Page 16 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
Someone is scratchingat the wall.
My consciousness latches right onto the sound, as if it’s bait at the end of a fishing line, and I’m pulled awake.
My eyes fly open. The room is filled with bright sunlight.
The realization that I made it through the night sends relief rushing through me. God, I wasn’t sure I’d make it. I had to force myself to breathe through bouts of terror and overwhelming guilt. I don’t know what time it was when I finally managed to fall asleep, but it must have been late. I don’t feel well rested.
The bed makes a low creak as I climb out of it. The view out the window didn’t impress me last night when everything was mostly shrouded with darkness, but now it makes me gasp. On the other side of the glass, stretching over the hills, is a dense, majestic forest.
More scratching pulls my attention back to the room. Whatisthat? I thought it might have been a remnant of a dream, but I’m awake now.
I follow the sound. It’s coming from the other side of Giorgio’s door.
Shifting my weight between my feet, I consider what I should do. The sound is strange, definitely worthy of an investigation, but to investigate it, I have to go into Giorgio’s room.
The shiny door handle taunts me.
If anything, our conversation last night established his clear lack of respect for my privacy. These sleeping arrangements are outrageous. And that comment about the camera?
I glance down at my silk pajamas. Black shorts and a loose tank top. I’ve never slept naked in my entire life.
Does he, though?
I clear my throat. Well, if he doesn’t care about my privacy, why should I care for his?
My palm curls around the door handle. If he really didn’t want me coming in, he’d keep the door locked.
And yet the handle moves with ease. I tug the door open.
“Agh!”
Before I can see into the room, something heavy crashes into me, knocking me to the floor. I land hard on my butt, and pain shoots up my spine. It takes half a second for my brain to realize there’s a big dog drooling over me.
“Who are you?” I ask, my heart racing with fear and surprise.
The animal ignores the question and proceeds to sniff me.
I let him or her do its thing, because the last thing I want is to get my fingers bit off. I love animals, but Dem and I have never had any pets, and I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with them.
The dog is wearing a black leather collar with a metal tag. As it stretches its neck to sniff my hair, I catch a glimpse of the name scratched into the metal.
Sophia.
An incredulous laugh escapes me. Oh my God,thisis who’s been missing Giorgio?
A dog.
A freakingdoginstead of the sexy maid I’ve been imagining.
My mood lightens.
“Hello, Sophia,” I say as she finally steps off me. She’s got short, chocolate-colored fur sprinkled with some white spots, big brown eyes, and floppy ears. I sit up and carefully pet her on the head. She seems to like it, because when I stop, she bumps me with her wet nose as if to indicate she wants me to keep going.
I oblige, taking the opportunity to peer inside Giorgio’s room. At first glance, it appears to be empty. Did he leave for the day?
Giving Sophia one last rub, I get back on my feet. What are the chances he stashed my phone somewhere in his bedroom? We got in late last night, and he may have been too tired to hide it elsewhere.
My teeth sink into my bottom lip. I shouldn’t let this opportunity go because who knows how hard he’s going to make this silly scavenger hunt for me? Better nip it right in the bud if I can.
