The Midnight Intrusion
[Author's POV]
The Blue Suite, once a place of cold lies and Kiara's lingering perfume, had been completely reclaimed. Jay had spent the evening re-scenting the room with her favorite candles, and Keifer had personally thrown the old silk sheets into the hallway for the staff to incinerate. The atmosphere was now 1,000% Watson—warm, private, and thick with a devotion that had been bottled up for a week.
[Jay's POV]
I was wrapped in Keifer's arms, sitting on the edge of the massive bed. The world outside the door didn't exist. For the first time in seven days, I didn't have to watch my words or pretend to be "the Assistant."
Keifer's hands were roaming my back, his touch possessive and hungry. He pulled me closer, his lips finding mine in a kiss that felt like a formal declaration of ownership. It was deep, heated, and full of the "Glow" we had both nearly lost. I melted into him, my heart finally at peace.
CLICK.
The heavy double doors swung open with a violent thud against the wall.
The Breach
"JAY! I forgot to tell you about the—"
Bridget came charging into the room like a whirlwind, a tablet in her hand and a serious look on her face. She didn't knock. She didn't pause. She breached the perimeter with the confidence of a woman who had spent the last week running the house.
She stopped dead in her tracks three feet from the bed.
Keifer didn't let go of me, but he broke the kiss, his head snapping toward the door with the lethal glare of a CEO interrupted mid-merger. I was flushed, my hair a mess, hiding my face in the crook of his neck.
"OH MY GOD!" Bridget screamed, her eyes widening as she practically jumped back. She dropped the tablet onto a nearby armchair and immediately covered her eyes with both hands—though she left a very obvious gap between her fingers to peek.
"Bridget!" Keifer roared, his voice a mix of frustration and amusement. "Has the concept of a 'Locked Door' been deleted from your memory?"
The Teasing Protocol: Round Two
Bridget started howling with laughter, her shoulders shaking as she backed toward the door.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she wheezed, though she didn't sound sorry at all. "I forgot that the 'Medical Recovery' phase had transitioned into the 'Honey-Moon-On-Steroids' phase!"
She pointed a finger at Keifer, who was still holding me tightly against his chest.
"Honestly, Keifer, give the girl some air! You've been attached to her like a parasite since 6:00 PM. I thought I was coming in to discuss the security sweep, not a live-action romance novel!"
"Bridget, get out!" I laughed, finally finding my voice and throwing a pillow at her.
"I'm going! I'm going!" Bridget teased, grabbing the door handles but leaning back in for one last shot. "But seriously, Keifer... if you keep this up, we're going to have to install a 'Do Not Disturb' light on the outside of the suite. Or maybe a siren! You two are 1,000% shameless!"
She let out one last cackle, winked at me, and slammed the doors shut, her laughter echoing all the way down the hallway.
The Quiet Return
[Keifer's POV]
I stared at the closed doors for a second, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. A week ago, Bridget was an enemy. Now, she was the annoying sister I never knew I needed.
I looked down at Jay, who was still giggling against my chest. I gently lifted her chin, my blue eyes softening.
"System status?" I whispered.
"Perimeter breached," she whispered back, her eyes sparkling. "But the core is still secure."
"Good," I murmured, leaning back down to reclaim her lips. "Because I'm locking the door with the deadbolt this time. No more interruptions."