"Oh my God," I moaned, hurrying closer to the mirror to get a better look. The bathroom was a bright white, modern backdrop against my Carrie-esque appearance, but as I lowered the ice and took a look at my broken nose, I was relieved to seethat it didn't look as bad as it felt. Sure, the bridge of my nose was swollen, and there was a little bruising on either side, but it wasn't too severe. Sighing in relief, I turned on the shower and undressed. Alright, so it was just the dried blood, which I could wash off. I'd be feeling good as new once I was clean again. And maybe had a nap. And a sandwich.
I scrubbed every trace of blood from my body, lathered my hair and body with so much soap and shampoo that I almost clogged the drain with bubbles, and stood in the hot stream for another several minutes for good measure. As I turned off the shower, movement outside the white shower curtain caught my attention. I froze, my ears perking up and my arms covering my breasts defensively. A softtapoutside the curtain caused me to jump. "Hello?" I asked cautiously.
Something on the bathroom counter shifted, scratching loudly through the quiet space. My heart slammed to a panicked pace in my chest, nearly drowning out the sound of glass screeching across the marble counter.
I couldn't take this again. I couldn't do it. Not in my own home. The glass screamed across marble and then it crashed to the tile floor with a fear-inducing smash. I gasped, catapulted into action by scrambling terror. I tore aside the shower curtain the same moment the bathroom door banged open.
"Benjamin," I called, slipping in the tub and desperate to run from whoever was in my bathroom.
His eyes were already scanning the space, and then they landed on me as I nearly fell out of the tub in my haste to reach him. "Stop!" He lunged forward, and I vaguely registered the sound of crunching glass under his shoes as he reached me in three strides. He wrapped an arm around my middle, scooping me off the floor before I could make more than a full step away from the tub. "Fuck," he hissed. "Feet up."
"There's, there's—" I gasped, clutching him.
He swung me away from the tub and toward the doorway, somewhat awkwardly as my wet body slid down his side and he grappled to keep me from touching the ground. He set me down in the doorway, wobbling and catching his balance against the door. "It's acat," he said quickly. "It's a cat, Evie."
Still clinging to his T-shirt and struggling to catch a full breath, I gasped, "What?"
"Acat," he repeated. He pointed with his free arm toward the steamy bathroom. His other arm pulled me tightly to his side and he shook me gently. "Breathe. A cat knocked your jar off the counter."
I gusted out a thin breath, finally taking in the scene without the haze of panic. A small, black cat tiptoed through the glass carnage spread around my black and white tile floor, her green eyes offended by the ruckus. I collapsed against Benjamin's side, limp with relief. "Binx."
"Oh, youknowthe thing?" Benjamin asked caustically. "Jesus, Evie, you scared me."
"Shescared me," I argued weakly, too relieved to be angry.
"Are you cut?" he asked, looking me over with his arm still holding me up securely. I stiffened, suddenly realizing that I was completely naked. I glanced down to where my breasts were barely concealed against his ribs and then slowly up to his face in mute horror. He bit down, clearly fighting a smile. "You shy, Marshmallow?"
"I—" I looked down again to where my wet body was slowly soaking his shirt and pants, my hair dripping a puddle at our feet and my legs practically wrapped around his. "I'm… getting you wet."
"Supposed to be the other way around," he grinned crookedly.
I glared. "This isn't funny."
"It's a little funny," he argued with a nonchalant shrug of one shoulder.
Binx meowed, probably looking for food, and sat down, licking a dainty paw. I let my forehead fall against his shoulder. "Can you… close your eyes? So I can get a towel?"
"I mean, I already got a pretty good eyeful?—"
"Benjamin." I lifted my head again, glowering.
His features rippled with amusement before he obediently closed his eyes. "You're the only one who gets away with calling me that, you know."
I cautiously peeled myself away from his side, crossing my arms over my breasts and taking a tentative step back. I watched his flickering eyelids, trying not to get distracted by how long his lashes were against his pale skin. "No peeking."
He leaned against the wall, folding his arms. "I wouldn't dare. You might start using my middle name."
I skittered away another few steps, heading toward the throw on the couch. "What is your middle name?"
"Oh, I'm not giving you that kind of ammunition," he smiled.
I yanked the plaid throw off the back of the couch and swirled it around me tightly. "I'm going upstairs. Keep your eyes closed."
"For how long?" he drawled back. Binx wrapped herself around his leg, meowing for attention. "Making me blind won't make me forget how you look naked. Which is fantastic, by the way. In case you were wondering."
"Oh my God," I moaned, hurrying up the stairs.
His chuckle carried across the distance. "Did you know your lips match your nipp?—"
