This Side of the Grave (#5 Night Huntress)
This Side of the Grave (#5 Night Huntress)
This Side of the Grave (#5 Night Huntress)
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I smirked. “Told you I’d get you back.”<br />
His laugh was its own caress on my senses. Even wet and smelling like a stinky river, Bones still managed to entice me. His clo<strong>the</strong>s might be<br />
ripped and his lea<strong>the</strong>r jacket dripping water, but he made that look sexy. Maybe because being waterlogged meant his pants and shirt clung to all<br />
<strong>the</strong> lines <strong>of</strong> his body with explicit snugness, highlighting <strong>the</strong> lean muscles and hard planes like <strong>the</strong>y’d been molded onto him.<br />
He leaned down. “Dare I hope that vengeance was sufficient enough to make you forget your o<strong>the</strong>r vow <strong>of</strong> retribution?”<br />
My hands trailed over his chest, pausing near his nipples, which were rigid due to his wet clo<strong>the</strong>s—or because he knew how those tight buds<br />
practically screamed to be touched. Without conscious thought, I licked my lips.<br />
“And let you go back on your promise to work hard to change my mind?” I couldn’t keep <strong>the</strong> husky catch from my voice. “That wouldn’t be smart <strong>of</strong><br />
me, would it?”<br />
He moved closer, pressing his chest more firmly against my hands until I could feel all <strong>the</strong> play <strong>of</strong> his muscles as his arms rose to encircle me.<br />
“No, not smart at all,” he murmured, his breath landing on exactly <strong>the</strong> right spot near my ear.<br />
I closed my eyes, savoring <strong>the</strong> sensations rising in me. Then I pushed him away and began digging in my pants. Just a short distance away from<br />
us was a bedroom. That’s where we needed to be, and <strong>the</strong> sooner <strong>the</strong> better.<br />
“Hope <strong>the</strong> room card didn’t fall out . . . ah, thank God for button pockets,” I said, pulling out my card. <strong>This</strong> outdoor courtyard had key card entry<br />
access, though I’d bet it hadn’t been used as <strong>the</strong> first way into <strong>the</strong> room before.<br />
But when I went to <strong>the</strong> exterior door, Bones following closely enough for his energy to throb along my back, nothing happened when I pressed <strong>the</strong><br />
card to <strong>the</strong> slot. I did it again, double-checking that <strong>the</strong> arrow was in <strong>the</strong> right position. It was, but still no green light.<br />
“Try yours,” I said, frowning.<br />
After a few moments, Bones had his card out and in <strong>the</strong> correct position, but several tries later, <strong>the</strong> door still didn’t open.<br />
“Getting <strong>the</strong>m wet must’ve shorted <strong>the</strong> magnetic strip,” he said, shrugging. “Wait here. I’ll go back through <strong>the</strong> lobby and let you in once I’ve gotten<br />
new cards.”<br />
“Dressed like that?” I asked with a laugh. “I should let you just because I’ll crack up imagining <strong>the</strong> looks on people’s faces, but I’ll go. I might be<br />
just as wet as you, but at least my clo<strong>the</strong>s aren’t ripped half <strong>of</strong>f, and my jacket’s dry because you left it by <strong>the</strong> bridge before I pulled you into <strong>the</strong><br />
river.”<br />
“I don’t care what any <strong>of</strong> those t<strong>of</strong>fs think,” he replied dismissively.<br />
No matter that I’d done far more questionable things myself in recent months, shades <strong>of</strong> my rigid upbringing insisted that one did not appear with<br />
indecent gaps in <strong>the</strong>ir clothing in public if one could avoid it. I tried ano<strong>the</strong>r tactic.<br />
“Come on, have mercy on any older women who might be in <strong>the</strong> lobby. You don’t want to give <strong>the</strong>m heart attacks if <strong>the</strong>y catch a glimpse <strong>of</strong> your<br />
goods,” I teased, trailing my fingers down <strong>the</strong> front <strong>of</strong> his torn pants.<br />
His hand closed around mine, bringing it flush up against <strong>the</strong> goods in question. Things low inside me clenched in response, drawing a short<br />
moan. God, feeling him grow thick and hard in my grip almost ended my control right <strong>the</strong>re. It was all I could do not to drop to my knees and replace<br />
my hand with my mouth.<br />
“I’m leaving,” I said, <strong>the</strong> words hoarse from <strong>the</strong> willpower it took for me to pull my hand away. “I won’t be long.”<br />
His eyes were bright green, matching <strong>the</strong> hunger in his expression, fangs tantalizing me from underneath those perfectly sculpted lips.<br />
“Hurry.”<br />
I jumped <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> without even looking to make sure someone wasn’t below me until I’d almost reached <strong>the</strong> ground. Good thing it was almost<br />
four in <strong>the</strong> morning, late even for most <strong>of</strong> this city’s residents to be out and about.<br />
Then I rounded <strong>the</strong> corner and went into <strong>the</strong> Ritz, giving a brief nod to <strong>the</strong> doorman. One short elevator ride later and I was in <strong>the</strong> lobby,<br />
pretending not to notice <strong>the</strong> surprised looks <strong>the</strong> employees gave my wet hair and shoes. I pulled out my driver’s license—fake, but registered to <strong>the</strong><br />
same last name Bones booked this room under—and explained my room key was somehow not working. While I waited for my new cards, a man<br />
checked in, holding a sleeping little girl in one arm while awkwardly signing his forms with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. From his hushed voice, it was obvious he was<br />
hoping to have her in bed before she woke, and after hearing his weary comment about airport delays, it was also obvious he was just as tired.<br />
I got my new cards at <strong>the</strong> same time <strong>the</strong> employee finished checking <strong>the</strong> man in, so we waited for <strong>the</strong> elevator toge<strong>the</strong>r. He blinked a little at <strong>the</strong><br />
drips <strong>of</strong> water that pooled at my feet when we stepped into <strong>the</strong> elevator, but said nothing.<br />
“Tripped and fell in a big puddle,” I whispered.<br />
“Ah” was his equally quiet reply. At least he didn’t give me <strong>the</strong> same kind <strong>of</strong> stink eye that <strong>the</strong> fur-wearing, plumber-banging older woman had.