Page 44 of Dead Serious Case 4 Professor Prometheus Plume

“What makes you say that?

“Because this saysWelcome to the Honeymoon Suite.” He lifts a small card from the bedside table and points to a champagne bucket holding a chilled bottle.

“Oh.” Those butterflies in my stomach turn into a full-on swarm and I wonder if this is a sign.

“Come on.” Tristan leans down and yanks his boots off. He drops them on the floor by the bed and strips off his coat, which he tosses on a nearby chair. I watch him collect the chocolates from the pillow and set them on the bedside table before he throws himself on the plump mattress. “Oh, this is lovely, so comfy. Come join me.” Rolling onto his side, he playfully flutters his eyelashes at me and strokes the bedding in front of him.

I can’t help the chuckles as I kick off my own shoes, strip off my coat, and climb up next to him.

“Mmmm,” he hums happily, and he pulls a blanket over us. “Alone at last.”

Both fatigue and contentment seep into my bones as I wrap my arms around him and we sink into sleep.

11

Ifloat up through layers of consciousness and awaken with a very strange feeling. It reminds me of when I was a kid and Dad would take me to the beach. I’d stand with my feet in the water and it would feel like I was moving as the tide went out even though I was still.

Disentangling myself from Danny’s warm grip, I sit up and blink. I could’ve sworn the dresser had been on the other side of the room and our luggage beside it. Our luggage which is now by the window.

Had it moved? I stare at the pile of bags, baffled and doubting myself.

I stand up, disorientated. Come to think of it, the bed seems to be in the wrong place—no, not just the bed.Everything. I’d swear the window had been to the left of the bed and the door to the right. Now it’s completely the other way around, as if the bed and wardrobe decided to switch places.

I check the door even though I feel a bit ridiculous. A quick look tells me yes, it is still locked from the inside. There’s no way someone could’ve snuck in here and moved heavy antique furniture without either of us waking. That bed alone must weigh a ton, and I sure as hell know I’m not that heavy a sleeper.

I must be wrong. Unless I’m in an enchanted castle owned by a big, hairy beast—in which case, I’d be very interested in the library, thank you—furniture does not move itself.

Shaking my head again, I wander into the bathroom—or, at least, what I hope is the bathroom. Opening the door, I peek inside and fumble for the light switch. Ellis, the perky little twink, was right, this is perfect for two. There’s an enormous bathtub and a separate shower alongside the toilet and sink.

At this point, my bladder decides to wake up. Yawning sleepily, I take a quick pee, and I’m just washing my hands when I hear Danny in the other room.

“Tris, has the furniture moved?”

“That’s what I thought,” I say as I step into his line of sight and shrug. “But I don’t see how. That stuff has got some serious weight to it. Surely we’d have woken up.”

“This place is bloody weird.” He sits up and scrubs a hand through his mussed hair, looking all sleep-rumpled and delicious. “Next time I decide to drunk-book a weekend away, I vote for a cheap package deal to Malaga.”

I snort lightly. “Well, we’re here now, soIvote we make use of the big shower before we get dressed and head down for dinner.”

That announcement perks him up. “How big?”

I wiggle my brows. “It has a seat, grippy handles on the wall, and fancy tiles.”

He jumps out of bed and runs toward me, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I shriek out a wild laugh as we head into the bathroom.

He sets me on the marble countertop and I wind my arms and legs around him like a koala, going for his lips with a hum of pleasure.

Danny kisses me so thoroughly it makes my head spin. Finally, he plants one last peck to my lips and steps back.

“I’ll get the water, you get naked.”

“A plan I can fully get on board with.” I grin happily and hop down from the counter, then shed my clothes and fling them in all directions.

Danny laughs as he sets the water temperature. “Eager?”

“Less talking, more nudity.” I snap my fingers. “I want you all slippery and soapy so I can do very bad things to you to relieve your tension.”

“You’re so selfless.” He steps back and removes his clothes.