Three Alpha Romeo

“Should we get him one too?” smirked Randall, raising his hand to grab the bartender’s attention.

“Probably,” I chuckled.

We ended up spending nearly two hours in the bar, unwinding from the rest of our day. When we finally went up to our rooms, I was surprised to find there were only two, not three.

“A suite?”

Marcus nodded as we pushed inside. The guys’ room consisted of immaculately made twin beds, a kitchenette, and a really fancy leather seating area. Mine was identical, but my bed was king-sized.

“I’m gonna get lost in that thing,” I said happily.

Both rooms were connected by a double-locking adjoining door. Having the door propped open — and the locks on the hallway doors latched and bolted — made me feel immeasurably safer.

“It’s like a sleepover,” winked Randall.

“Not unless there’s wine and snacks,” I shot back with a grin. I was still feeling good. Warm and flush and happy, from our time at our little table, in the back of the bar.

“That’s easily fixed.”

We dropped our things and stretched out. Took our shoes off, and made fists with our toes in the carpet. They were little traditions every traveler employed to feel more at home in a strange place, including me changing into something softer and more comfortable.

Then I fell backwards onto my bed, arms outstretched, staring up at the ceiling.

I wish Holden were here, too.

It was an odd thought, but then again it wasn’t. I was genuinely worried about him. Hoping that wherever he was, he was still safe. My two gorgeous SEALs had done right by me. They’d helped me to the point of saving my ass, without asking anything in return.

And if we were really going to get Kyrkos? We could all help each other. The four of us, Marcus included. For whatever reasons he had.

My eyes closed and the room faded beneath me. I felt peacefully secure. Serene and protected. My lips parted as I took a long, deep breath, and let a contented warmth flow over my body…

“Hey rock star, get in here.”

I sat up at the sound of Randall’s voice. He was back from wherever he’d wandered off to next. Hopefully to get wine and snacks.

Happily barefoot and newly relaxed, I walked back through the doorway and into the boys’ room…

Twenty-Six

ANDREA

It was well after midnight and I was still staring up at the ceiling. I was overtired and wired. Pleasantly buzzed. Lying on top of my blankets, thinking about anything and everything.

The night had been fun — maybe the most I’d had in months. We’d lounged around in the room’s little seating area, listening to music, drinking and talking. Breaking down each other’s walls. Coaxing things from each other, as the wine and beer flowed.

Oh yeah, and flirting too.

The guys had grown bolder as the night wore on, each watching the other carefully as to how they interacted with me. It started with a playful stroke of my arm, or one of them touching my hair. It ended with me somehow finding myself in their laps, each in turn.

It was strangely comfortable, considering the circumstances. Two men I hardly knew, and yet I’d been so incredibly intimate with. They didn’t know each other either, but they shared many things in common. Specialized military training, for one. And of course the one thing we all shared together: Kyrkos.

I left before things got too crazy, giving them each a peck on the cheek before prying myself from their reaching grasps. They seemed a little disappointed as I strutted back through the common doorway, blowing them a kiss over my shoulder and giving them an overly cute “G’night boys!”

And now here I was, still feeling good, possibly regretting my haste. Wondering if maybe… just maybe…

Almost on cue the lighting in the room changed. A silhouette stood in the doorway between bedrooms, shadows obscuring the man’s face. There was no doubt as to who it was though. Based on sheer size alone…

“Hey Marcus.”