Justin
“Does this place have a breakfast included with it?” he asked as they emerged from the shower, steam billowing out after them.
“Yeah, and it’s a good one,” she said, following him out, naked except for the towel she was using to dry her hair.
Justin eyed her up and down for the hundredth time that morning, still enjoying the view. He’d seen it all through the night, but in the fresh morning light, well, he felt he needed to do it again.
“Stop ogling me you pervert,” she teased, flicking the towel in the direction of his exposed privates.
“Whoa!” he shouted, jumping back, the empty champagne bottle going spinning across the floor as he accidentally kicked it. “Foul play!” he cried, using one hand to cover himself and the other to ward off her further “attacks.”
Shay giggled and dropped the towel, pressing herself close to him as they shared yet another kiss. She was—he had discovered—a very passionate and expressive person.
He had also discovered that he loved that. He held her in his arms, a wondrous expression at the change in their relationship over the past twenty-four hours emblazoned upon his face. Justin had come to the hotel expecting to tell her everything, and then leave.
Instead, Shay had surprised him—again, he really needed to stop underestimating her—and had shown a surprising resolve and understanding about what it was he did, and who he was. It was almost unbelievable.
Justin knew he lived in a dark world. His unique skills ensured that he lived a life in shadows. The shifter world was one of extreme brutality and excessive death.
But damn did it make the spots like love burn all the brighter around him.
“Can I meet your team, your crew?” she asked as she crossed to the four-drawer dresser at the foot of the bed, pulling open the top one and selecting a pair of underwear and a bra seemingly at random. Justin was sure there was a lot of thought that went into it, but to him, she just jammed a hand in there.
He shook his head and focused on her question. “Absolutely!” he said.
Something that she’d said came back to him.
“It’s been a while now since you last raced, right?” he asked her, a small idea forming in his mind.
“Unfortunately,” she said sadly. “My street-legal car wasn’t where I spent any money. It’s pretty damn slow.”
“Did you wanna go for a ride today?’ he asked, a grin splitting his face.
“On your bike?” she asked, brightening immediately.
He nodded.
Shay’s eyebrows furrowed. “You aren’t going to crash again are you?”
Justin felt his jaw drop open in surprise. “Oh my God. You did not just say that, did you?” he asked, feeling heat bloom on his cheeks and assuming they had flushed a dark red at the reminder of the way the two of them had met.
Clad now only in underwear, which he was positive made her even more attractive, Shay grinned broadly. “Maybe you should let me drive,” she suggested.
He grabbed at his heart, feigning injury. “Oh, ow. My dignity,” he said in mock-pain.
“Shouldn’t have wrecked your bike trying to impress me,” she teased, giving his butt a spank as she dug through their mess of clothes before coming up with her pants.
“I was just trying to stay alive,” he muttered, pulling on his pants. As he did, her socks from the day before fell from them, having somehow gotten tangled up.
“Well, I’m glad you did,” she said, turning away.
Justin stood up. “Hey,” he said, waiting until she turned to face him before launching the dirty socks at her.
“Did you just do that?’ she asked in disgust over the howls of laughter coming from him.
“Damn straight I did,” he admitted without shame, sidling up to her and kissing her neck and earlobe gently, until she swatted him away. “Later,” she said with a wink.
“I’m going to take you up on that,” he said slyly, going in search of his shirt.
“Well, we’d better not crash then,” she said, ducking out of the way as he sent a pillow flying her way in response.
“I’m never going to live that down, am I?” he complained.
“Never,” she said evilly, finishing dressing and heading for the door. “Now let’s go get some food, shall we?”
He smiled and followed.
Life was looking up.