Slowburn

Chapter 58

        Renzo ended up staying over for almost thirty full minutes. He had wrapped his arms around me in a possessive grip, and his chest was firm but so smooth under my cheek. I could smell his scent all over me and my sheets and I reveled in it. It's my favorite aroma. Something smoky with dark undertones, but a smooth finish. 

Renzo's entire presence is like the slow burn of an expensive bottle of whiskey, and it's contents that slide down your throat and settle in your belly hot. It's what he's made of. 

        I think Renzo may have drifted to sleep for a few minutes, and that's probably why he stayed as long as he did, but even the fact that he did it at all meant a lot to me. When he'd gotten up to leave he asked me what I was up to for the rest of the day, just to make small talk while he'd finished dressing. 

I told him the truth. I had nothing at all to do. When I asked him the same question he ran his hand through my soft hair and licked his teeth. "Work, unfortunately. I have some things I gotta wrap up at the club, which...it's later than I expected. I was hoping to be outta there before dinner" he noted the time as I was walking him out. 

        I had volunteered to help him, but he insisted it was all stuff he'd only have to explain and therefore double his time and efforts. When we'd gotten to the door he paused for a second, and before I knew it he was cupping my face and planting a small kiss on my lips. 

We couldn't help ourselves so the kiss did deepen slightly. "Don't make me horny again" he scolded me, pushing my frame out of his own reach. I laughed as I watched him walk down the hall to the steps that would lead him out of there. 

        It was that same hot kiss and what it felt like to be in Renzo's arms that convinced me to step outside of my comfort zone and surprise him. He was always feeding me when I was too broke or just didn't have the time to grab something. My conscience wouldn't let me lay here while Renzo is busy working and remaining hungry because he didn't have the time. 

We had talked about a sub shop not far from the club, because we'd driven past it once and he mumbled something about the best steak and cheese subs he's ever had. I knew that was what I was going to grab us.

-

        With two subs and two soda cans I carried the bag to the back entrance not the front because the club wasn't open for business, which means the front would be locked up tight. I was lucky that he left the back unlocked while he was here. Everything was pretty dark, but I figured the lights in his office would be on. 

When I left the back room and got onto the main floor I glanced up at that pane of deeply tinted glass to see if I could see through it. I don't think we're meant to. I'll have to climb the stairs to see if his office is open. 

I remember where the hidden door is and went through it so I could get to that single staircase that led up to the office. There was no light under the door, but I thought maybe the gap was too small for it to show. 

        When I jiggled the handle it was locked. I felt kind of silly. He's not even here anymore and I just went through all that trouble to surprise him. I chuckled at myself and walked down the steps headed for the door that would lead me back onto the main floor. A sound stopped my feet. 

I could hear voices but only barely. Not at all really if it wasn't utterly silent in here with me. But where would that be coming from? I know the club is closed. I followed the sound toward the backside of the steps and with a glance you'd say it's just a dead end, but something caught my eye. 

Someone must have left it partially open because at the dead end wall there was a crack like a portion of the wall was pushed inward, uneven with the rest of the structure. This is a hidden door. I confirmed it when, with a light push, I began to sink the wall further in until a passageway was revealed to me.