“That’ll work.”
“Rooms 518 and 519. Elevator is down that hallway.” The clerk pointed. “Have a great stay.”
“The lot is full, so I pulled up out front,” Carly said. “Where can we park?”
“There are three spots in the first row marked fifteen-minute unloading,” said the hotel employee. “Park in one of those.”
“Stay inside,” Ashton said. “I’ll move the car.”
She handed him the keys. “Push the seat back or you won’t be able to get in.”
His lips quirked up. “I’ve driven your car before. I’ve got this.”
Right.
A moment later, he returned, droplets beading down his forehead. On impulse, she caressed away the wetness. The atmosphere became charged, the impulse to kiss him tugging her closer. She stared at his handsome face, the knot between his brows thick with worry.
All she wanted to do was pull him against her and erase his grief. She hated that he was hurting. He glanced at her mouth, plucking her from her trance.
“We need to dry off,” she said.
“I need to go for a run,” he said. “Burn off steam.”
A run? Now? You’ve got to be kidding. Carly had to play this one cool. “Great idea.”
With bags in hand, they walked to the elevator bank. He punched the button, the doors slid open and they stepped inside the small space. The air turned electric. He raked his hands through his dripping hair and she found herself staring at his profile. His eyes, sharp as razors, cut into her.
The elevator opened and she dragged her attention away. Forging forward, she stopped in front of room 518. “This is your room.” Using the keycard, she entered the room and flipped on the light.
“Let’s map out a run-route before we dry off and change.” She was stalling until she could come up with a smarter and safer option. No way could they go running at night in a rainstorm in an unfamiliar place.
The door banged shut behind him. Heat warmed her chest as she glanced at the king bed. But she pulled a hand towel from the bathroom rack and patted his face dry while he gazed into her eyes. Energy flowed between them, smoldering desires that teetered on an uncontrollable wildfire.
“I’ll go for a run on the beach.”
Repressing the urge to roll her eyes, she dried her own face. “What does your physical therapist say about that type of workout?”
“I don’t have one.” He removed his soaked shirt.
She wanted to strip off his undershirt and drag her fingernails down his hard chest. “Ashton, if you run, you’re going to further injure yourself.”
“Today’s been a bitch. Two friends are dead and I could have prevented one of them, for sure. Hell, maybe even Dom’s, too. Several of my missions have been suspended because I won’t play by Internado’s fucked up rules. I can’t sit here and do nothing. No way in hell.”
Her thoughts were racing. I need a plan B. “I’m sorry.”
“I want to put my fist through a fucking wall, but I don’t need to add broken bones to my list of problems.” He gripped his hips. “Now, are you running with me or not?”
As she gazed into his eyes, an idea popped into her head. I have no other choice. “Give me one sec.” Pulling up an app on her phone, Carly typed in Virginia Beach. Up popped the name of two clubs. She raised her face and stared at him.
He’d stripped down to his black boxer briefs. Pausing, she admired every beautiful, hard-muscled inch of him.
God, help me.
She sashayed close. He ground his teeth, flexing the muscles in his cheeks. His earthy scent engulfed her. Seeing him with someone else would be gut wrenching, but she was committed to help him. Her proposal was extreme, but a smarter alternative than running on the beach.
“Get dressed, Ash. There’s a kink club nearby. We’re going to play on the dark side.”
No way had he heard her correctly. “What?”