Page 16 of Fierce Hearts

"That's ridiculous when we're heading to the same place." Gray reached for another pastry. "Unless you're worried about being alone with me again. I don't want things becoming awkward between us now, Sofia. We can leave everything that happened here in this room if it's what you want."

What I wanted and what I knew I needed to do were two very different things right now.

I nodded, sipping my coffee to ground myself.

"Yes, that's what I want. It's the best thing. Just forget it happened."

I almost could've sworn I saw the slightest flicker of pain in his eyes, but then he nodded.

"Done. I'll get you a bag for last night's clothes. Take the bathrobe, there's a pool and sauna in the building, most will assume you're coming from that." He rose, moving towards the closet as I downed the last of my coffee. "I'll meet you downstairs in twenty, that should be enough time for you to get your stuff from your room, right?" He pulled a plastic bag from the closet and moved to collect my discarded clothes from around the room.

"Yes, it will be, let me grab?—"

"It's fine. Relax, Sof, eat, you had a few drinks last night." He looked up as he picked up my dress, offering me a soft smile, but it didn't quite meet his eyes.

Yeah, things were definitely not going to go back to normal.

He finished putting my stuff into a bag and set it on the bed.

"I'm going to have a proper shower myself, I'll meet you downstairs." With that, he headed into the bathroom and shut the door, leaving me with my chest tight and my stomach knotted.

No strings attached. The promise we'd made was already fraying at the edges.

What had I done?

* * *

I pulledon jeans and a simple blouse once back in my room, grateful I'd not run into anyone on my way back to my room in only a bathrobe, holding my heels and bag of clothes.

I moved to the bathroom to brush my hair, and applied minimal makeup. The woman in the mirror looked normal enough—perhaps a bit more flushed than usual, but otherwise composed. No one would guess she'd just had mind-blowing sex all night with Grayson Cassaro.

Fuck.

I closed my eyes, knowing I shouldn't have allowed him to talk me into a ride. Although he'd pretty much stated he was taking me back to the city. I could call him and try to cancel it, but then that'd make whatever this was between us even weirder.

But I had one other thing bothering me now. I wasn't sure if he'd used protection in the shower. I hadn't seen a condom.

"You're a mess," I muttered to my reflection. I could ask him, but I didn't want to delve into that right now. I'd just take a morning after pill once home to be safe. I'd never been a fan of birth control pills and whatnot personally, preferring to stick to condoms instead when I did have encounters.

I'd handle it once home.

After packing my few belongings, I headed for the elevator, ready to get this awkward morning-after over with and be back home. The sooner I got back to my house and my normal life, the sooner I could forget about the way Gray had looked at me, touched me, and made me feel.

The elevator doors opened, and as if summoned by my guilty thoughts, Meredith stood inside.

"Sof!" Her face lit up. "I thought you might have left already."

I stepped inside, hoping my smile appeared natural. "Not yet. Gray offered me a ride back to the city."

"That was nice of him." She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. "Sorry, I'm exhausted."

"I bet," I said with a grin. She had the telltale signs of someone who hadn't gotten much sleep because of fun times—slightly puffy eyes, hair hastily pulled back, and yet practically glowing with happiness.

I'd made sure I didn't look that way.

"How was your night? Did you have plenty of fun?" I waggled my brows.

She laughed, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Definitely. Leo kept me up most of the night."

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