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.

onto her swollen cheek that she realized Rupert

gaze, hiding whatever thoughts had just raced through her

her squirm, he smirked. "Relax. With a face like this? Not

curled into fists on her lap, her face

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

and in the scramble, Sylvia lost

the

was carefully put together, every detail seemingly polished to perfection. When she tumbled forward, the loose neckline of her hospital gown slipped, revealing more

forced himself to look

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

expression, reached

hand suddenly

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

saw?" Sylvia hurriedly scrambled back

Rupert nodded, deadpan. "Yeah."

was being

bed, yanked up the blanket,

smile curl his lips. He capped the ointment and

heard the rustling settle behind him, he finally spoke. "It's

Sylvia, mortified, immediately

night they'd spent

in the