Castles Burning Part Two by Nicole Ryan Read Free Book Online

sped along the crowded streets, the motion made me feel weird after being on the ship all of these weeks; when the van stopped in front of the beautiful hotel, and we stepped out, the ground felt too firm, it was as if my foot met with the pavement an inch before it was supposed to.
    “Let me carry your back pack.” Dean said quietly as he took it from my shoulder.
    “Thanks.” I smiled at him.
    “Oh my God! Look how gorgeous it is, totally worth all months pay.” Jessica said as she grabbed Tyler’s hand and he smiled down at her.
    “Let’s go and get checked in so we can go get food. I’m so hungry.” Tyler said.
    When we stepped into the lobby the air was cool and refreshing, it was decorated in warm cream and orange colored curtains and chairs. There was a sleek black bar in a lounge area that had very modern chairs and a beautif ul display of high end liquors, there was a black grand piano in the corner and a few couples were enjoying lunches at tables while the pianist played a lazily cheery tune. I wandered over as Dean and Tyler checked in at the desk. Jessica appeared at my side and handed me a tall champagne glass.
    “Mimosa?” She asked in a strange Asian accent, grinning at me idiotically. I laughed and took it from her.
    “Thanks.” I said.
    “Cheer up; I will continue to act like a dork if you don’t. Look at this… we couldn’t afford to stay in a presidential suite in a place that looked like this back home! Enjoy it.” She said gesturing to all of the fine things around us.
    I nodded and smiled at her, I was happy, and I was excited, but I was overwhelmed. It had only been a little over two months since I had lost Aden. I wasn’t sure why I was so drawn to Dean Cross, he was magnetizing and I couldn’t seem to make myself stay away from him as much as I thought I should. It was against the Commanding Officers orders to have a relationship with someone we worked with, but many people did it anyway. I felt so anxious, so out of sorts, I hated this feeling.
    “Will you do me a favor?” I asked her.
    “Of course, anything.” She said turning to look at me.
    “Will you and Tyler hang out down here for a bit? Maybe get some lunch, I’ll take your bag upstairs for you.” I sipped the tangy liquid.
    Jessica grinned at me wickedly, her large teeth gleaming. “Oh… yeah I can do that. But you and Dean get to go out for dinner tonight.” She winked at me.
    “Thanks,” I laughed. “We will.”
    “We will what?” Tyler said, he and Dean coming up behind us.
    “Carry our bags up. I want to stay here and have lunch.” Jessica said. She placed a hand on his chest as he stepped up beside her and I thought how miraculous the shift was between their behavior on the ship and here, away from it. I also couldn’t help but wonder about Smith.
    “Sounds good I’m starved.” Tyler said , wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
    “I want to take a shower, and then we’ll come join you?” I asked her.
    “Sure.” She smiled suggestively at Dean.
    I followed a step behind Dean , to the elevators, my hand in his while Jessica and Tyler sat at a small table with pretty bright flowers in the center. The elevator was sparkling clean; it looked like we were in a box of thick polished black glass; when the doors opened to the presidential suite my mouth fell open. Now I understood why we had shelled out so much money for this.
    “Oh my God.” I breathed, removing my shoes and stepping onto the thick soft white carpet.
    “Nice right?” Dean asked.
    “It’s incredible.” I said looking around.
    There was a sitting area with two black leather sofas, the backs were tiny, maybe five inches high and may as well have not even been there. A glass coffee table sat on a black fur rug, and there was a fireplace separating the kitchen and the sitting area. On the other wall was a dark cherry wood bar with several types of glasses and decanters glittering elegantly, it was located between the two