"Unmentionables? Is that what you humans call them? I seem to remember plenty of your species mentioning their undergarments."
Sylvie shook her head, ignoring him. Silly man.Who cares what they’re called?
"Wait," he said, comprehension dawning on his face. "Unmentionable. Does that have something to do with that woman Victoria and her secret?"
She popped him in the chest. “I’m not wearing my underclothes in front of you or your people. Period. Just find me some clothes, okay?"
The regent stared at her for a moment, as if he was debating. He moved toward her, and for a split second she thought he might grab her and haul her out of the room as he'd done before. Instead, he passed her and entered an alcove carved out of the wall that she hadn't noticed.
When he reappeared, he had a bundle in his hands. He passed it to her but didn't release it to her right away. "I've been tolerant of your antics because you've had a rough couple of days."
Rough couple of days. He made it sound like she'd gone on vacation and had to stay at a two-star motel instead of the five-star resort she was used to.
She'd crashed, been molested and tortured.
And he'd beentolerant.
She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind but he silenced her with a finger over her lips.
"I need you to behave yourself now and do what I tell you. I don't have time to babysit an ill-mannered guest."
"Guest? I thought I was a prisoner."
"Guest," he said again. "But the kind you keep an eye on, so that they don't steal the cutlery."
"Nice." She tugged the bundle away from him. "Now get out of here and let me get dressed. Then I'll start following orders, Supreme Pain in My Ass."
His eyes narrowed, but he left the room without another word. She was pushing it, but something in her was ready to fight back. Too bad it was her rescuer who was getting the brunt of her attitude.
She let out a short puff of air and unfolded the bundle to see what she'd be saddled with.
It was woven from the same material as all the other clothing she'd seen. She had expected it to be coarse, but the seaweed was actually quite supple. She slid into the shorts and was glad to find the material stretched. It hugged her hips and was tight on her behind, but beggars couldn't be fashionistas.
The top was a little trickier. After struggling into different combinations that didn't seem to fit right, Sylvie discovered it was supposed to form a cross shape, like the one the little jade figure was wearing. When it had settled correctly, she still wasn't sure if she had it right.
The material was so tight across her chest, it seemed to outline her breasts and throw her nipples into stark relief. The way the top fit her was virtually pornographic.
Sylvie poked her head around the doorway of the sitting room.
"I can't wear this," she said.
"Nonsense."
"It's obscene."
His face hardened. "It belonged to my mother."
Sylvie blanched, then took a deep breath. She stepped out from around the door. "I doubt it fit the same way on her."
In mere seconds, X had turned purple. Knowing that she had the power to cause a reaction in him caused her stomach to tighten.
"It's... fine," the regent said, then coughed and turned away. She thought he was adjusting the front of his sarong. "No one will notice."
"I will!"
X turned back, fixing his heavy gaze on her. "Sit down and eat your breakfast. We're already behind schedule."
Sylvie stuck out her bottom lip. She remembered she was an adult and sucked it up, walked over to her chair, and took a seat. No reason to pout. It wouldn’t get her anywhere. Perhaps stripping would be the better action – at least more effective.
