I pull the blanket tighter, willing the pounding in my head to go away. Ryan doesn't know the first thing about love. He treated me like a damn pet. If he really loved me, if he really knew anything...
The plane hits a pocket of turbulence and I jerk out of my chair, the seat belt pulling against my pelvis. Ow.
Luke leans in towards me, his hand on my shoulder. "You okay?"
I nod, but I keep my eyes pressed closed, my body turned towards the window.
"How's the headache?" he asks.
I groan. "I'm never drinking again."
He wraps his arms tighter around me, laughing a deep, hearty laugh. "I'll hold you to that."
"Maybe not never again."
I blink my eyes open--damn, it's bright--and look back to Luke. His attention is on me, and he's damn sincere. Those big, brown eyes are so wide and so full of concern.
He leans in closer, until I can feel the heat of his body, smell his breath.
"If you make it to the hotel, I have a surefire hangover cure."
"And you tell me now?" I lean closer, soaking in the warmth of his body.
"Mhmm. And you'll definitely like it."
My head fills with all sorts of wonderful ideas, pushing out any memories of last night. Ryan stopped by to apologize for being an asshole. No big deal. It's not like I buy into any of his words. It's not like his warning, his concern, whatever it is... It's not like it scared me.
Not even a little bit.
I press my lips against Luke's. They taste like Earl Grey tea and honey, and they're so soft and warm. This is all that matters.
Ryan has no hold on me. Nothing he said affects me in any damn way.
***
My hangover shrinks into a dull ache bouncing around my head, but I'm still not at one hundred percent. It's late afternoon here, and the sun is high and bright. It bounces off the floor, filling the whole lobby with light.
The space is open. Hell, it's practically a courtyard. The warm, humid air sticks to my skin, and it's damn sweet. Some wonderful mix of salt and tropical fruit.
I sit in a cushy leather chair while Luke takes care of the check-in business. The ocean is only a few hundred feet away and it's a perfect, crystal blue. Everything is decorated in bright colors. The chairs are teal and orange. The desks are a vibrant gold.
Luke sits next to me. He runs his hands along my cheek. His touch is delicate, and there's such a sweetness to it. All I want to do is close my eyes and melt into him.
"You ready to see our room?" he asks.
I nod. He takes my hands and pulls me out of the chair. I stumble, ever so slightly, landing in his arms.
Fuck it. I press my eyes closed and soak in the feeling of his body around mine. This is perfect. This is everything.
I pull back, steadying myself and taking his hand. He leads me to the elevator. There's already a car on this floor, and it's just for us. I step inside, leaning against the railing for support.
His hand is still on mine. "Our room is called a royal suite."
"What does that mean?"
He smiles. "It means it's amazing."
The elevator stops on our floor. Luke squeezes my hand and leads me down the hallway.