Thomas & January (Sleepless 2)

She thought for a moment. “You’re right. Something’s up.”

The valet came up and opened the door for January before coming around and taking the keys from me. He informed us in a very formal accent that he’d find out our room and have our bags brought up. “I’ll catch you when we leave, bro,” I said, letting him know I’d tip him all at once in the end and he nodded tightly.

Inside, the lobby had black-and-white marble floors. Our feet echoed off the walls and pushed back and forth repeatedly, a resounding hymn of clicks. The rest of the room was dark wood and crimson accents, save for the cream plaster ceiling and columns. We approached the Concierge and he greeted us cheerfully, asking our names.

“Thomas Eriksson and January MacLochlainn,” I told him. His brows lifted slightly at January, not enough to warrant a beat down but just enough to sting. Zap. I felt that simple burn of jealousy for about the hundredth time since being around this girl. If I had any chance of a normal relationship with her, I was going to have to check that quickly. Relationship? Where the hell did that come from?

“Yes, sir,” he said, clicking away at a computer system. “Ah, yes, I have you both on the third floor, is this acceptable? There are some fantastic views from that room.”

“Perfect,” January said, before doing a double take. “Wait. Room? Don’t you mean rooms?”

The man became flustered and peered down at his computer once more. January and I looked at one another, confused.

“No, I’m sorry. You only reserved the one room. Twin beds, though.”

“Jason,” I said under my breath. “I’m sorry,” I said a bit louder, “but we’re going to need two rooms.”

“I apologize, sir, but there is only the one vacancy.”

“It’s okay,” January said. “It has twin beds, you said?”

“Yes, madam.”

“It’s all right,” January offered, touching me lightly on the arm.

I nodded. “Are you sure?”

“Sure, let’s just get out there and listen to some music, Tom. I’m kind of dying to do our job right now.”

“All right,” I said, wishing I could kiss her in that moment. She made my heart feel lighter than it had in over a year. “Fine,” I told the man as he started to ready our keys. I turned back to January. “I’ll talk to Jason.”

“It’s fine,” she said, squeezing my forearm through my hoodie.

The concierge finalized everything, handing us our keys and letting us know our bags would be up shortly. He pointed us to the elevator and we got in, but when the doors closed and I pressed the button for the third floor, it felt like someone else took over my body.

I couldn’t have stopped myself if I’d tried, I grabbed January briskly and pushed her against the side of the elevator, cupping the back of her head so I wouldn’t hurt her. She looked surprised but not at all unwilling, her mouth gaped slightly and held a small grin at the corners. I eyed her fiercely before physically turning her head and moving to her beautiful neck. I breathed her beguiling scent deep within my chest. I righted her face and drank her in before closing my eyes and pressing my lips gently to hers. It was everything in me to keep it soft, my body had other ideas, rougher ideas, and wanted so badly to kiss her harshly to release all the pent up feeling I’d been harboring for the fascinating female since that night in Austin.

“I’m into you,” I told her as I broke free.

“Are you,” she whispered as a statement rather than a question.

“That’s a lie,” I amended.

Her breaths puffed gently as her eyes wandered my face. “A lie.”

“Yes,” I said, running my fingers along her neck and throat, resting my palm over her heart, feeling it race for me.

“I’m obsessed with you.”

“Ob-obsessed,” she said, tripping on the word.

“Am I scaring you?” I asked, removing my hand from her chest and bringing it back to her throat.

The elevator door dinged, alerting us to our floor and we both stepped out without another word spoken. I opened the door with the electronic key and let her in first. When the door closed, I held fast to her arm and whipped her back to me, pinning her once again against the door. The only light in the room was a soft lamp in the corner.

“No,” she said.

“No, what?”