Page 15 of Requiem of Sin

I tiptoe to Room 1702. It’s at the end of another hallway and close to the fire escape stairwell. It’s also the only door in this hall aside from Room 1701. I’m no expert in luxury suites, but something in my gut tells me that means this place is going to behuge.

I’m adding Roxy to the guest list.Girl needs to experience this with me forsure.

The light on the door lock turns green and I can hear the deadbolt slip back. I turn the handle and slowly step inside.

Whoa.

I was right: it’s huge.

Huger than huge.

The Meridian’s trademark golden flourishes decorate every inch of the palatial suite, but now, I can see more artistic patterns in the details I missed before in the casino. Everything has a bit of a constellation, Galileo, navigation “feel” to it. The wallpaper is brushed with faint script pulled from ancient maps and star charts. A globe with continents made from gemstones sits on the desk which is designed to look like a sea captain’s study.

A king-sized bed made with the softest-looking white sheets takes up most of the space behind a room divider covered in shimmering tiles. Across the suite in a pseudo-living room is a full fireplace and a giant flat screen television mounted to the wall above it.

Plans confirmed: I’m definitely calling Roxy, and we aredefinitelyhaving a girl’s night tonight. No work, no sleep, no problems.

I dig in my bag for my phone.

The bathroom door opens. And out steps a dripping-wet man.

I suck in a gasp.No. No way. No fucking way.

It’s him. The one I spilled on. The Champagne Angel.

And he’s naked in my room.

7

CLARA

I scream.

He screams.

Everyone screams.

Okay, none of that actually happens. Real life isn’t nearly so dramatic. But I do let out something that’s a cross between a shriek and a yelp as I clap my hands over my mouth.

And he growls in surprise as well.

“What the fuck?” He ducks into the bathroom, then back out again, this time furiously tying a bath towel around his hips.

His eyes narrow when he gets a good look at me. “You. Again.”

I’m very aware I’m getting averygood look at him. Every inch of him. His dark hair is wet and curled close against his forehead, but his eyes are glacially bright. Five o’clock shadow stubbles his cheeks and his lips have a cruel, beautiful sneer to them.

I was only kidding to myself when I compared his body to the marble statues adorning the exterior of The Meridian, but as hedraws closer, I see maybe I wasn’t so far off. I can see every muscle ripple and move like he’s literally chiseled from the same hard rock.

In unrelated news, I’ve forgotten how to breathe.

“What are you doing here?”

He says it like a man who’s used to getting immediate answers. And I want to answer, I do, I promise. I’m just… way too busy staring at his pecs to string together words.

I realize I’m supposed to be running the hell away from an abusive asshole. I know that.

But I’m notdead.

---