Free Elixxir (The Brethren Series) by Deena Remiel Page B

you.”
    “Ooh, the penthouse level. How glamorous. Maybe there’ll be more room on that balcony.” She coughed and maneuvered around him, trying her best not to make contact with his body as she went back into the room. The trip had given her plenty of touchy-feely time to last her quite a while. At the moment, she was having a heck of a time trying to forget the way his body had kissed and caressed hers with every bump and curve in the road. The way it vibrated in tune with the Harley’s powerful engine.
    He sniffed his armpits. “Do I offend?”
    “What?” She laughed nervously. “No.”
    “Then I must have cooties.” He raised an eyebrow.
    “Oh, stop! I know what you’re getting at. I’m trying to stay away from you because your big, manly body has battered mine all day long on that bike. One more touch and someone’s gonna call the police for domestic violence due to all the bruising on my skin.” She hurried through the sliding glass door and went straight into the bathroom. She could still hear his roar of laughter. Asshole ! Hot, sexy, freakin’ asshole ! She looked at her scowl in the mirror and started laughing, too. I’m an idiot. Time for a cold shower and a new frame of mind . She had to find that Elixxir before the bad guys did. There could be no other scenario. If only she could remember more about where the Elixxir might be. She closed her eyes and tried to reach back to a place she never truthfully wanted to return to again. The dark place in time when her privileged life turned into an endless nightmare. She breathed deeply and held on to the sink for support. But it was of no use. The wall her fragile mind had erected proved too strong to let her simply move it aside after so much time had passed.
    A light rap on the bathroom door teased her back to the present. “Callie, our keys are here. Time to go.”
    She unclenched her fingers from their death grip. Damn it. It didn’t work . “Okay, I’m coming.”
    Nathanael had both of their bags slung over his shoulder, and he held the room’s door open. She nodded as she went by him and into the hall. Walking the length of it in silence, she nibbled a fingernail, not sparing a glance over at him as they stepped into the elevator and rode it to the penthouse floor.
    “Mighty quiet over there. What’s up?” He nudged her arm and she glared back.
    “Nothing’s necessarily up, Nate. I’m just having a quiet moment. That’s all.”
    “Oh, really?” He raised a brow and smirked.
    “Oh, all right. Might as well tell you since you’ll pester it out of me eventually. In the bathroom, I tried remembering back to…that time long ago. The time I seem to have blocked. And, well, it’s useless. I still can’t remember a damn thing. That part of my life seems closed off to me forever. So, I don’t have a clue as to how we are going to continue on this crazy quest.”
    “Don’t worry, I have a plan.” He rubbed her back. “The key is the first step. There’s a bus station where I think it’s probably from.” The elevator door opened. As they exited and looked at the sign on the wall to find their room number, he continued. “You’re going to stay here while I check it out.”
    She stopped short. “Oh no, I’m not.” She crossed her arms. “You’re not getting this key and going anywhere without me. Don’t even think about arguing.”
    “Do you have any idea how rough a neighborhood this bus station is in? It’s like a war zone! No one in their right mind would venture there. I’m not taking you, so forget it.”
    “Then you can forget about me giving you the key.” She turned and stalked on down the hall.
    “Uh, you’re going the wrong way. Our room is over here.” He pointed behind him. “So much for your dramatic exit, huh?” He laughed and flashed his perfectly white teeth as she huffed past him.
    “Smartass….” she grumbled. “You’re not getting it unless I go with. Case closed.”
     
     
    She stood, a