Page 65 of Impulsive Saint
When he pulled the motorcycle to a stop in front of the hotel, Ashtyn scrambled off behind him. He’d felt her tap his shoulder a few times as he moved them in and out of traffic and through the infamous Strip. He had known she was likely questioning where they were going and he’d wanted it to be a surprise. When she pulled her helmet off and gaped at him with an awed almost child-like expression of glee, he knew he’d made the right decision.
“We’re staying here?”
“Yep.” He grinned back at her.
“You’re joking.”
He chuckled as two valets came forward. The first unsnapped his bag from the motorcycle. The second gave him a ticket and then proceeded to coax the bike out of the front door to park it for him. The valet with the bag offered to take Ashtyn’s bag as well and she eyed him curiously as she handed it over.
“Welcome to the Bellagio, Mr. St James.” He gave a curt nod. “Mrs. St James, please follow me and I’ll get you checked in so you can go straight up to your room. We’ve been expecting you.”
Ashtyn made big eyes at him and he swallowed a chuckle as he moved to her and threw an arm around her shoulder. She wrapped her arm around his waist as if it was the most natural thing in the world. They followed a few steps behind the valet as he led them inside but Tyler kept his voice purposefully low.
“Just go with it. I may have told them we were newlyweds so we could get a suite at such late notice.”
“That is…” Ashtyn grinned up at him slyly and shook her head, “Brilliant.”
“I thought so.” He kissed her cheek quickly and then pulled away, “Wait right here while I get our room keys and all that taken care of and then we can go upstairs and take a shower, wash the road off and figure out what we want to do for dinner.”
“Tyler, wait…” Ashtyn grabbed his hand, holding him close, “You know you don’t have to do all this right? I’d be just as happy in a roadside motel as long as I was with you. All of this big spender stuff, I don’t need it.”
“I know you don’t need it, but you deserve it.” He kissed her again softly and then winked as he pulled away, “If we’re going to finish the bucket list, we gotta do it right.”
Tyler retreated to the desk to check them in and was shocked at how easy it all was. A flash of his ID, a swipe of his credit card and suddenly he was Mr. St James and his luggage was being taken to the suite where he was assured all of his purchases were awaiting his arrival.
Just as he was thanking the nice woman for all her help, his phone buzzed in his pocket again and he groaned. He pulled it out to see another text message from Vaughn. He glanced to where Ashtyn stood, back to him now, taking in the sights, and figured since it was the first time in days she hadn’t been glued to his side it was safe enough to shoot back a quick message of his own.
He typed quickly, letting Vaughn know that they’d made it to Vegas and that Ashtyn was safe, healthy and happy. He told Vaughn he’d seen the payment hit his account and was using the money to let Ashtyn enjoy the city. He gave him the name of the hotel to pass along to her parents in case they were worrying but also told him that they should all leave them be for a few days and that he would be in touch just as soon as Ashtyn decided what their next move should be.
He waited a second to see if Vaughn would respond but when bubbles didn’t immediately pop up to tell him Vaughn was typing he shoved the phone into his back pocket.
“Hey, whatcha doing?” Ashtyn made him jump as she slid an arm around his waist. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No. It’s fine.” He pulled her closer, “I was just letting my family know we made it to Vegas so they’ll stop worrying about us being on the road.”
“Oh.” Ashtyn’s smile fell a little and she sighed, “Maybe I should do the same.”
“Totally up to you. I know you’ve been keeping your friend, Kelly, up to date.”
“Kelsey.” she corrected.
“Right, Kelsey. You’ve been keeping her updated on where we are so she knows I didn’t murder you and leave you on the side of the road, right?”
“Yes.” Ashtyn laughed. “And I asked her to update my parents because I wasn’t ready to talk to them but…”
“But?” he prompted when she trailed off.
“Maybe I’m ready now.”
She didn’t sound sure about that undertaking so he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her towards the bank of elevators, “You don’t have to decide right now. Let’s get settled in first. Get cleaned up and grab something to eat, then you can see how you feel about calling home.”
“That’s sounds like a good plan.”
He leaned down to whisper in her ear as the elevator doors closed behind them, “Besides, I want to fuck you in a bed that doesn’t squeak and I don’t want you thinking about your parents when I do.”
Her cheeks flushed the prettiest shade of pink and she giggled, hiding her face against his chest when a couple of other people on the elevator turned to look at them. Tyler couldn’t seem to stop grinning. He loved being out in public with her, knowing he had every right to touch her, knowing people would look at them and think she was his. He wanted to enjoy it all for a little while longer before the real world came crashing back in on them.
They were the last two people on the elevator by the time it reached their floor so Tyler held the door and motioned Ashtyn to go in front of him. She made a joke about him acting like a gentleman so of course he responded in the most childish way he could imagine. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold, striding to their door all the while ignoring her demands to be put down and even the little squeeze that she gave his ass when he unlocked the door and let them into their room.
