by Ramona Gray
She balled up her dirty clothes, tucked them under her arm, and opened the bathroom door. Wes was sitting at the small table, staring at his phone, and he didn’t look up as she stuffed her clothes into the side pocket of her small suitcase.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, plucking her t-shirt from her chest. “Bathroom’s all yours.”
“Thanks.” Without looking at her, Wes grabbed his toiletry bag and clean clothes from his suitcase and disappeared into the bathroom.
She shoved her pillow behind her back and leaned against the headboard. Her stomach growled loudly. She was regretting her decision to skip eating in favour of sleep. Especially since she was certain she wouldn’t get much sleep, not with Wes lying in the bed next to her.
The shower turned on and she immediately had a vision of a naked Wes in the shower. Not that she knew what a naked Wes looked like, but she could imagine it. Could imagine it in lust rattling detail, as a matter of fact.
She studied the bathroom door. What would Wes do if she popped into the bathroom and offered to wash his back for him?
So, now you want to be arrested for sexual harassment?
Wes wanted her. There was no way a man could kiss a woman like he’d kissed her, no way a man could say the dirty delicious stuff he’d said to her, if he didn’t want to have sex with her. He just needed the tiniest push in that direction.
Eleanor, no. You’re acting desperate and gross. Wes has made it clear he’s not going to sleep with you.
The reminder that Wes had rejected her rather soundly, killed her lust. Starving and feeling sorry for herself, she slid off the bed and rooted through her purse for some money. She couldn’t sit here and listen to Wes in the shower, knowing she’d never see him naked. She wasn’t into that kind of mental torture. She’d grab them some food from the vending machine. It was better than nothing.
Holding the cash and the door cardkey, she stuck her feet into her sandals and left the room. The vending machine was near the office and she walked past the other first floor rooms, the warm wind blowing her wet hair back from her face.
She studied the contents of the vending machine before buying a couple of sodas, two packages of those crackers and fake cheese abominations, and a couple of chocolate bars for dessert.
Juggling the drinks, the food, the cardkey, and her change, Eleanor walked back to their room. She stood in front of the door, trying to decide the best way to get the cardkey to the lock without dropping everything.
The door suddenly whipped open and she squeaked in surprise, stumbling back when a wild-eyed and dripping wet Wes shouted, “Eleanor!”
“What?” she said. The sodas were starting to slip, and she squeaked again when Wes grabbed her arms and pulled her into the room, slamming the door behind her. The food and drinks tumbled to the floor and she stared at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“You can’t just leave the room like that, Eleanor.” Wes’s voice was weird. Higher than normal, like it was on the verge of cracking. “Where were you?”
“Getting us some dinner.” She pointed to the food on the floor. “Why are you freaking…”
Her voice died in her throat and her irritation that the soda would probably be too fizzy disappeared.
“Wes,” she said.
He ran a hand through his wet hair, pacing with short jerky strides back and forth in front of her. “You can’t leave the room without telling me. Do you understand? It’s late and dark, and who the fuck knows what type of people are lurking around this place.”
“Wes,” she said.
“You could have been kidnapped,” he said. “Did you think about that possibility? Did you even take your mace with you?”
“Wes,” she said.
“I gave you that mace for a reason, Eleanor. You’re supposed to carry it with you at all times, not just when you feel like it or when it’s convenient for you. Even if you’re -”
“WES!”
“What?” He stopped pacing, annoyance on his face, and hands on his hips. “What, Eleanor?”
“You’re naked.”
* * *
“Dark of Night” will be available in 2021
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Books by Ramona Gray:
Individual Books
The Escort
Saving Jax
The Assistant
One Night
Sharing Del
Filthy Appeal
Forbidden Bliss
Shadow Security Series
Dead of Night
Edge of Night
Undeniable Series
Undeniably His
Undeniably Hers
Undeniably Theirs
Undeniable Series Boxset
Working Men Series
The Mechanic
The Carpenter
The Bartender
The Welder
The Electrician
The Landscaper
The Firefighter
The Cop
The Paramedic
Working Men Series Bundles
Working Men Series Books One to Three
Working Men Series Books Four to Six
Working Men Series Books Seven to Nine
Other World Series
The Vampire’s Kiss (Book One)
The Vampire’s Love (Book Two)
The Shifter’s Mate (Book Three)
Rescued By The Wolf (Book Four)
Claiming Quinn (Book Five)
Choosing Rose (Book Six)
Elena Unbound (Book Seven)
Other World Series Box Sets
Other World Series Books One to Three
Other World Series Books Four to Six