Page 20 of Snapdragon

“Do you want me to take you home?”

I lift my head, sniffling. “No, we said we would go to the hotel.”

“That was before…” he shifts so that he can look at me properly. “Say the word, and I will take you home. Consequences be damned.”

I shake my head, loosening my grip. I didn’t realize that I had been grabbing his shirt so tightly. I pull away altogether, shifting to sitting on the seat next to him.

“No. I’ll be OK. I was just in shock.” He still has an arm around my shoulders and I use it to anchor myself. “Besides, I’d prefer not to be alone right now.”

“Even if you’re stuck with a silent, grumpy type?” He grins slightly, using my words from earlier to tease me. I push him away, giggling.

“I need to change this,” he gestures to his torso.

Oh, yes he does, his shirt is torn from his wings and damp from my tears. Sebastian pulls away from me, moving to the back of the car to root through his bag. He pulls out a simple white t-shirt.

I don’t even pretend to look away as he tugs his shirt over his head. His back ripples with muscles and I want to reach out and feel them. The white t-shirt he pulls on is tight around his biceps, the white contrasting against his dark skin.

Sebastian moves back to sit next to me, but he keeps his hands to himself this time.

“We should be there pretty soon, it’s not far.”

Chapter 11

“What do you mean, there’s only one room booked?” Sebastian’s voice is lined with deadly intent.

Unfortunately, the man behind the reception desk doesn’t look phased at all. He’s huge, even bigger than Sebastian, with green skin and tusks coming from his mouth.

I had used my phone’s camera in the car to make myself look presentable before we went into the hotel. But I’m close to crying again, now. The receptionist has told us that there is only one room booked in the hotel for both of us.

It’s too late at night to be calling Frank for a fix, and honestly I just want to close myself off from the world and relax for a bit.

“Can’t we book another room?” I ask, quietly. “I don’t mind paying for it…”

“There aren’t any. We’re fully booked.” The receptionist’s gruff voice replies.

I tug on Sebastian’s elbow, trying to get his attention.

“It’s OK. I don’t mind sharing, and I think I would like the company tonight.” I lean up a little to whisper, “I’m a little scared to be on my own here, if I’m being honest.”

Is Sebastian kind of a dick at the best of times? Yes. But do I feel safe with him? Yes. Does that make me certifiably insane? Also yes.

“If you’re sure…”

I nod. Sebastian holds out his hand for the key card. The receptionist places it in his hand and instructs us on how to get to our room.

We make our way to the elevator, Sebastian carrying both our bags in one hand like they weigh nothing. I follow him into it and watch as he presses the button to our floor.

“What?” he asks me, a slight grin on his face. “I can see you thinking. You want to ask me something.”

I blush, it’s not fair that he can tell that.

“Well… it’s only… what kind of Monster was that man? The receptionist, I mean.”

Sebastian chuckles, showing his teeth a little and I squirm at the sight. He’s much more relaxed now, and it’s really nice to see.

“He was what we call an Orc. We also aren’t called men,” he chuckles a little again, almost to himself more than for me. “That’s a Human term. We’re referred to as males and females. Or whatever you want that’s in between, of course. But we’re certainly not men and women.”

The elevator doors open and he steps out into the hallway first. I quickly follow behind him, a little afraid of being on my own here.