What You Need Page 4

  The door flew open, an angry Victoria eyeing him. He jumped back. Jaw tight, eyes stormy, and her robe left open, she strode forward two steps. “Do you mean it?”

  “Mean what?” Heat crawled up Royce’s face. He had to stay focused even if she stood in front of him angry, naked, and sexy as hell.

  “That you love me.” The question in her eyes, the vulnerability, nearly broke him. She was afraid. Safeword be damned, that wasn’t why she’d run.

  “Yes. Of course I meant it!”

  She crashed into him. In a wild frenzy, she smashed her lips to his. Their tongues battled for supremacy amidst roving hands and he wanted every bit of insanity, pain, or pleasure, she could give. Next stop—the bed.

  Her eyes locked to his. “Then you better think of a new safeword.”

  Chapter Five

  Sunlight streamed in through the window. Hard to believe she lay awake at eight o’clock in the morning. Mornings weren’t her thing. Victoria stroked Royce’s hair. His breaths were deep, a satisfied signal of perfectly peaceful sleep. She wished she could say the same. Instead butterflies swarmed in her gut.

  She’d confessed her love and he’d returned it. Yet, how much could she trust that love? A man she’d once trusted with her heart had ripped her very existence from her. While she didn’t doubt Royce would always protect her, she doubted his love matched hers. Did it encompass the possibility of a full relationship? Or at least dating to see where things would go?

  Settling for being fuck buddies wasn’t on her radar. She couldn’t share Royce with anyone. Not after last night. Too many wonderful moments they’d shared prevented that. Incredibly hot moments, too. Surprisingly, they’d avoided catching the room on fire.

  Speaking of that, she needed a glass of ice water. All that activity would dehydrate any libido.

  She took her time dressing in a pair of panties, jeans, bra, and T-shirt. She needed a shower, but a quick trip to the ice machine didn’t require full makeup and beauty regalia. After dumping out the puddle of water left in the ice bucket, she cast another glance at Royce, who softly snuffled into the pillow, and left. She’d need to order room service when she got back to the room. The idea of eating breakfast in bed sounded like the perfect start to their new beginning.

  While she got ice, she daydreamed of how they might spend the rest of the day. Drive back to her place, a little heavy petting, order in pizza; things he may or may not want to do. Either way, she planned on giving him the option, the chance to continue beyond one night, in pursuit of a real relationship this time. Victoria smiled.

  ***

  The ringing phone woke Royce. Damn it.

  Clutching the receiver to his ear, he muttered, “Yes?”

  “A friendly reminder that checkout is at eleven a.m. and thank you for staying at the Castillo Resort and Hotel of Fayetteville.”

  “Thank you.” Royce hung up and swiped his eyes, a furtive effort to wipe away the remnants of sleep, coupled with a stretch of the arms and cursory flick of a finger to his morning woody. The night before had been amazing. Phenomenal. And, if everything went as he hoped, then maybe Victoria would be willing to discuss something a little more involved. Except…she’d disappeared.

  He jumped from the bed. The bathroom door stood open, shower off, and every other piece of furniture remained person-less. A dull ache started in his gut. Mind racing, he thought of the previous night’s activities. The words of love they’d exchanged, the snuggling after they’d been too exhausted to do anymore. Now where the hell did she go? Or had she made a run for it?

  The door lock clicked before he could begin a search for her belongings. The sight of her walking through the door, all beautiful curvaceous body and gorgeous black hair, shot a flood of relief through him. His shoulders dropped. She’d returned with an ice bucket and appeared safe.

  He dashed toward her. “You didn’t leave.”

  “Leave? Why would I leave?” She chuckled and traced one side of his face.

  “No reason.” He shook his head. “Just fear. Stupid fear that you would want to run far away from last night.”

  She smiled and set the bucket on the floor. “I won’t run from you. From this. In fact….” She began to nibble her lower lip in earnest.

  “Yes? Don’t be afraid, Victoria. Tell me what you want.”

  “You and me. Together after today. For movies and dinners, or a snuggle on the couch,” she whispered.

  She needed him, wanted him. He drew her into his arms and kissed her the way he should have eight years earlier, the way he’d kiss her every day if she let him. They were still as in tune as they’d been before. Probably more so. Thank God.

  Leaning back, he gazed into her eyes. “I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”

  ~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~

  Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

  Visit Landra at:

  http://riseoftheslush.blogspot.com

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