Carmen loves peonies.
Carmen’s eyes widened, her head tipping back to take it all in. She loved it. I picked this hotel because I knew she’d love it.
“This is beautiful,” she said, awe coloring her voice.
I grinned with pride and squeezed her hand, leading her toward the front desk.
“Yeah,” I said casually. “I was their building contractor for renovations, so I get perks when I stay here.”
Her eyes twinkled at the sound of that.
“Good day, Mr. Clayton,” the woman behind the front desk greeted us warmly. “Is this Mrs. Clayton?”
Carmen let out a low laugh. “Haha, actually I’m—”
“Yes,” I cut in smoothly, pulling her close and resting my arm around her waist. “ThisisMrs. Clayton. She’ll need full access to everything here. And a key toourroom.”
Carmen looked up at me, her smile curling slowly. She didn’t correct me though, and for that, I pressed a kiss into her temple.
The front desk agent nodded crisply. “Of course, sir.”
Once we were checked in and heading toward the elevators, Carmen bumped her shoulder into mine playfully.
“So… perks, huh?” she asked.
“Yep,” I said, hitting the elevator button. “Like free upgrades. Private concierge service. Better views…”
She leaned in closer, a wicked sparkle lighting up her eyes.
“And what else?”
I slid my hand down her back, low enough to make her breath hitch.
“Soundproof rooms,” I murmured against her ear. “One of the many perks of being me.”
The elevator dinged open.
Carmen’s cheeks flushed a soft red, but she stepped inside without hesitation, yanking me after her by the front of my shirt.
I followed, smiling—until I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.
Pulling it out just enough to glance at the screen, I grimaced.
Mom.
With a groan, I let it ring out.
Carmen raised an eyebrow, but didn’t ask when the ringing stopped. She just stepped in closer, grabbing the collar of my shirt and pulling me down into a kiss that started out slow, sweet, then deepened with a hunger that pressed her body into mine.
Her fingers curled against my chest as a groan escaped my lips. I braced one hand against the wall behind her, the other sliding into her hair, anchoring us there.
She kissed me like she was just teasing me when she landed, and it was foreplay, but this was the real thing. I responded in kind, tilting my head, deepening the kiss until there was no space between us. I could feel her heartbeat thumping fast through her chest, mirroring mine.
Her lips parted with a soft gasp as my hand found the curve of her hip, then slid around to the small of her back. She moaned into my mouth, and I swallowed the sound, kissed her harder, deeper. Her hands moved up my chest, around my neck, fingertips grazing my jaw as if she couldn’t decide where to touch me first.
I pulled back just enough to look at her.
Lips swollen.
