Escalation - Tessa Teevan Page 0,51
but this opulence is almost too much. He gives me a warning glance, however, so I bite my tongue. As he hands the keys to the valet, he takes my hand and presses a kiss to my temple.
“A bonus from work. What’d you say? Woo and do?”
I snicker, and he playfully nips at my earlobe.
“This is our weekend. We’re going to enjoy it in style.” His fingers grasp mine, and he pulls me to the check-in counter, where the front desk worker rakes her eyes over him.
I can’t exactly blame her. Even in his casual jeans and long sleeve tee, with messy hair and a scruffy face, he’s a sight to behold. He walks with an air of superiority, almost like he owns the place.
He flips his wallet open. “Mr.”—he pauses and grins down at me—“and Mrs. Matthews. Checking in for the weekend.”
My cheeks flush pink, and I narrow my eyes. He gives me a wink and then returns his attention to the girl, holding me close as we check in.
“Enjoy your stay, and have a happy anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews,” the young girl tells us kindly.
Once we’re in the elevator, I finally find my voice. “Mr. and Mrs. Matthews?” I ask, trying to sound calm.
He shrugs. “I could’ve told her we were from the future, but something tells me we probably would’ve been thrown out for that. Plus,” he says, placing his hands on my hips. “It’s our anniversary weekend, and we’re looking to celebrate. I couldn’t exactly call you Ms. Latham now, could I?”
Oh. Now, I get it. It was a ruse. And once we enter the room, I see that it worked—and worked well.
“What did you do?” I ask, stepping in and looking around in awe.
The massive king-sized bed is laden with pink rose petals. A wicker basket containing sparkling cider and succulent chocolate-covered strawberries sits in the middle, complete with a bottle of decadent massage oil. As I walk through the room and into the bath, I’m delighted to see a giant soaking tub with more than enough space for two. Next to it is a docking station already has a device plugged in, filling the room with mood music. Two lush bath towels hang on the rack, with slippers to match.
When I turn around, he’s watching me from the doorway. “This is incredible,” I breathe, taking it all in.
“I may have called in a few favors,” he says, his eyes shining.
“I don’t even know if we’ll have to leave this hotel room tonight,” I tell him as my eyes flicker from the tub to him. Visions of him wet and naked and entirely covered with bubbles fill my mind, and suddenly, I want nothing more than a bath.
“Oh, no. We’re getting out. A night on the town is precisely what we both need. You’re not getting out of it. No matter how tempting the idea of you wet and naked in that tub is right now.”
I laugh. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
His eyes darken, and he quickly whips off his T-shirt and stalks towards me. He lifts my sundress up and over my head, tossing it to the floor.
“I suppose we have time, as long as we make it quick.” He leans down and turns on the water, testing it for temperature before putting the stopper down.
When he rises, I place my hands on his chest.
“There better be nothing quick about it,” I warn.
A low growl escapes his lips. “Your wish is my command.”
After a long, hot, and steamy bath, I’m satiated. My limbs are languid, and I could get used to such luxury. As I yawn, Rafe wraps me up in a towel and carries me to the bed. With a quick glance to the digital bedside clock, he looks down at me.
“You have time for a quick nap before we go out tonight. I’m going to run downstairs for a few minutes. There are a couple of things I need to arrange with the concierge.”
My eyebrows knit together. “You’re leaving me?”
His jaw clenches, and he shakes his head. “Fuck. I didn’t think that far ahead. Think you can sleep?”
I yawn again then smile because he just got his answer. “I think so. Go ahead, Rafe. I’ll be fine. No one can get in without a keycard anyway. And I still think you’re being paranoid that I’m being watched.”
He leans down and presses a kiss to my lips. “You can never be too paranoid with these kinds of