Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 360

Chris grabbed the room key without even looking at it and slipped it into his pocket.

"Nice, man. You really went all out—already got my room sorted. I'll head back now. I got off the plane and immediately heard about your mess. My suitcase is still at the nurse's station."

"Yeah," Rupert replied, glancing at him, not bothering to say much more.

After Chris left, Rupert told Orson to have someone keep an eye on him.

The room slipped back into silence.

Sylvia looked a little confused. "Uncle Rupert, what kind of keycard was that?"

"Hotel room key," Rupert said, as if that explained everything-which, of course, it didn't.

Sylvia rolled her eyes and reached to clear the leftovers from the table.

"Come here," Rupert said, nudging his wheelchair and pointing at the bench across from him.

Sylvia sighed, clearly not in the mood for more drama, but sat anyway. "What now?"

Suddenly, Rupert leaned in close. Sylvia froze, startled. She tried to scoot away, but he caught her chin, gently pulling her face back toward him.

He wasn't rough-just insistent enough to get her to stay put.

Sylvia's mind flashed back to their earlier kiss. She frowned and tried to look away, her cheeks burning.

swollen cheek that she realized Rupert was just putting

hiding whatever thoughts had just raced through her

noticed anyway. Watching her squirm, he smirked. "Relax. With a face like this? Not exactly

her lap, her

Rupert. "Uncle Rupert, that's not funny!

in his wheelchair, and in the scramble,

looked down, his grip on the ointment tightening,

her hospital gown slipped, revealing

himself

long dark hair slid off her ear and brushed against his pants. Even for a man with his self-control, his mind was filled with thoughts

his changing expression, reached again for the

suddenly settled at her

hesitated, glancing up at him, and noticed him deliberately looking away. She looked down, realized what he'd seen, and quickly yanked her neckline

Sylvia hurriedly scrambled back onto

Rupert nodded, deadpan. "Yeah."

could only sputter. Now he was being honest? Normally, he couldn't be

yanked up the

a small smile curl his lips. He capped the ointment and

heard the rustling settle behind him, he finally spoke. "It's not the first time, you

Sylvia, mortified, immediately

night they'd spent

the cave