Page 11 of Ravage
The nightclub is downstairs? Well, that was convenient. I finish the last swig of coffee and set it down on the nightstand on the far side of the bed from him. When I look back up, he has my backpack and the dress from last night on the bed for me. “You work there?” I take the dress and tug it over my head, then stand on the other side and pull it down over my bare backside as far as it goes.
“I own it.”
I snap back up to look at him. Resources, huh? I purse my lips in thought and then shake my head. I don’t trust anyone. Least of all, someone I met at a nightclub. “Thanks, but I’ll be out of this city before the end of tonight anyway.”
“What’s your name? Will you give me that at least?”
I hunt for my boots, which are on his side of the room, and flop back on the bed to yank them on. “What’s yours?” I counter back. This guy is a stranger and should stay that way. The less he knows about me, the better.
“Elias.”
I wait for a last name, but he leaves it at that and then raises his brow for me to reciprocate. I raise mine back with a smirk. I never said I’d offer him mine; so foolish of him for thinking so. “You got a bathroom, Elias?”
His pale blue eyes flash like he thinks he has me. “I do. In exchange for your name.”
I grab my backpack and shrug. “Fine. I’ll piss in the alley.”
He makes a strangled noise in the back of his throat. “Fuck, don’t do that. It’s that door over there.” He points to one of the many doors in this room. “Feel free to use the shower if you’d like. I have to be out of here in an hour, so that’s how long you have before I’ll escort you out. Use whatever products you want.” He leaves me to it without pressing for my name, and I wonder what I said that freaked him out so much.
Chapter four
Raegan
I take up every minute of the hour he offered me to pamper myself for the first time in a long while. The hot, soaking shower was at least half of that time. Then blow drying my blonde hair with soft curls and adding some makeup, another chunk. After my needs are met, I snoop.
I mean, he can’t think that I wouldn’t, right? Something about him sets off warning bells.
He’s too nice.
No one is that nice without wanting something.
He already had sex with me, so unless he knows exactly who I am, which I doubt considering how calm he was around me, I don’t know what else he thinks I have to give him.
I decide by the second empty closet in this room that it’s a guest room. There’s no dresser and no clothes in the closet. No personal items. The bathroom was stocked with items that any guest might need. Even shaving sticks and cream for men and for women.
It’s weird to sleep in your guest room when you bring someone home for sex, right? On second thought, that’s fucking smart. No personal items, less important things to steal, and not to mention more time to clean the sheets. Genius.
Elias walks into the room while I’m cramming myself under the bed, my ass in the air and dress riding up above it, in search of a secret box or safe or something that might clue me into this guy. He clears his throat. Startled, I jump, and my head smacks against the metal frame.
“Ow! Fuck, that hurt!” I shimmy out from under the bed, even if that means my dress only rides further up my waist in the effort. I focus on rubbing the injured spot on my head first. “Can’t you walk a little louder?”
He’s still in his suit, but he’s wearing a matching gray jacket now as well that’s buttoned at the middle like he’s ready for business. Which, I guess, he is. Amusement flickers in his eyes rather than annoyance at my snooping which, again, screams that something is not right. “Is that what you really want? Or would you rather I hand over whatever it is you’re searching for under the bed? Buried treasure, perhaps? Weapons?”
Standing upright, I finally straighten the dress. “If you’re offering, I wouldn’t mind the weapons. Are you a serial killer or something?”
“Oh? No treasure?”
That wasn’t a no to the last question. Or a yes, either. My mouth twitches into a smirk. “Too heavy. I travel light.” Though I wouldn’t mind extra cash. I have a decent amount from bartending in the last city I’d been in, but it won’t last me long. I lift my backpack and loop one arm through.
Elias eyes it for a long moment and then brings his gaze back to me. “Interesting.” He turns and flexes two fingers over his shoulder in a come-on motion. “Let’s go. I need to lock up.”
I follow him out and check that the hallway’s clear while he’s busy pushing buttons and turning keys on his door. “Well, it’s been fun,” I start while turning away to leave.
“I can walk you out,” he offers, but I wave it off.
“I can see the stairs from here, and I’d rather get going.” Better to leave while I’m ahead and before the status quo changes. I shoot him a smile and then make a beeline for the stairs to put some distance between us.
I meant what I said before. I probably won’t ever see him again, as interesting of a character as he was. After I check out the supposed gift from Jackson, I’ll be hitching a ride or hopping on a bus across the country. Any city that’s as far away from this one as possible.
