He releases a deep sigh. “Best night of my life, and I screw it up with a stupid comment.”
Instantly my heart softens. “You didn’t screw it up. Most men I’ve met in this business take off running at the mere mention of commitment, so I was just surprised. After all, we’ve only known each other for the equivalent of a day or less. We’re complete strangers to each other.”
“Strangers fuck all the time.”
“Yes, but they don’t act like they might be all right with impregnating the other person on the first try.”
He groans, covering his face with both hands. “Can we stop talking about it?”
“Relax. You’re not the only one who said stupid shit. I said you ‘felt like gold.’” I chuckle regretfully.
“That wasn’t stupid at all. I understood what you meant.”
“Did you? So then… what did I feel like?”
“Let me think.” He rolls onto his back beside me and tucks one muscled arm behind his head. “Your cunt is like a knifesheath, a high-quality leather one that’s been worn in well and it’s got that soft, smooth patina—”
I sit up straight. “My cunt is like old worn leather? That’s what you’re going with?”
“It’s acompliment, Devilry.”
“Like hell it is.”
“I never claimed to be good with words, sweetheart. I’m better with explosions.” He winks at me suggestively.
I grab a handful of the linens and drape them over his face. “Go to sleep. I’ve had enough of you for one day.”
“I’ll never get enough of you.” His voice is muffled by the cloth, but I hear the words distinctly.
I don’t know whether to be gratified or terrified. Not that it matters. We’ve already been in Annordun much longer than is wise, and we have thoroughly disrespected this place with explosions, traps, murders, and bodily fluids of all kinds. If the Stewards do show up, I have no doubt they’ll annihilate us instantly. So it doesn’t really matter what a certain cocky thief thinks of me.
11
Devilry wakes me up by kicking me in the shins.
“Up,” she says tersely. She’s in full gear again, brimming with impatience. “We’ve had enough rest. Time for action.”
I sit up, blinking, my mind utterly blank. I’ve never been the kind of man who can spring into action straight out of a dead sleep.
“What’s wrong with you?” she seethes. “Get up.”
“Give a man a minute, gods.” Squeezing my eyes shut, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I need time to wake up.”
“Well, we don’t have time, so…” She grabs my chin, jerks my face up, and bends down to plant a vicious kiss on my mouth.
The touch is fire to the fuse of my entire nervous system, like an alarm ringing through my brain. The plush heat of her lips coats my mouth like burning honey.
She pulls away with a faint grimace. “Your breath is awful. You awake now?”
“Fuck yes.”
“Good. Get dressed.”
While I’m gearing up, she explains the two options we could pursue.
We could climb up to the observation room again. That’s if we want to be cautious, if we want to have eyes on some of the rooms before we descend into the subterranean level. But that option carries a greater risk of encountering the beast, who’s likely prowling the main levels of the house.
The other option is to enter the basement blind, and hope for the best.
