"So tell me more about Shanghai," I smile as Rhodes begins the drive back to his hotel.
"Well, the hotel will take at least 18 months to build, but it's in a great location, so it will all be worth it," he smiles and focuses his attention on the open road ahead. I take the opportunity to study his profile. Despite how busy and tired he is, his skin shows no signs of stress or damage; it's completely smooth and clean. I find my fingers itching to trace over the ghost of stubble that sits on his top lip. His lips—they're plump and pink, and I'm back to imagining them sponge kisses all over my body. My mind often wanders back to that place; I've been visiting it often since he's been away. And now that he's back, I'm feeling a little desperate to get my hands on him and his hands on me.
"You'll be glad to know that I didn't fire Tom," a slight change in his tone brings me back to the conversation.
"Yes, I am glad to hear that," my lips twitch into a soft smile. That poor guy. "Does he live in Shanghai?"
"No, he's from London. I send him on location to do all the negotiations for me when I can't be bothered to go myself. I'm sure you'll meet him at some point." The thought is nice, Rhodes introducing me to people as his girlfriend. Me and his work colleagues making little jokes about how tough he is, him getting slightly defensive but still amused. It's a nice thought, but who knows if that will be the reality? Who knows if he is even going to want to keep me around when the contract ends?
The car pulls into the hotel valet area, and one of the valet drivers opens my doors and helps me out of the car as I carry my things. I'm starting to recognize them the more I see them. I make the mental note to learn their names the next time I see them as Rhodes puts his hand on my back and walks me over to the elevators.
"The hair and makeup people will be here in around an hour, I think," Rhodes says to me as we step into the elevator before checking his watch and nodding. "Yeah, a little over an hour."
"Do you have work you need to do?" I peer up at him and ask him. He always has something he needs to do, I'm sure, especially having just returned home from a trip. I'm surprised when he smiles down at me and shakes his head.