Page 29 of Healing Conviction

“Math’s not your strong suit, huh?”

“Ugh!We need separate rooms!”

“Why?” He stopped abruptly on the sidewalk and swiveled around to face her, catching her before she walked right into him.

“Why? Um…because, that’s why. I shouldn’t have to articulate a reason. You’re a boy and I’m a girl.”

Raising his brow, he worked his toothpick and waited for her to finish, until he realized that was her whole objection. “Is there going to be a moment in this conversation when you stop stating random facts and start getting to the point?”

She bit her lip where her snake bite piercing was supposed to be. “It’s just… it’s what people do. Boys and girls get separate rooms. Everyone knows that.”

“I don’t give a shit what other people do. We’re sleeping in the same room.” He removed his toothpick and stuck it in his pocket to throw away before turning his back to her and closing the gap between them and the door.

“Tell me this, then. Why do you think we should only have one room?”

A swipe of the key card unlocked the door, but he paused before opening it to answer her question.

“Sleeping in separate rooms is more expensive, pointless, and a liability we’d be stupid to risk. If something were to happen while you were in a separate room, it’d take me seconds longer to get to you, maybe seconds that could change everything. If we’re in the same room, we minimize that chance. So aside from the fact that I am amanand you are awoman, is there anything else you’re worried about?”

“Um… no.”

“Good, now let’s get inside. We need some sleep before we interview Shanna.”

Nora seemed to drag her feet as she followed him, but once he closed the door, she turned on him again like she’d flee. “Drake! There’s only one godsdamned bed! You can’t be serious!”

“It was the only one on the first floor available, what would you have me do?” Draco tossed his small bag on the ground and pulled down the comforter.

“Drake, this isn’t gonna work—”

“You know what, if you’re really bothered, I’ll sleep on the floor.” He stood up and crossed his arms, genuinely starting to wonder why she was putting up such a damn fight with him at every turn so far on this trip.

“What? Abso-freakin-lutely not. You’re still in physical therapy! I can’t make you sleep on the floor. Besides, it’s super-duper gross.” She mimed gagging as she looked at the carpet that—admittedly—had its fair share of alarming stains.

“I won’t let you sleep on the floor either.”

“Letme.” She snorted. “Nice try. Now I actuallywantto cozy up right next to the bed just to spite you.”

“Nora… are you seriously fighting me to sleep on a motel floor right now?”

“Yes! Wait… No. I-I guess I’m not.”

Her cute grimace made him chuckle as he flopped onto the crisp white sheets of the cool mattress. “I’ll leave it up to you, Pix.I’mgonna get some shut-eye though.”

He closed his eyes and laid in silence for a moment before peeking to see her study the bed while worrying her lip. He wanted to release it from her teeth and kiss it until the tension between them finally released.

A challenge popped into his head. She’d mentioned that she was done with Nice Guy Matt, but did that necessarily meanhehad a shot?

“What is it, Pix? You afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me if we sleep together?”

Her alabaster skin heated to a deep red, and his breath stilled in his chest. She stared back at him with her wide green eyes and her lips parted. The temptation to pull her down on top of him so he could part them farther with his tongue was almost too hard to resist. But her hesitance gave him pause.

“You stare at me with your mouth open a lot.”

She blinked and huffed before shaking her head. “To be honest, handsome, you throw me off balance a lot.”

“I think I’ll keep doing it. Your lips parted like that make me want to stick something in between them.”

“Ohhh my gods. Okay, see, like that right there. I never have any idea what’s gonna come out of your mouth next—”