"He's definitely a drug dealer." Elliot says as he swivels on the leather office chair. He stops and points a finger at me while grinning from ear to ear. "Just your type."
"Oh, shut up." I roll my eyes and laugh. He's referring to my previous string of not-so-great ex-boyfriends. Each one of them turned out to be some kind of dealer or an addict, which obviously, didn't end well. "You know I have a thing for the bad boys."
"More like criminals, Robin."
I laugh it off, but Elliot's right. I'm much more drawn to the darkness. I gravitate to men who are clearly bad news, but all the warnings and red flags just seem to draw me in even further. I guess that's why Richard intrigues me so much. He's everything I find attractive.
The loud buzz of the phone cuts off our conversation. Elliot picks it up and presses it against his ear. "Hello, how may I help?"
I hear the mumble of a male voice on the other end of the line. Elliot's eyes quickly dart to mine and he smirks. "Yes. No problem, sir. She will get those up to your room ASAP."
He places the phone down and continues to smile at me mischievously. "A guest in room 1419 needs extra towels."
"What? Why me? You do it." I huff.
"The gentleman requested you." Elliot tilts his head with a smug grin. "He specifically wanted, and I quote," He raises his hands to make air quotes with his fingers, "The pretty girl at the front desk."
Richard.
My heart skips a beat. I cover my face to hide my flushed cheeks. The pretty girl from the front desk. If I could, I would get that tattooed in my brain so I could remember it forever. I wish I heard it come from his own mouth.
Elliot grabs two towels from the back and hands them to me. "Go get your man, Robin."
I hold my breath as I hit the button for the 14th floor, and I don't exhale until I'm stepping off of the elevator. I'm surprised I didn't pass out. I can't tell if I'm light-headed from anxiety or the lack of oxygen to my brain. It's hard to tell.
I clear my throat and swallow my nerves until I can find the courage to knock on his door. I know I can't hang around in the hallway for too long, I'm terrified of being on this floor alone. I hold the towels with one arm and place three soft knocks onto the door of room 1419.
The door immediately swings open, and there he is, in all his glory. I clench my jaw to stop it from dropping open. He's in his boxers, and only his boxers.
Richard's leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest. He looks as though he's just stepped out of the shower. Beads of water slide down his curls, then drop and roll down his toned chest. I inhale sharply, because holy fuck.
I find the way he fills the entire doorway with his large frame intimidating, but so incredibly sexy. The sheer size of this man knocks the air out of my lungs every single time I see him.
I peel my gaze away from his chest before he notices me staring.
Richard's eyes scroll over me with a smirk. "Hello, again."
His sultry voice slides through my ears and reaches every nerve in my body. Before I melt into a puddle at his feet, I hold out the towels and hand them to him. "You needed extra towels?"
Richard smiles and takes one from my hands, then uses it to rub over his wet hair. It gives me a chance to take him in a little longer. His torso is gleaming, lean and smooth, with a thin layer of skin that's clings onto his protruding bones. How is it possible for a man to look so strong, yet appear so fragile at the same time?
