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Chapter Eight
Willow
We eat our two-hundred-dollar steak and lobster dinners on the floor in front of the windows, soaking in the view and each other, playfully fighting over the contents of the breadbasket, though I can tell Maxim doesn’t find the pretzel bread nearly as fascinating as I do.
Just before we transition to dessert—dark chocolate mousse with some promising looking whipped cream that has me rethinking my steak juice plans—there’s a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” I say, but Maxim motions for me to stay where I am.
“No, let me. Just in case.” He stands and strides across the room, fetching the deceptively playful-looking yellow plastic gun on his way to the door.
But I felt the heft of the thing and saw the bullets Maxim loaded into the chamber. It’s a real weapon and seeing him tuck it discreetly into the pocket of his robe is a reminder that this isn’t a romantic getaway.
This is a brief respite from the real world, a protective bubble that could pop at any moment.
“Thank you,” I hear Maxim murmur in his normal, relaxed “talking to customer service people” voice.
Some of the tension eases from my shoulders.
He walks back into the room carrying two massive bags from a luxury department store known for their six-figure evening gowns, and I arch a brow. “You decided on obscenely expensive jeans and sweaters, I see.”
“I did,” he says, setting the bags on the couch and beginning to unpack them. “I need to see your ass in some quality denim.”
“And your spoiled skin is traumatized after a day spent in ill-fitting hand me downs?” I stretch my legs out, pointing my toes. “You know some of us look just fine in fashion from Target.”
He casts a narrow-eyed glance over his shoulder. “Do you want me to send your clothes back, then?” He pulls a cream-colored, cowl-necked sweater that looks soft enough to swaddle angel babies in it from the bag. “I can do that. No problem at all.”
I bounce to my feet. “Nah, that’s okay.”
“Really, I don’t mind.” He holds the sweater up, out of my reach. “I wouldn’t want to pressure you into fashion choices that don’t—”
“Just give me the pretty softie and no one gets hurt,” I cut in, moaning as the sweater drops into my hands. “Oh my god, it’s even softer than it looks.” I press it to my cheek. “I want to sleep with it. Like my blankie when I was a kid.”
Maxim grins as he reaches down to squeeze my ass. “Wear it a few times first. The color is perfect with your hair.” He kisses my forehead before motioning toward the still mostly-full bag. “Everything in there is for you. I’ll get dressed in the bedroom and you can have the bathroom. There’s make-up and perfume in the bag, as well, but no pressure to use it. You look and smell delicious, just as you are.”
I tilt my head back with a sigh. “You certainly have changed your tune. When we met, you thought I was a disaster.”
“I thought you looked like a half-drowned rat. I was very stupid.”
“Agreed,” I say, accepting the kiss he drops on my lips. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”
“Me, too,” he murmurs against my mouth, kissing me again. “Now go get dressed, woman.”
“But I have steak juice plans,” I say, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Shouldn’t we take care of that before we get dressed? Wouldn’t want all that lovely juice to go to waste.”
Before he can answer, the burner phone he bought at the pharmacy in Grand Central rings on the table beside the couch. We both sober and Maxim hurries to retrieve the phone.
Only a handful of people have the number and all of them are allies who shouldn’t be kept waiting.
Maxim glances at the screen, his jaw clenching as he says, “It’s Dara.”
I bite my lip and lift crossed fingers. This call should tell us whether or not it’s relatively safe for us to return to our people. If it is, our future just got a whole lot brighter.
If it’s not…
I cross my fingers even harder, not wanting to imagine that dark version of the world just yet.
“Hello,” Maxim says, the tension in his features easing almost instantly as excited chatter sounds from the other end of the line. I can’t hear what Dara’s saying, but she’s obviously thrilled to be back in touch with her Alpha.
