“You like him,” she stated.
Robert maintained eye contact with her but didn’t answer. There was nothing to say. She already knew the answer to her non-question. He definitely liked Tristan.
“Why?”
Robert glanced at Millie. Their gazes met, and some silent communication passed between them.
Robert cleared his throat. “H
e pulls you out.”
Ele looked back and forth between two of the people closest to her. It was obvious they were in accord on this.
“He gets you out of your head. And he does it effortlessly.”
Ele thought about that. It was true, of course. Maybe she was less afraid because her head was filled with thoughts of Tristan and what he made her feel and what he made her want to do. She tried not to think about it often, but she had to be a burden to the people around her. She saw it in Jamie sometimes, and now, without some of the constant stress of making sure Ele was okay, Robert and Millie looked more relaxed. She hated being a problem, and not for the first time, she wished things were different, that her past were different, and even if she couldn’t go back and change what had happened, she wished she could learn how to deal with it.
“I need a phone,” she said suddenly. “I know I’ve never wanted one before. But I want one now.”
Robert nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“What’s his code?” she asked boldly.
Robert didn’t even attempt to hide his smile this time. A slight blush pinked his cheeks, and Ele bit her lip, attempting to hold back her grin.
“Robert?”
Another throat-clearing before he looked helplessly at Millie. Millie merely shook her head, indicating he was on his own.
Then, he rubbed his jaw. “Doctor Thaw.”
Millie’s lips twitched, and Robert ducked his head, clearly embarrassed. But Ele, who had a hard time laughing at herself, actually found it funny. She giggled, completely unlike Princess Eleanor. Her hand flew to her mouth as she attempted to swallow the sound. Millie and Robert, as surprised as she was, cracked up. The three of them stood there, in the hotel suite living room, laughing.
When a knock sounded on the door, they sobered.
Robert nodded to Ele and turned to leave. As he crossed into the foyer, he looked over his shoulder and said, “I think the doctor makes house calls.”
His comment sent Ele and Millie into another peal of laughter.
That was how Tristan found them a moment later when he walked in. With a quick look of dismissal from Ele, Millie ducked out of the room.
Ele didn’t even check her response to him. She flew across the room and hurtled herself into his arms. Belatedly, she thought she must have looked exactly like he had when he crossed the field to Rowan.
He lifted her off her feet and spun her once. Then, his mouth was on hers. She opened immediately, her tongue thrusting into his. She kissed him with all of the enthusiasm she’d experienced at the match. His arm tightened around her waist as his other hand reached up to tangle in her hair. They kissed like everything was right in the world and they were celebrating. It was ravenous and wild. Tristan loosened his arm, and Ele slid down his body, never taking her mouth from his. He began walking, moving her backward. He pulled away from her but not before giving her a closed-mouth peck.
“I can’t believe you were at the match today,” he said, the vibration of his words moving against her mouth, like he needed to speak but didn’t want to give up on the kiss.
“It was amazing,” she said breathlessly. “You were amazing.”
He continued walking, and she trusted him enough to let him lead her even though she couldn’t see where he was going. She knew though.
“I don’t want to play another match without you there. The thought of you in the crowd”—he kissed her again, long and deep—“it was such a high.”
The backs of her knees hit the bed, and he came down on top of her as she fell back onto it. He ran his lips along her neck and then pushed her shirt aside, so he could feast on her collarbone. They’d been together twice, and she already knew he loved that spot on her body. He nipped and kissed, and then he was above her again. Her eyes popped open, and he smiled wide.
“I was so proud of you today. Seeing you there, looking completely at ease. You have to promise me you will try to come to the rest of the games.”
Without any second thought, she answered, “I promise.” There was no tightening in her chest, no panicked heat, no shortness of breath. “If I’m able to, I’ll be there.”