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“Copy that. Thank you, Nem.”
I ended the call and set my mobile on the desk beside me. At the same time, Zeppelin wrapped his arm around my waist and closed what little space there was between our bodies.
“We need to talk.”
I raised a brow. “Talk?”
“Yes. We were interrupted in the midst of a conversation about the kiss we shared.”
“I don’t think it’s necessary for us to talk about it.”
I raised a brow a second time.
“Let’s talk about something else, then.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Too loudly, apparently, based on Zeppelin’s expression.
“You’ll like this conversation even less. You said I shouldn’t pretend this was more than…”
I nodded.
“A hookup?”
“Not exactly.”
“Good. Because it is more, Alena. A lot more. And, lucky for you, we’re headed to Tropea tomorrow rather than Shere, so I’ll have more time to prove it to you.”
“Zep?”
He raised a brow.
“By any chance, are you hungry?” I asked.
“Famished. Room service?”
“That would be perfect.” I pointed to my room. “I should probably go next door and shower…”
Zeppelin was shaking his head.
“I shouldn’t shower?”
“You’re not going anywhere. Give me your room key.”
“Why?”
“Decide what to eat, then we’ll bathe together.” He took my hand, led me into the bedroom, grabbed one of two robes that were on the bed, and held it out for me. He put on the other, handed me the room service menu, and left the room. Minutes later, I heard him knocking on the adjoining door and opened it.
“You should leave my things over there,” I said when he carried them into his suite. “It’s against Sharia law for an unmarried couple to share a room.” As soon as I said it, I realized how ridiculous I sounded, given a short while ago, we’d found James Godwin shot in the head after having been tortured.
“What did you decide on?” he asked, ignoring my statement but looking over my shoulder at the menu.
“Everything sounds good. Well, apart from the camel burger.”
“I’ll order for us. You run the water in the bath.”
I raised a brow, and he grinned.
“Come on, you really didn’t fantasize about that in St. Moritz? Wait until you see this one. It’s bigger.”