Page 82 of Room for Improvement

Bryce had an answer for that question ready and waiting. “A thank you hug would be nice. I’m a sucker for them.”

* * *

Vivian stepped into Bryce’s embrace. As he wrapped his arms about her waist, she sent a plea to heaven.Please don’t let this just be a hug.She smiled up at him. “I know it might be a small thing in your world but clearing that debt off my card makes such a huge difference. I really don’t like two minute noodles.”

Bryce probably couldn’t imagine what instant noodles must taste like as she would bet her reclaimed credit limit that he’d never eaten them. The Royal family probably had an army of chefs permanently at their beck and call.

His lips brushed the top of her forehead, in a gentle benediction. A gesture which captured the perfect emotion of the moment. Loving and caring. “It sounds like I really saved you, Vivian. Perhaps I should have pressed for a kiss rather than a hug. I mean I did…”

She didn’t let him finish what he was going to say. Vivian’s hands were on the front of Bryce’s shirt, and she was pulling him toward her. “I am going to kiss you. And then I’m going to do it again. In fact, I’m going to keep kissing you until you think you might pass out. because if you do, I promise to revive you using the kiss of life.”

As his warm, tender lips touched hers, the tears came. These were tears of joy, so Vivian gladly let them fall. Her heart had been praying for this moment, when love would heal its wounds. When hope was reborn.

Even when she had to break the kiss to suck in a lungful of air, she came back. It was messy. Needy. And it was the best kiss in her entire life. From the way Bryce shook as he held her, she sensed he was also heavily invested in the embrace.

Bryce murmured. “I won’t ever let anyone hurt you again. If you allow me into your life, I will stand with you against the world.”

Vivian sniffled back her tears. “Bryce Royal, you are my forever hero. If it’s alright with you I might just take a moment to make a dramatic swoon.”

“My arms are ready and waiting to catch you when you fall.” He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head against his chest.

“Can I ask you something?”

Bryce rubbed his hand up and down Vivian’s back. “Ask away, sweetheart. If there is one lesson I’ve taken out of the past few weeks, it’s that you and I need to establish clear paths of communication.”

“Can I ask you about Galveston and why you didn’t come up to my room that night?” If he hadn’t been about to sue her employer, then why had he let their last encounter in the hotel elevator end at merely a kiss? He had to have known what she was offering, what she wanted. She could admit to feeling disappointed over him having taken his leave. Those emotions had certainly played a part in her reaction to theLeisure Linestory. Her self-worth was still nursing its bruises.

“I wanted to, believe me. But I also wanted us to take things a little slower. We had repaired our friendship over a fantastic meal, and I was sorely tempted to ask you to spend the night with me. When we went for the walk on the beach later on, I watched you. That was when I knew you and I could be much more. Vivian, I want you in my life. The only way I can see you wanting a future with me is if I can have your trust.”

She swallowed a lump of emotion. Bryce hadn’t been looking to reject her in Galveston, he’d been trying to reset their connection. To show that the Bryce who had hurt her with the nasty review on the dating app was an aberration. A minor glitch. He wasn’t that guy.

The pain of her ex still lurked somewhere in her thoughts, but the memory of Pete was slowly fading into the background. Her heart whispered its longing. For her to step up and take a chance with this man. To risk being hurt again.

Isn’t that what love always demands? To claim the prize, you have to risk it all.

Taking his hand in hers, Vivian threaded their fingers together. She met his gaze through a sheen of unshed tears. “I am placing my trust and my heart in you Bryce. Promise me that I won’t ever come to regret it.”

Bryce lowered his lips to hers and they sealed their bond with a long lingering kiss.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

Bryce shut off the water and stepped out from the shower. He reached for one of the fluffy, luxurious towels which hung on the rail. He hadn’t needed to wash, it was just something to help pass the time. In the past three hours he had ordered two strong espressos through room service, started watching then quit three different movies, all while pacing the floor of the villa.

Taking his second hot shower of the evening had been as a last resort. It was either that or go mad. “Hurry up woman, how long does it take to write a gushing review of a resort,” he grumbled.

Bryce been about to strip Vivian naked and have his wicked way with her, when Lionel had called. He needed Vivian to file her story tonight. The only thing which had stopped Bryce from picking up his own phone and calling her boss was Vivian’s sultry promise of what the two of them would do later tonight as soon as she had finished her review and returned once more to the villa.

And now he was left waiting. His hunger unsated. He didn’t care about food, he wanted to feast on Vivian. Another man might have slaked their thirst by simply jerking off to release the tension, but Bryce was not going to touch himself. A quick session of self-love wouldn’t cut it, his manhood demanded more. His whole body craved Vivian.

I want her hands in my hair, as I delve my tongue deep into her wet heat.

The second she appeared at the door, he was going to sweep her up into his arms, toss her on the bed, and ravish every inch of her sweet, soon to be naked body. And when he got her to the point of being beyond aroused, and was begging for him to fuck her, he was going to give her what she wanted. His cock deep in the hot heaven of her sex. Bryce couldn’t wait for the moment when Vivian screamed his name as she came.

He glanced down at his erection, not daring to brush a fingertip near it. “Patience boy. Vivian will be here soon.”

She’d better be. “Where are you?” he muttered, tossing the towel on the floor. Then recalling the green energy program in place at the resort, he picked it up and hung it on the rail. The sea breeze coming in from outside would have it dry before they went to bed.

From the bathroom, he headed across the villa to where his suitcase lay open. A pair of dark green linen pants and a cream button up shirt sat waiting. A late night stroll around the resort grounds might be the only thing to keep him from going out of his mind with lust.

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