Revved

I pick up a piece of bacon and hand it to him.

“Have I told you recently how awesome I think you are?”

“Nope.”

I watch as he puts it in his mouth, the way his eyes close on the taste.

“Well, you are. So fucking awesome. God, that’s some good bacon.” He moans, chewing it.

I start squirming in my seat at the sounds he’s making.

Who knew a piece of bacon could be such a turn-on?

I have a vision of me naked in bed with him above me, inside me, making those same noises—

“Okay, I need more.” His voice breaks into my sex thoughts.

“Hmm? What? Yeah.” I pass the plate over without even thinking.

Then, a second later, I realize what I’ve done. “Wait! Give that back! You’re gonna get me in trouble!”

I try to grab the plate, but Carrick scoops up all the bacon and shoves it in his mouth.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe you just did that!” I slap my hand over my mouth, laughter escaping.

“Never underestimate what a starving man is capable of,” he says, munching his way through his mouthful of bacon, a glint in his eyes.

I can’t help but stare at him as he swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing, it’s oddly sexy.

“God, that’s so much better. I feel like a normal fucking human being now.” He leans back in his seat, pressing a hand to his stomach.

“You have issues,” I quip. “Do you want the rest of my breakfast?” I gesture to what’s left, my coffee and half-eaten toast.

“Sorry.” He gives me a cheeky grin. “You want me to get you some more?”

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” I wave him off.

“So, what have you got planned for today?”

“Nothing much. Probably just gonna laze around the pool.”

“Even though the thought of you lying around in a bikini is awesome—”

I cut him off, “Who said I’d be wearing a bikini?”

“My imagination. Why? You going topless? Skinny-dipping?” His eyes spark like a struck match as he sits up straighter in his seat.

“No, perv. I meant, I might be wearing a bathing suit for all you know.”

“Way to take the fun out of it.” He pouts.

Shaking my head, I laugh. “I’m your friend, remember? You don’t perv over your friends.”

“Says who? As long as I’m not touching, I can do what I want up here.” He taps a finger on his head.

“And if you want me to keep being your friend, then you’ll knock it off.” I give him a smug smile.

“Fine, spoilsport.” He rolls his eyes. “So, instead of hanging by the pool in your old lady bathing suit, do you wanna come have some fun with me?”

The previous part of our conversation and the cheeky glint in his eyes have me asking, “What kind of fun?”

“The fun kind.”

“The fun kind of fun?”

“Exactly.” He tilts his head, his lips teasing a smile.

It’s such a charming boyish smile that I find myself saying, “Okay, I’m in.”

After breakfast, Carrick goes back to his room to get his wallet, and I pop back up to my room to grab some money. Carrick told me to put some trainers on, so I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be doing some kind of sports activity.

Petra is still in bed, but she’s awake, sitting up and watching TV. “Hey, have I missed breakfast?” Her voice is all croaky.

“Yeah, they stopped serving at half past nine, but I grabbed you these.” I hand over a muffin and banana.

“Ah, you’re a star.” She pulls the wrapper off the muffin and starts nibbling on it. “So, what we doing today?”

I sit on the edge of my bed and kick my flip-flops off. I’m pushing my feet into my trainers when I answer. “Oh, I’m going out with, er…Carrick.”

That raises a brow. She knows Carrick and I get along well, and she hasn’t said anything, but I know what she thinks.

“Just as friends,” I add.

“Yeah, I got that.”

“You did?”

“Mmm.” She has another bite of muffin. “If you were going to shag, you would have done it by now. Carrick’s not one for messing around. It’s about time he learned how to be friends with a member of the opposite sex. I think it’s nice that you guys are friends.”

“Yeah,” I say on a smile.

“So, what are you both doing?”

“I don’t actually know.” I get my bag from down the side of my bed, checking my wallet is in it. “He won’t tell me, but apparently, it’s fun.”

“Well, have fun having your fun.”

Picking my sunglasses up from the dresser, I put them on my head and stop at the door. “Hmm. Do you want to come with us?” It’s not exclusive to him and me. I don’t think.

“Nah, all I’m up for today is lounging by the pool.”

“Catch you later.” I pull open the door.

“We going out tonight?”

“Definitely.”

Leaving Petra, I head back to the elevator to meet Carrick in the lobby.

He’s already waiting for me when I get there. His lips lift into a smile when he sees me. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

I follow him out through the hotel to the parking garage.

Lifting his key, he unlocks the door to a sleek black Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster.