She stepped closer anyway, playful yet still drowsy. Her hand rose toward my chest, she forgot the rules already.
I caught her wrist gently.
“Ms. Rodriguez,” I commanded. “Stop.”
Her eyes searched mine, glossy with tiredness. “You don’t like me anymore.”
“That’s not what this is,” I said. “You need to lay down.”
She leaned in to test me again. “What if I?—”
“No,” I cut in. “Don’t.”
Lavender stood near the door, pretending she’s invisible and failing.
Aurora sighed dramatically and turned away, wobbling toward the bedroom with the dog trailing behind her.
“Fine. Whatever.”
I watched her go with my jaw tight.
Then I turned.
“Wait in the car,” I told Lavender. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
She hesitated, looking at me then toward the bedroom, then back at me again.
“Sir…”
“Now,” I added.
That was enough. She nodded once and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind her.
Silence settled into the suite.
I stood there for a second longer than I needed to… then followed Rory.
She was halfway through pulling off her top when I entered, movements slow and uncoordinated.
She didn’t even look up at first.
“Privacy, Marlon?”
“Nothing I ain’t seen before,” I said, stepping further into the room.
She huffed under her breath but didn’t argue. The fabric caught around her arms, and she swayed slightly trying to get it off.
I closed the distance and took hold of the hem, steadying her with my other hand before she could lose her balance.
“Hold still, Rabbit.”
“I am still,” she muttered, though she clearly wasn’t.
I pulled the top up and over her head, making sure she didn’t trip over herself in the process. She lifted her arms without thinking, then dropped them again once it was off, blinking up at me.
“Thank you.”
I just shrugged before discarding her top on the floor. She watched the fabric then looked at me.
