Corporate Fire: Corporate Romance Book 1 by Evelyn Aster Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Evelyn Aster
Tags: Contemporary Romance
They love me there.”
Grace envisioned him staying at her apartment and letting Ted drive on alone to the airport. She gave her head a shake. That was the medicine talking. She never allowed men inside her apartment. “Are you sure?” she said.
He took her hand and said, “It's the least I can do.”
“So if that's settled,” said the doctor, “here are your instructions for the next few days.” She handed Grace a sheet of paper and started going over them. Grace understood the first ones and then sort of glazed over thinking about Royce taking her home. And about tonight. She hoped he was still going to have room service with her. Pain thrummed at her leg reminding her she wasn't exactly in shape to do much, but she didn't want to think about parting from him.
7| In the Room
Grace hoisted herself on crutches through a back door of the clinic and down a hotel hallway. A bag of ice tied to one of the handles crunched against the metal as she went. The wood paneling and dim lighting made her wish she was curled up in front of a fire—with Royce. Too bad her room didn't have a fireplace.
She paused to catch her breath, steady herself and try to figure out how she was ever going to make it all the way to her room.
Royce put his hand between her shoulder blades and said, “I can't believe they couldn't spare the wheelchair to get you to your room at least. I would've brought it back.”
“I guess I have to get used to these some--” her voice trailed off as she noticed him carrying her ski boot. “My skis! What did they do with my skis? Did Eric take them?”
He rubbed his hand in a circle on her back, causing tingles to arc through her skin. “Don't worry. While you were being X-rayed, I snagged them off the snowmobile and took them to a rack next to mine by the outdoor bar. I'll get them later.”
She wanted to lean in and kiss him, but fortunately or not the crutches made it too difficult to try. “Thank you...again. This weekend has been such a disaster. It's strange how happy I am right now.”
Royce grinned. “I'd like to think it's me, but I'm sure it's the drugs. I'm just hoping you don't hate me when they wear off.”
“Hate is the furthest thing from my mind right now. You've been really, really, sweet during all this.”
He pressed his palm into her back and stepped closer. Definitely in kissing range. “I'd like a little clarification on the rules. Since I've done so well holding your hand, and you haven't shrugged off my hand on your back, any chance for snuggling while we watch a movie tonight? I'll keep my lips to myself, I swear.”
She wanted him to kiss her now. She recalled how last night she wished she could live without so many inhibitions, and the drugs had certainly lowered them. She should take advantage of the situation.
Grace pushed herself upright, stood on her toes and tilted forward slightly. Her lips brushed his for one second of heaven. She kept her eyes closed savoring the tenderness. When she opened them, Royce's eyes were popping out of his head.
“I'm so sorry,” rushed out Grace. “Did I do something wrong? You look horrified.”
Royce stepped around so his body was right in front of hers. He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her again—several times. No tongue, but his lips teased hers, telling her his desire without words.
When he stopped he said, “I was surprised, not horrified. I've gone from being the object of your wrath to sharing intimacy you rarely give. I've never been so intrigued by a woman.”
Grace's breath hitched. She wouldn't say it was a mistake to have kissed him, but she wasn't prepared for the rush of emotions coursing through her body. She'd never experienced them before. She attempted to push through them and said, “I think I need to get to my room before I collapse.”
“I'm sorry. I keep forgetting you're probably in a lot of pain.” He stepped aside, and they started their journey down the hall again.
Grace moved
Grace envisioned him staying at her apartment and letting Ted drive on alone to the airport. She gave her head a shake. That was the medicine talking. She never allowed men inside her apartment. “Are you sure?” she said.
He took her hand and said, “It's the least I can do.”
“So if that's settled,” said the doctor, “here are your instructions for the next few days.” She handed Grace a sheet of paper and started going over them. Grace understood the first ones and then sort of glazed over thinking about Royce taking her home. And about tonight. She hoped he was still going to have room service with her. Pain thrummed at her leg reminding her she wasn't exactly in shape to do much, but she didn't want to think about parting from him.
7| In the Room
Grace hoisted herself on crutches through a back door of the clinic and down a hotel hallway. A bag of ice tied to one of the handles crunched against the metal as she went. The wood paneling and dim lighting made her wish she was curled up in front of a fire—with Royce. Too bad her room didn't have a fireplace.
She paused to catch her breath, steady herself and try to figure out how she was ever going to make it all the way to her room.
Royce put his hand between her shoulder blades and said, “I can't believe they couldn't spare the wheelchair to get you to your room at least. I would've brought it back.”
“I guess I have to get used to these some--” her voice trailed off as she noticed him carrying her ski boot. “My skis! What did they do with my skis? Did Eric take them?”
He rubbed his hand in a circle on her back, causing tingles to arc through her skin. “Don't worry. While you were being X-rayed, I snagged them off the snowmobile and took them to a rack next to mine by the outdoor bar. I'll get them later.”
She wanted to lean in and kiss him, but fortunately or not the crutches made it too difficult to try. “Thank you...again. This weekend has been such a disaster. It's strange how happy I am right now.”
Royce grinned. “I'd like to think it's me, but I'm sure it's the drugs. I'm just hoping you don't hate me when they wear off.”
“Hate is the furthest thing from my mind right now. You've been really, really, sweet during all this.”
He pressed his palm into her back and stepped closer. Definitely in kissing range. “I'd like a little clarification on the rules. Since I've done so well holding your hand, and you haven't shrugged off my hand on your back, any chance for snuggling while we watch a movie tonight? I'll keep my lips to myself, I swear.”
She wanted him to kiss her now. She recalled how last night she wished she could live without so many inhibitions, and the drugs had certainly lowered them. She should take advantage of the situation.
Grace pushed herself upright, stood on her toes and tilted forward slightly. Her lips brushed his for one second of heaven. She kept her eyes closed savoring the tenderness. When she opened them, Royce's eyes were popping out of his head.
“I'm so sorry,” rushed out Grace. “Did I do something wrong? You look horrified.”
Royce stepped around so his body was right in front of hers. He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her again—several times. No tongue, but his lips teased hers, telling her his desire without words.
When he stopped he said, “I was surprised, not horrified. I've gone from being the object of your wrath to sharing intimacy you rarely give. I've never been so intrigued by a woman.”
Grace's breath hitched. She wouldn't say it was a mistake to have kissed him, but she wasn't prepared for the rush of emotions coursing through her body. She'd never experienced them before. She attempted to push through them and said, “I think I need to get to my room before I collapse.”
“I'm sorry. I keep forgetting you're probably in a lot of pain.” He stepped aside, and they started their journey down the hall again.
Grace moved