Page 46 of Virtue & Vengeance

I panicked at his answer, pressing against his chest until he set me down. “Zander, I’m not going in there with you.”

“It’s okay, angel. We’re going through the back entrance. No one will see us together.”

I didn’t relax, but I let him lead me into his hotel, and onto an elevator I’d never seen before. As he said, no one was around to see us go up to his floor.

“Why did you bring me back here?” I asked as we went up.

“It was just instinct. I figured you could sleep here for one night.”

“And where do you think I’m going to sleep?”

“The couch.”

I looked up at him, but he continued to look straight ahead.

When the doors opened to his floor, Zander wasted no time stepping off the elevator and removing his jacket.

“Are you going to get off or stand there all night?”

I wanted to tell him I was going to stand there all night, but I didn’t say anything as I stepped off of the elevator and followed him into his place.

Zander’s home, as he called it, was unlike anything I’d ever seen outside of a magazine. Windows surrounded us, and the Vegas skyline glittered just beyond the glass.

It was dark inside, but I could easily see Zander, thanks to the lights of the city, as he loosened his tie, throwing it onto the nearest piece of furniture.

“Would you like me to show you where you’re going to sleep?” His back was to me when he asked.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I thought you said I was sleeping on the couch?”

“Eden…” he warned, finally facing me with his hands on his hips.

He had rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his dress shirt. He looked so damn sexy; I wanted to jump him right then and there.

“Fine, Mr. Hale. Show me to my room.”

He stalked toward me until his chest was pressed against mine. “I like when you call me that. I like it very much, angel.”

The back of his fingers rubbed my arm.

“You would.”

“Has the high of tonight worn off already? You’re in a mood.”

Instantly, I felt terrible.

“I’m sorry. This really was one of the best nights I’ve ever had, Zander.”

“The best, huh? What was your favorite part, angel?” he asked.

As if I could just choose one.

The night had been perfection.

“The dancing. No. I can’t choose.”

I giggled.

The champagne had gone to my head.

---