Page 80 of Bad Moon Rising
Roman took her hand and marched up through the hotel’s lobby. The two of them looked more like college students who’d lived in hostels for several weeks rather than patrons of this type of establishment. Eleven at night wasn’t exactly standard check-in. At least the lobby was empty. Time to turn on the lycan charm. At the reception desk, he smiled and lowered his voice to address the solitary manager. “We need a room for two for the night.”
The slender, well-manicured man in a blue suit manning the desk reeked of aftershave. He nodded. “Of course, sir. Will you require anything else?”
“Have a meal for two sent up of the chef’s choice from the restaurant next door. Leave the food outside but knock once.” Roman widened his smile but kept it in check not to show off teeth.
“How will you be paying for this?” The manager’s fingers hovered over the computer keyboard.
Smoothly, he said, “We’re the contest winners. Everything’s free for one night. Isn’t that right?”
“Of course. I forgot.” He made a few dramatic clicks. Paper came out of the printer nearby.
Nova’s face gleamed with fascination. She too lowered her voice and said, “Thank you. You’ve been so helpful this evening. Can you make sure we’re not disturbed?”
The manager’s face glazed over and lower jaw hung open. He leaned on the counter and stared at her, spellbound.
Roman whispered, “Too much.”
“May we have our key?” Nova asked.
The manager didn’t break his fixation on her as he handed them a keycard.
“Room number?” Roman asked.
The manager rattled off a number and goofy smiled at Nova.
“Forget about us.”
She blew him a kiss as they walked off.
The manager stumbled but caught himself before face-planting into the marble countertop. He frowned, glanced around as if confused, and resumed absorption in his computer.
Inside the elevator, Nova hooked her arm through his. “That was amazing. Do you do that all the time? Does it work on everyone?”
“Primarily humans. Some non-humans are susceptible. Depends on how strong their minds are.” Her enthusiasm prompted a smile from him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been that excited about anything as normal as mesmerizing a human into doing what he needed or into forgetting. “You might’ve overdone it. I’ll be surprised if he remembers the food.”
“But it was amazing. Besides, you’re the one who told him to forget us.”
“True.”
The standard room came with one queen-size bed.
Nova pursed her lips and walked around the small space. “You’d think for the contest winners, he could’ve done better than this. Where’s our champagne? Where’s the fruit basket? Where’s the whirlpool tub?”
A snort-laugh escaped him.
“We both need a shower. Why don’t you go first?” she said. “I’ll watch some TV and see if we made the news.” She was already on the bed clicking through channels.
…
When Nova finished her shower and exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel, she could tell by the tense line of Roman’s body he’d started fighting his orders again. He turned away from her to put down the miniature green bottle of liquor he’d drained.
She wanted to reach out and soothe his hurts again. To make sure he wasn’t bleeding out again. But he didn’t seem like he’d entirely found control yet. Entering a death battle prompted by his kill order might break her heart. She didn’t want to hurt him any more than he already suffered. She wasn’t sure she could use magic to force the curse into the background again. Last time, in the bathroom, when he was bleeding out, zapped her. In her gut, she knew that had been the outer limit of her ability.
He smoothed his hands down the sides of his face. “I wish I could put you somewhere safe until all this blows over. It eats at me that I can’t.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs.
“I might be in love with you, too,” she said. Probably insane to open herself up to hurt.
