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“That’s my suite.” He frowned and I had the distinct impression he was trying to decide whether or not to share his inner sanctum withme.
“You don’t have to if you don’twant…”
“No.” Blaise swallowed hard. “You can seeit.”
6
Blaise
“Come on in.”I tried to sound confident, but mostly, I was incredibly uncomfortable. I never let anyone this close. Like most shifters, I went to extremes to ensure my secrets remained hidden. There’d been no one in my room other than Fredo and Mishal…ever.
“Okay.” Maggie smiled, but there was a sparkle in her green eyes as she tucked some loose strands of her long black hair behind one ear. Then she followed me into theroom.
As soon as we entered my bedroom, I heard her sharply inhale, which had me whipping around to figure out the cause. “What?” There was no hiding the edge in myvoice.
Maggie obviously picked up on it. Her brows rose, but she seemed to have decided against calling me out on it, which was no less than I deserved. “I’m simply in awe of the space. Look at the ceiling.” She motioned above her head. “And you sleep in this huge bed? Is it even a king-sized? Seems bigger.” She moved to press on the mattress. “Oh my God. I bet it’s like lying on a cloud.” She strolled around to the end of the bed where I had a loveseat and curled up in one corner. “Tell me you sit here and watch the fire.” She stared longingly at the stacked stone fireplace. Scanning the room, Maggie hopped to her feet and squealed as she pulled open the French doors to thepatio.
I covered my mouth with my fist. She was so distracted. This was the safest time. I backed up slowly as I pulled the key out of my shirt where it usually dangled from the leather thong around my neck. When I reached the door to my secret room, I whipped around and locked it. This was a strange, new experience. Usually, I only locked it from the inside to assure my privacy. Hiding it, securing it from prying eyes was completelydifferent.
“Hey, what’s in there?” Maggie’s brow rose. “I saw you lock it. Red room?” Shesnickered.
“Something like that.” I could feel a sweat break out over my brow. “How about that patio though…or have you checked out the bathroom?” I motioned for her to follow me to the other side of the room, which was about as far away from my burn room as we couldget.
“You can have your secrets, Blaise. We all do. I’m just teasing.” She shrugged and I actually mostly believedher.
“Somehow I can’t imagine you having any secrets.” I tugged on my chin, an act that reminded me, once more, I needed toshave.
Maggie’s eyes flashed. “Don’t doit.”
“What?” I frowned as I moved to peer at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. “You like thisscruff?”
She leaned on the door frame and nodded slowly. “I do. I reallydo.”
“Okay. We’ll see if I can stand it, since it seems to mean so much to you.” I winked ather.
Her head tilted. “That’s nice, but why are you listening to me? What does my opinionmatter?”
I turned and laid my hands on her waist. “Because you matter to me.” Almost as soon as I spoke the words, I regretted them. Too soon. It was far too soon. My feelings made no sense. Inside my chest, I felt the strange flutter from earlier, likewings.
Turning away from me, Maggie strolled over to the balcony. “This balcony is an architectural wonder,” she murmured, as if to deflect. I didn’t blameher.
“Yes, it’s right over the cliffs.” I inhaled the salty air, filling my lungs completely. If I held my breath, I couldn’t speak. That would be the smartermove.
“I could sit here all night.” Her shoulders loosened some as she stared at the starrysky.
Then I exhaled. “We could have our wine and dessert here. I could start a fire, if you’d like. Hell, I could even massage you while you lay on my bed.” Fuck. Words. So many desperate sounding words. I rubbed my temple. What was this woman doing tome?
“That sounds really nice.” Maggie faced me and leaned back against the thick cementrailing.
A knock on the door had me jumping. Fredo appeared in the doorway. “Sir.” I marveled at the way he could convey so much disapproval in one simple word. “Wine? On thepatio.”
“I know what I said,” I snapped. “Last time I looked, I still wrote the checks aroundhere.”
Fredo stiffened. “Yes, sir,” he mumbledsadly.
“Alfredo,” I growled, “don’t forget to bringdessert.”
He nodded slightly, eyes downcast. “As you wish, sir.” Then he disappearedagain.
