5
RAVEN
Alejandro cocks an eyebrowat us while Kai flashes a wolfish smile.
“Things all right?” he drawls, moving his eyes from me to Francisco and back to me.
“Yes. I want to go to the hotel.”
He moves his eyes to Francisco, and I don’t know what he sees in his gaze or his expression, but he reaches inside his pocket, leaves cash on the table, and signals us to follow him.
The car smells like cologne, testosterone, and the ocean as we drive downtown.
I don’t have a plan. I don’t think they have a plan, but we all know what we do, if nothing else, for the easiness with which we go through the next few moments.
We stay silent as Kai maneuvers his car through the evening traffic. In front of the hotel, we step out of the vehicle, wait for him to hand the key to the parking valet, and enter the lobby.
Kai and I walk ahead of Francisco and Alejandro as we move across the well-lit place, heading to the elevator. A few people ride the elevator up with us. They’re in a good mood, most likely coming from the bar downstairs.
They exit the elevator at a lower level before we walk out moments later.
This is, um…
This is the first time we find ourselves in a room again.
After a few stormy days and nights when so many things have happened, we are in the same room again.
The four of us. It’s unbelievable how long it’s taken us and how many missed opportunities there have been before getting to this point again.
I swipe the key card, and Kai holds the door for me while I saunter in.
They follow me in silence.
I turn on the reading lamp, welcoming the diffuse light, and stroll straight to the bathroom, where I light some candles.
I turn the faucet on and let the tub fill with water for later before spinning around and walking into the room.
The room is in perfect order.
“I don’t have anything to offer you to drink,” I say.
I catch sight of Alejandro shaking his head, signaling he doesn’t want a drink, and no one else seems interested in drinking either.
Kai slides into the chair while Alejandro looks around the room before lying on the bed.
Smiling, he folds his arms beneath his head and leans against the pillow, his eyes on the man in the middle of the room.
Francisco has a grin on his lips when he slides his hands into his pockets, and gives me a swift once over, flicking his chin slightly.
“Strip,” he says, his eyes inundated with that smile.
I bring my hand to my back, tug at the zipper pull and slide it past my waist.
Slowly, I flick my straps down, my eyes on the man in front of me.
My dress falls to my ankles under its weight before I step out of it, pick it up, turn around, and let it fall on Kai’s lap.
Next, I remove my panties and place them on top of my dress.