Page 91 of Royal
Chapter 21
Royal
Being confined to a hotel room with a sexy-as-hell man, eating junk food, and getting all the sex a guy could want sounded great in theory. After five days of it, though, I was starting to lose my mind.
I needed fresh air—not just opening the window the few inches it allowed and sitting by it, but actuallygoingoutside. I hadn’t even been able to go to work.
Michelle had called me and said she hoped I was doing well. Rick, however, had sent me an email—not bothering with a phone call—that said he expected me back at work by the following week or he’d have no choice but to replace me. One of the weekend anchors had been filling in for me.
Because it was totally my fault that a damn serial killer was after me, right?
“Don’t leave this room,” Grayson said after I buttoned his shirt and fixed his collar. I loved tearing his clothes off him, but there was something sensual about putting them on him, too. “I’m serious.”
“You don’t have to talk to me like I’m five, Gray.” I rolled my eyes and went over to the tiny coffee pot that the hotel provided, glaring at it. The teasing bastard didn’t hold as much coffee as I liked, so I constantly had to make more. “I know the danger, and I’m not that stupid.”
“Phoenix feels we’re close to finding him.” Grayson slid his arms around my waist, pressing a kiss to my bare shoulder. It was hard to stay mad at him when he was so gentle. “These things just take time.”
For the first two days, Grayson hadn’t left my side, but then he’d started leaving with Agent Stone. He was more determined than ever to find Ameinias. Several abandoned buildings had been searched, and there were only a handful of other places left.
They’d also gotten more information from the Bellingham police department regarding possible suspects. Phoenix had narrowed down the suspect pool by having them search for men who fit certain aspects of the profile, and he’d added more details: someone who’d been in foster care or who came from a single parent household, had a history of being bullied in school and maybe had even dropped out, and who fit the physical description Janice had given.
“Must be nice to be able to go to work.” I turned in Grayson’s arms and looked up into his eyes. “Hell, even walk outside and get a decent coffee.”
His lips twitched. “I’ll get you a coffee before I leave. Will that make you stop pouting?”
“I’m not pouting. I’m contemplating the murder of a tiny coffee pot. There’s a difference.”
Grayson laughed and tugged me as close as our bodies would allow. His short beard tickled my cheek as he rested his face on mine. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”
“You and me both.”
“I just hope you know how much I care for you,” he whispered. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. I pressed a kiss to it. “A month isn’t enough time to fix everything, I know, but time doesn’t matter when I’m with you. I’m working hard to catch this bastard because I can’t lose you, Royal.”
“You won’t.” I held him tighter, getting a faint whiff of his cologne. “Consider this room my prison until the coast is clear.”
“You’re not in prison,” he said, chuckling.
“Tell that to the tiny coffee pot.”
“Okay! I’m going.” He stepped back, shaking his head.
He left, and I looked out the window as he walked to the coffee shop across the street. His wide shoulders and tall stature made my mouth water no matter how many times I looked at him. He disappeared into the shop, and I leaned against the windowsill.
Watching the world pass me by while I stayed in my hotel prison.
I had a great view of the downtown area. It was Friday morning, and some people were hustling to get to work. School had let out for summer vacation, and teenagers walked along the sidewalk, going inside some of the stores and into the diners for breakfast.
I was surprised to see them up so early. But I’d been that way, too, as a teen. I’d hated getting up early if it meant I had to go to school, but I didn’t mind it if I was going out with my friends.
My phone buzzed, and Brysen’s face appeared on my screen. In it, he was smiling huge and his eyes were closed, like one of those anime characters he used to watch all the time.
“Hey, B.”
“Good. You’re alive.”
“I’ve called you every morning this week. I forget to do itonceand you give me attitude. I texted you good morning just like I always do.”
“Yeah, but that could’ve been the killer texting me,” Brysen responded matter-of-factly. “You still at the hotel?”
