you very much."

Blake tilts his head. "So you are planning to take up all the space in that bed?"

My mouth curves at the corner. "Just stating the facts."

I step closer to the massive bed in the center of the room. The mattress has to be custom-made – it's wider than any king-size I've ever seen. There are at least eight oversized pillows arranged against a tufted leather headboard that stretches nearly to the ceiling.

I press my palm into the mattress, it yields perfectly, like sleeping on a cloud.

"This bedisridiculous," I breathe. "I could do snow angels on it and never reach the edges."

Blake's voice drops, smooth as dark whiskey. "Go on, then."

I glance over my shoulder, catching the way his eyes darken as they follow my every move. Oh, he’s enjoying this. I bend over and settle onto the bed, crawling on my hands and knees, falling to my back and slowly stretching my arms out, letting my body sink into the ridiculously soft mattress.

I arch slightly, lifting my ass off the bed, making my breasts pop, just because Ican.

Blake exhales slowly, his tongue flicking over his bottom lip, and god, the look on his face? It'severything.

"The Icehawks don’t do anything halfway," he says, his voice just a touch rougher.

"Clearly. The sheets alone probably cost more than my first car."

"Try your first three cars," Blake says with a knowing smirk.

The fact that he downgraded from the penthouse just to share this room with me? My heart does a dangerous little flip inmy chest, because that's exactly the kind of thing that makes it harder and harder not to fall for Blake Maddox.

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