Page 92 of Heart to Heart
Great. The entire world was going to know that I was banging Tristan. Aside from a few mean girls in high school, it wasn’t exactly something I wanted everyone to know.
“What’s it going to be, you two?”
I smiled sheepishly at Tristan. At least we would be with each other, even if everyone knew what we were doing. A small smile creased his face as he looked down at me, but something in that smile didn’t match the same energy he’d had earlier this evening, or even five minutes ago.
“Avery,” he began, “we had an amazing day together. Seeing you holding those baby lemurs and the joy written all over your face was adorable, and our night couldn’t have ended any better.”
My heart sank as soon as the word ‘ended’ left his lips.
“However, I think we should take things slowly. I care about you, but we’re still getting to know each other, and I want to give us some time to build our relationship before we take it to the next level.”
I nodded, smiling, even though I was falling apart on the inside. Had I done something wrong? Was I misinterpreting what he meant when he told me he loved me? “I agree,” I said, only because I couldn’t tell him how much I wanted to climb him like a tree without coming across as desperate on national television or giving my dad a stroke when he watched this episode.
Kamila looked between the two of us and back again. “Well, that’s…disappointing. Seriously, you two ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You know what, fine. Tristan, I bid you goodnight. Avery, follow me for your end-of-episode interview.
“Goodnight, Avery,” Tristan said, squeezing my hand.
“Goodnight,” I replied, trying everything in my power to keep my disappointment from showing. He turned and walked down the hallway, his feet striking the intricate tiles etched with tiny windmills.
“Just you and me,” Kamila said, taking me by the arm and leading me in the opposite direction. “Let’s get this interview over so you can go back to your room and do a whole lot of nothing tonight.”
Room key card in hand,I trudged down the hall in a reverse walk of shame. My room, a suite, I’d been told, was at the end of a long hallway, because making my walk a lot longer to give my mind time to think of everything I’d done wrong tonight was exactly what I needed. As I walked by them, I couldn’t help but wonder whether any of the doors I passed led to Tristan’s room and whether I should take a detour to find it. If he meant what he’d said, then seeing me would be in direct contravention ofwhat he stated he wanted. That limo ride, though, had spoken differently. Which is why I was abundantly confused. I thought we’d been on the same page, but he had recited from a completely different book.
I opened the door to my suite, in awe of the large living room and kitchenette laid out before me with modern architecture that contrasted with the hotel’s otherwise rustic décor. In the middle of the room sat my bag, packed and ready for me to be sent home.
But I didn’t have long to jump to any conclusions as to what that packed bag may or may not mean, because as the door closed behind me, a voice, both familiar and startling at the same time, spoke behind me.
“Avery.”
CHAPTER 53
AVERY
I whippedaround to see Tristan standing in front of the door. He’d changed out of the suit he’d been wearing, donning a pair of dark wash jeans, a black T-shirt that fit far too loosely for my liking, and—sweet Jesus—the black mask he’d worn the night of the masquerade.
“How did you get in here?”
He reached inside the pocket of his jeans and produced a key card to my room, grinning.
“Okay, then. What are you doing here? I thought you wanted to take things slowly,” I teased.
“I did. I waited a whole hour for you.”
“Such a show of restraint.”
He sauntered toward me, and my entire body was ready to melt in his arms. “I didn’t want to share this night with anyone else. No cameras, no prying eyes, no gossip. This night is between you and me and you and me alone.”
I took a step forward, speechless. He’d done it all to protect me and my family from the articles that would be printed if we’d spent the night together. From the speculation and slut-shaming that would spread like wildfire online.
“Unless, of course, you want me to leave. I mean, you did readily agree with me back there, so maybe I’ll just go.”
I rushed over to him, catching him right as he reached the door, pinning him between my arms and boxing him in with his back against it. Smirking, he glanced between my hands, firmly planted on either side of his shoulders, his eyes finding mine with a fiery intensity. “Oh, Avery, I don’t think you know what you just did.”
I shrieked as he grabbed my arms and spun me around, pushing my back against the door as he held them above my head, his eyes as dark as his mask. “Show me what you intend to do to me with all this privacy,” I said, my voice coming out as a rasp.
“Dammit, Avery,” he grunted, “you’d better buckle up.”
His mouth collided with mine as he let go of my arms and lifted me up by my waist. I wrapped my legs around his hips, relishing how hard he was for me already.
