Page 63 of Third Time is the Charm (Passion and Perseverance #3)
Her legs ached as John and Arnie escorted her back to her hotel room.
Aside from the first hour or so this morning sitting at the registration table, she’d been running around the city like a chicken without a head, making sure that each heat of the race was organized and started on time, that the rest stations were restocked throughout the day, and then helping Col congratulate the top placers at the end of each race.
Stepping off of the elevator, her legs felt like jello and she was sure that she must be sleep-walking. Opening the door to the room, she barely crossed the threshold before Darcy was through the bedroom door and lifting her into his arms.
Having the weight removed from her feet felt incredible, but it was a feeling quickly surpassed by the feel of his lips on hers, the door closing softly behind her leaving John and Arnie to their posts directly outside of it.
“You need to be better at answering your fucking phone,” he rasped, kissing along the length of her jaw.
Shit. Her phone.
She’d shoved it in her windbreaker pocket earlier in the morning and then completely forgotten about it; she’d been using walkies to communicate with Colin.
She groaned. She knew that John or Arnie must have been in contact with him throughout the day since his tone was more frustrated concern than anger.
And since the SWAT team hadn’t come looking for her…
“I missed you too,” she said, searching for his lips again and the warm peace that they gave her.
“How did it go?” he asked, setting her feet back on the ground to take her bag from her. He then removed her jacket, throwing it over the back of one of the chairs in the living room area.
“Good. Really good,” she replied. “Just a lot of running around. I feel like I ran the length of the course today… twice. I’m so exhausted.”
“Have you eaten?” She should have known that was coming.
“Yes. Colin made sure that I had a sandwich around lunch time – and that I took it with me as I made my rounds.” She saw the flicker of jealousy in his eyes, hearing that Colin had made sure she was taken care of. The flicker was quickly overshadowed with gratefulness.
“Good,” came his gruff response. “What can I do? Do you want to lay down? We have some time before the Ball…”
She wanted to lay down, but they didn’t have that much time and she was covered in sweat.
“No, I think I just need a good shower,” she murmured.
Darcy nodded, walking into the bathroom and turning on the shower for her.
“I’m going to have John go get you some yogurt to eat as a snack. I know you’ve eaten, but you’ve also pushed yourself hard all day. I don’t want your blood sugar crashing, especially if you are still intent on going to the ball tonight.”
“Thank you – if they have vanilla or strawberry, that would be great.” Her answer indicated that she had no intention of backing down and hiding in her room this evening.
He just nodded, his eyes resigned, as she walked past him into the steam-filled bathroom.
She glanced over her shoulder to see him walking towards the door to their room, opening it to speak to John.
Closing the bathroom door behind her, Beth stripped off all of her sweaty clothes, taking a deep breath of the moist air as she stepped underneath the burning water.
She stood for a few moments letting the water warm through her before quickly washing the exertion of the morning from her. She wanted to stay longer, but the thought of a quick power-nap before tonight was too tempting to resist.
With a towel wrapped around her, she walked into the bedroom to see Darcy sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her – yogurt and spoon in hand.
“Don’t,” he began, seeing her face, “even think about telling me you are too tired to eat.”
Beth grumbled underneath her breath, taking the carton from him and tearing off the top. He shifted on the bed to sit against the headboard, kicking off his shoes to put his legs up in front of him.
“Come and sit.” He motioned for her to sit between his legs. She sagged onto the bed, her legs crossed in front of her as she took her first bite. “Now relax.” His voice rolled over her just as his hands reached for her shoulders, beginning to massage her muscles.
She sighed deeply at the feeling of his hands working out the tension in her muscles.
Her hand raised the spoon to her mouth methodically while the rest of her body focused on the magic his hands were creating.
Finishing her snack, she reached over to set the empty container on the nightstand, looking at the clock; there was still an hour and a half before she needed to be downstairs for the ball.
She raised her eyebrow at Darcy whose hands had paused, holding her sides as she had bent to dispose of the carton.
“Lay back,” he said softly. “I’ll wake you in a half an hour.”
Beth bit her lip, relaxing back against the warmth of his chest and closing her eyes. His arms encircled her, protected and shielded her. And within moments, she was fast asleep in the comfort of his embrace.
As promised, the whisper of her name in her ear pulled her out of her slumber.
“Time to get up.” The deep rumble of his voice suggested that Darcy might have dozed off as well with her.
She moaned, turning her head to the side to peer out at the clock. Sure enough, she had just under an hour to get ready before she needed to be downstairs greeting guests with Colin.
She stilled for one more minute against him, enjoying the simple silence – the calm before the storm – that she felt with him. All she wanted was more days like this – more times like this. His fingers began to lightly stroke up and down her arms, a gentle reminder to stay awake.
“You know I’m more than ok with staying in bed with you all night, gorgeous,” he rasped.
Beth groaned, finding the strength to push herself up off of him to the edge of the bed.
“Nice try.” She stood, the towel that had been wrapped around her coming loose and dropping to her waist. She quickly grabbed the fabric, tugging it back up to cover her chest. She peered over at him, unsurprised by the desire that was evident in his eyes, and the devious smirk that had spread over his face.
“Don’t tempt me,” he said. His hand shot out in an effort to grab her ass, but Beth quickly jumped forward and out of his reach, laughing to herself as she darted into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
With that smile still staining her lips, Beth quickly curled her hair with her straightener – not entirely pleased with the result – but that’s what happens when you fall asleep with your hair still wet.
Twisting the deflated curls into a loose knot, she pinned her hair up against the base of her neck. Peeking out the bathroom door to make sure Darcy wasn’t waiting to grab her – and ravish her – again, she walked over to the closet where the dry-cleaning bag hung that held her dress for the night.
The dress was simple and black. It was a work event, which was one of the reasons that she’d picked black; the other reason, well, the other reason wasn’t really a reason anymore and she wished she’d gone with some other deeper tone.
Humming to herself, she dropped her towel, stepping into the floor-length sheath through the opening in the back.
She pulled up the front of the dress to cover her chest, reaching behind her neck to hook the halter straps together.
From the front, everything about the dress was very conservative – the color, the length, the high neck.
From behind though… her entire back was exposed with the deep cowl.
The silken material flattered her frame; the open back elongated her torso and the halter straps showed off her arms.
She turned to walk back into the bathroom where the floor-length mirror was and almost ran into Darcy; she hadn’t heard him come in, but she should have known by the way her body was alert that he was there.
“Beautiful,” he said hoarsely, his eyes greedily taking in the sight of her.
“Thank you,” she replied, glancing over him. “You don’t look too bad yourself.” She bit the corner of her lip at her tease; ‘too bad’ was a gross understatement. Darcy was in a jet-black tux. The man looked like a sexier James Bond – and he looked like he hadn’t even noticed.
Beth ducked her head as heat rose into her cheeks.
She bent over to grab her simple black pumps that she’d brought along to wear, swaying slightly as she went to slip them on; they were probably seven years old, but they’d held up so well and were such a classic that she could never justify buying a new pair.
Darcy was immediately by her side; his hands on her waist to steady her.
She felt the hardness of his body against hers as she maneuvered one foot and then the other into the heels.
“Thanks,” she said, standing up again; the movement placing her back flush against him. Beth enjoyed the almost imperceptible moan that escaped his lips, beginning to feel his erection growing against her hip.
A shiver licked up her spine as she felt the light touch of his fingers tracing along the cowl of the dress. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay here?” he murmured against her neck.
Beth turned in his arms, reaching her lips up to his.
“You know you want this over with just as much as I do…” He grumbled at the slight truth in her assumption.
“Later, you can convince me of whatever you want.” She gave him a brilliant smile before pulling from his arms, leaving him standing in the bedroom, tense with desire and dread.
Taking a look at herself in the mirror, she tossed on some nude lipstick, throwing the tube into her small clutch, and turned back to face him – and the night ahead.
“I’m ready,” she said softly.
“And if I’m not?” He laughed harshly, a thread of truth to his question. “Beth, you are sure—”
“Yes,” she said firmly, walking back over to him. “I’m sure.”