Free Criminal: A Bad-Boy Stepbrother Romance by Alexis Abbott, Alex Abbott Page B

never got caught. And that’s what really
matters,” he adds jokingly.
    I laugh, biting down on my lower lip as I pull in,
parking the car out of sight of the road. I’d completely
forgotten that. He had a habit of bringing out the rebel in me,
making me want to misbehave.
    He still does.
    I open my door and come around to his side, leaning
in the open window.
    “Stay here ‘til I get us a room, no need
to draw more attention to ourselves than needed.” Of course,
with my torn tank top and dirty mini skirt, that’s going to be
easier said than done anyways.
    He looks me over, and even in his wounded,
pain-racked state, he manages to crook a brow and look interested.
“Dressed like that, Princess… I don’t think you
can avoid drawing at least half the world’s attention. But
you’re right I guess. Best we leave it at just half if we can
help it,” he prods me back, reaching out and pinching my side
through the tear in my top.
    A week ago—hell, a day ago—I would’ve
flipped at him. Let my fear of falling for him make me push him away
again.
    But I’m too exhausted, and he looks too good
for me to keep it up. Maybe it’s just that I’m running on
instinct, that adrenaline is still pumping through me, that I nearly
died, but I just don’t care anymore about pushing my emotions
down.
    I bite down on my lower lip, tugging it into my mouth
as I stare at him, my heart skipping a beat before I take a step
backward. Quickly I turn to make my way to the front desk, but the
entire time, my mind is stuck on him.
    I look around, and even in the darkness, I can see
how little the motel has changed. It’s aged a bit over the
years, but it’s quiet and surrounded by trees and privacy. I
make my way into the office, ringing the little bell before trying to
fix my hair in the reflection of the window.
    “You need a room?” comes a bored voice,
and suddenly I’m reminded of the last motel I was at and what a
mess that became.
    I turn and smile at the young man, and nod.
    “Okay, we have a double bed available just next
door,” he says, taking the key off the hook board and I pause.
    “What about two singles?”
    My heart is instantly racing, and my stomach lurches
though I don’t know if it’s out of fear or excitement.
    He shakes his head.
    “Just the one double. There’s a school
group in,” he replies, and my heart beats faster, my body
feeling suddenly warm.
    “So it’s just the one room, nothing
else?”
    “Right. You want it?”

I head back to the car, keys clutched in my hand.
    Kaiden looks like he’s passed out, and I rush
over to him. But before I can even reach out and shake his shoulder,
his eyes open and he looks to me.
    “Don’t tell me we’re sleepin’
in the car. As I recall, that didn’t work out so well for you
last time,” he remarks with a wry smile. He sees me dangling
the keys and pushes the door open to get out.
    “They only have the one room,” I say as I
try to help him out, “but they have a vending machine in the
lobby with some Tylenol and water.”
    I feel hot and uncomfortable, though, and the thought
of sleeping with him in the same bed is messing with my mind.
    He looks down at me as we make our way to the room.
    “There’s something else you’re
keeping from me?” It’s half-accusation, half-question.
    I hate that he can tell, and I just shrug, trying to
look nonchalant.
    “Just the one bed is all.”
    He’s looking down at me, brow arched in silent
questioning as we reach the door.
    “I dunno if either of us is in much shape for
sleeping on a floor tonight,” he says. He’s still holding
his side as he leans against the door and I work the old-fashioned
keys in the door. “And as old school as this place is, they
might take issue with us livin’ in sin like that.” He has
a big grin on his broad, handsome— but battered— face.
    I roll my eyes, but I have no idea how to feel about
it as I push the door open and take in the familiar smell. It’s
like