Chapter 40

Shemika and Caturix arrived in the city too late for any sightseeing. Instead, they headed straight to a hotel. It was just a regular hotel, but Shemika could hardly contain her excitement. Caturix had exceeded her expectations by bringing her not just to a human town, but to a bustling city. He chose a high-end hotel in the city center, close to all the attractions.

Shemika tried to suppress her excitement as they entered the grand lobby, illuminated by a stunning chandelier. She twirled around to take in the surroundings and nearly tripped in awe. It was like a scene from a movie. Caturix steadied her with his arm and approached the receptionist. Shemika was fascinated by the petite human woman behind the counter.

The receptionist greeted them warmly. “Good evening, welcome to The Sampson. How can I assist you?”

Shemika looked up at Caturix, as did the receptionist, who seemed taken aback by his towering height.

“We need a room,” Caturix replied gruffly, a tone Shemika was accustomed to.

The receptionist flinched slightly. “Uh, just one?” she asked for clarification.

Caturix’s scowl deepened. “Just one,” he confirmed.

She nodded and began typing on her computer. “One bed?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Great. King bed?” she asked, glancing at his imposing stature.

He nodded.

“Just the two of you?” she asked.

He nodded again, and Shemika peeked around his arm to gauge his reaction.

“Would you like a mountain view—”

“Nope. Not at all,” Shemika interjected. She didn’t want any reminders of Rurik.

“Are there any specific features you’d like in your room?” the receptionist asked.

“I’d like a corner room, if available, and a room with romantic amenities,” Caturix replied, his tone surprisingly flat for such a request.

“Would you like our romance package in your room before you arrive?” she asked.

Shemika held her breath, anxious about his response. If he declined, it would be a rejection of their romance. If he accepted, she feared she would read too much into it.

Caturix shrugged nonchalantly. “Sure.”

~Never mind~. Shemika understood his message loud and clear.

“Our romance package includes chilled champagne, flowers, artisanal chocolates, and chocolate-dipped strawberries in your room. Plus, a complimentary dinner in our private dining room,” the receptionist explained. Shemika could see the dollar signs in her eyes and feared the cost.

“How much will all of that cost?” Shemika asked quickly.

The receptionist seemed deflated as she replied, “Four hundred and ninety-nine dollars a night.”

“Do you have anything more than that? I appreciate the offer and may take you up on it, but it’s not enough,” Caturix said bluntly.

Shemika was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond.

“We have an all-inclusive honeymoon package, which includes everything I mentioned earlier, plus a honeymoon suite, gourmet dining, a couples massage, access to our spa, premium alcohol, and access to our luxury pool and hot tub,” the receptionist rattled off.

Shemika was about to ask the price, but Caturix silenced her with a wave of his hand. “I don’t want you worrying about it, Mika,” he said, motioning for her to step aside.

She complied and wandered off to explore the rest of the lobby. It was peaceful, with soft music playing and the quiet conversation between Caturix and the receptionist. She was relieved that he didn’t want her to worry about the cost of their trip. She was afraid they would overspend and end up in trouble with the police. Neither of them had any human identification, and she didn’t want to end up in a human prison or hospital where they would discover they weren’t human. But then—

~Ooooh~, there was a fish tank in the lobby. She walked over to the enormous tank, filled with a variety of aquatic creatures. It was nothing like the small bowls with one or two goldfish she had seen on TV. She was admiring the fish when Caturix’s arm wrapped around her waist. She looked up at him and smiled.

He handed her a keycard. “The receptionist asked us to give them a few minutes to prepare our room,” he said.

“That’s fine. I’m not super tired,” she replied.

A mischievous grin spread across his face. “Good, I don’t plan on getting much sleep tonight,” he said.

“What are our plans for tomorrow?” she asked. She had many dreams about visiting the human town, but she didn’t want to seem demanding.

“Well,” he began, pulling her onto his lap as he sat on a peculiarly shaped white sofa, “everything is up in the air right now. Of course, we’ll start with sex, then breakfast. I’ve paid for the gourmet dining, so we could have breakfast in bed,” he murmured, kissing her neck.

She felt a rush of heat, but also a hint of disappointment. She liked the idea of a morning romp, but she was eager to explore the city.

“Or,” he continued, “we could eat out somewhere. Your choice.”

“I’ll just have to see how I feel in the morning,” she teased.

“About breakfast? Or our sex?” he growled. When she didn’t answer, he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, “I can fuck you tonight, or fuck you tonight and tomorrow, but you’ll be sore,” he warned.

She giggled, a sound she hadn’t intended to make, and one he hadn’t expected to enjoy so much. It made his chest ache. He knew that when they returned to Rurik, their secret sex would resume. He thought he wouldn’t care, but he longed for her to strut around Rurik wearing his scent. Not his mark, but definitely his scent.

They waited a few more minutes before heading to their room.

The receptionist beamed at them. “I can tell you guys are so in love. I hope you have a wonderful stay with us,” she said.

Shemika could feel Caturix tense up at her words.

“Good night,” was all he said before releasing Shemika and walking ahead to lead the way.

Shemika felt a pang of abandonment. This was supposed to be the start of a romantic and exciting getaway, but now Caturix would overthink the receptionist’s comment. Shemika knew all too well how much he wanted to keep their relationship casual.