Page 15 of Inescapable Gravity

But what he had with Heather, Nix, damn it, that wasn't just personal, it was earth shattering.

It had blown his life apart, his heart as well.

He'd feared the worst for years and years and now, she was here with him, but she obviously didn't feel the same as he did.

She didn't walk into his arms.

She didn't melt against him like she used to.

She was holding back.

She wasn't his any longer and she had a full life that he wasn't a part of.

"I can't give you the information, Ares."

"Can't? Or won't?"

Alex's tone didn't leave room for argument. "You want to know what happened? Ask her yourself? It's her secrets to share, Ares. Remember that."

The phone clicked off at that moment and Marius was sorely tempted to let it fly across the room.

Human?

Yes.

Professional?

Fuck no.

He knew enough not to press her right then. He had to give her some time to calm down. He just didn't know what to do with himself until then.

Marius turned his head and looked around the room.

His gaze landed on his bags and he sighed. Without a word, he picked up his bags and headed down the hall, trying to retrace Hea- Nix' s steps.

He passed two doors before he heard the soft tread of feet across wooden flooring.

He tilted his head toward the door to hear and when her footsteps went silent again, he retreated back to the door before that one and gave the knob a twist.

It swung open a moment later and he stepped inside.

The furniture reminded him of some old Sit Com that his grandmother used to watch. Something in black and white that changed to color over time.

It was almost as if Dick Van Dyke would step in the room and try out a new tv channel or pick up the paper to read before he sat in his chair to peruse the volumes.

One of the walls presented a wood-furnace and he hoped they wouldn't have to use the device.

He set his bag down on the foot of the bed and smiled at the wide surface it presented.

California King. As the name suggested, it was wide and laid back.

It was enough that he could sleep on a different section every night for a few days before he ran out of clean sheets to lay on.

A door closed on the other side of the wall and he felt his back teeth grind against each other.

The walls were pretty thin if he could hear her closing doors.

Thin enough that he'd have to worry that she might hear him toss and turn.

---