Chapter 18

• Dixon heads off to his room, closest to his door, while Clyde lets himself into the master suite. He finds Ella sitting up in bed, leaning her shoulder against the headboard, legs curled under her as she talks on the landline.
• “You're all right? Let me get some ice from the minibar…it’ll help with the bruising…” Clyde says approaching quietly but had gotten waved off. He slowly got undressed and then shifted beside Ella as she finishes her call. As soon as the phone is in the cradle, Clyde hauls her back against his chest, knocking a laugh out of her, a sound that fades to a giggle as he drags his lips along her neck.
• “I promise, it'll be handled…” He soothes her, feeling his smile grow as her shoulders lose their tension, shifting them both down the bed till they're settled along the mattress. There's a watery noise of grim amusement as Ella turns into his warmth.