Page 74 of Loved Out Loud
“The crowd was amazing,” Xan adds. “They asked questions I would have never thought of.”
“As if that’s a challenge.” Jade’s barb lands, and I see a quick flash of hurt in his eyes.
“What did you get?” Tobias points at Jade’s bag.
“Nothing.” She holds the bag closer to her body and turns away. “Should we go out for dinner since we’re all here?”
“Darren’s not here,” Tobias points out. “I can call him if we choose a place now.”
After a short conversation and a recommendation from the store manager, we pick a restaurant and Tobias sends an invite to Darren. Dan and Adam go out the back door first, ensuring that there’s no one waiting to surprise us back there. Once they give the all clear we head out and climb into our respective vehicles.
Twenty-Four
STONE
“I can’t believeI’m just now finding out that your name is actually Tyler Stone,” Hazel says as we walk into our suite. “You’ve been keeping secrets.” She tosses her purse and shopping bag down while toeing off her high heels. “God that feels so good,” she moans.
“Not as good as I do.” I prowl toward her, excited to finally have her all to myself again.
She laughs and shakes her head. “I don’t think there’s much that could even compare.”
My arms wrap around her, and I guide us toward the bathroom where a surprise waits for her. She mentioned missing her regular bubble baths while on tour, so I called down to the front desk and requested a selection of bath salt and bubble options from the spa downstairs. They outdid themselves, leaving not only a basket of salts and bubbles but also creams and lotions to use afterward.
“Oh wow.” She looks through the options. “Did you do this?” Her eyes meet mine in the mirror.
“I did.”
She sets the bottles down and turns toward me. “Thank you. This is really thoughtful.”
“It’s not entirely altruistic.” I let my hands skim over her hips.
“Oh yeah?”
I nod. “I couldn’t help but notice that the tub is big enough for two. I was hoping to join you.”
“That can be arranged.”
“Good.” I press a kiss to her lips. “Pick your bubbles or salts, and I’ll be right back.”
I walk out into the kitchenette and open the refrigerator to find the tray of dark-chocolate-covered strawberries I also ordered. There’s a bottle of champagne and a note sitting beside them.
The sight of alcohol in my room throws me for a loop. For a long, lingering moment I look at the bottle. The temptation is there. I can practically imagine the burst of bubbles on my tongue as I stare at the bottle. My blood hums with temptation.
The only thing that brings me out of the moment is the sound of water filling the tub in the bathroom. I grab the bottle quickly and set it outside the door. I shoot a text to Xan to come get it, afraid that if I tell Darren or Jade, they’ll be knocking down the door and interrupting the evening I have planned. I flip the deadbolt and grab the tray of strawberries.
Hazel is already in the tub when I walk in. Bubbles come up to her shoulders, hiding most of her body from my sight. Her eyes light up when I set the strawberries down on the ledge beside her.
“All my favorite things, what did I do to get so lucky?”
“Be my favorite thing,” I tell her while I whip my shirt over my head. I love how her eyes always trace my body when I strip down for her. The hunger in her gaze makes me feel ten feet tall. “Scoot forward.”
After kicking my pants off, I lower a foot into the water, hissing at the temperature which makes her giggle.
“Sorry. I wouldn’t have made it so hot if I had known you were sensitive to high heat.”
“It’s fine. I’ll boil my dick off for you.”
“That would be a tragedy.” She settles back against me, her head finding a comfortable resting place on my shoulder. “We shouldn’t be talking, though, should we?”
