Fuck.
If Ace was putting feelers out, it didn't bode well for my original plan. Because if he called Bat, he'd call the others clubs we'd been in contact with over the years.
"Told 'em I'd seen you," Bat said. "But that you had already passed through. Don't know what the fuck you got yourself into, and it ain't my business, but I don't want that trouble here."
"I shouldn't have brought you into it," I said, shaking my head. "I didn't think he'd be looking for me at the clubs so quickly." I guess the fucker knew me better than I thought he did.
"Shit happens," Bat said, shrugging. "Know you well enough to figure you got your reasons for whatever it is. But I'd like to know if a shitstorm is coming my way, so we can get some cover from it."
"I wouldn't let that happen. No. And we will be out of here after we clean up."
"The bed is here," he offered, waving at it. "If you need a day to rework your plans."
"No, it's alright. I can do it on the fly. Riding gives me time to think."
"Alright. But I offered."
"And I appreciate it," I said, meaning it. "If I ever get my shit sorted, I owe you."
"Well, if you ever get your shit sorted, I would never turn down a good party."
"You got it."
"Looking forward to it. I'll get breakfast going. Baby girl, how do you like your eggs?" he asked, getting another whimpering noise out of Nova.
"Can't go wrong with scrambled, I guess," Bat said, a big smile pulling at his lips.
"You gonna come out of there?" I asked when Bat was gone, his heavy footsteps clomping up the stairs.
"Nope. I live here now."
"Come on, we're all adults. We all fuck. It's whatever."
"You had your face up my shirt and your hand down my pants," she reminded me as I flicked the sheet off of her body.
"Don't remind me. We don't have time," I said, disappointment a palpable thing coursing through my system.
"How am I going to face him?" she grumbled.
"You'll feel better after some meds and a shower," I told her, reaching for the backpack, getting her the drugs, then handing her the only change of clothes I had. "Come on," I demanded, reaching down to grab her hand, pulling her onto her feet.
She dragged her feet, but went along with me. And as much as I wanted to join her, I left her alone in the bathroom while I tried to figure out what the fuck we were going to do next.
I'd been counting on the clubs.
There was safety in clubs.
The bloodsuckers not being allowed to enter and such.
I had no fucking idea how it worked for hotel rooms. Were they open-season to all vampires since the people staying didn't really own it? Or was there implied residence when you were paid up for the night?
I wasn't sure I wanted to test that.
But I didn't see any other choices.
"Feel better?" I asked when she opened the bathroom door, letting out a cloud of steam, making me wonder if she'd left me any hot water. I wasn't going to bitch since a place to sleep was a place to sleep, but the basement hadn't been much more pleasant for me than it had been for Nova. What can I say? I hailed from a really warm climate.
"Yeah," she admitted with a bashful smile. "Showers fix most things."
"And what showers don't fix, orgasms do. So you're all set," I agreed, giving her ass a little squeeze as I moved past her, going toward the shower.
"What are you doing?" she asked, voice hitching a bit when I stripped off my shirt.
"Showering," I told her as she used one of the guest toothbrushes to clean her teeth.
"I'm still in here," she reminded me.
"Yeah, babe," I said, turning to face her. "I figured you didn't want to venture out to talk to Bat alone."
"Ah, no," she admitted, shaking her head as her eyes squeezed shut for a moment, pushing back the memory.
"But I need a shower too, so you're gonna have to deal with this," I said, waving toward my chest, then working my button and zipper of my pants down.
I didn't imagine the gulp she made as her eyes roamed over me, settling down where my hands were pushing my pants and boxers down.
It wasn't like she hadn't seen my cock.
But I guess there was something about the grand reveal of the whole body.
I got that.
Her breath shook in her chest as she exhaled when I stood there fully naked in front of her.
"Like something you see, babe?" I asked, shooting her a smirk as my cock started to stiffen. "Unfortunately, all you can do is look," I told her, taking a deep breath. "We have to eat, then get out of here," I reminded her as I climbed into the shower, glad to find some hot water left for me.