“To make sure you were safe.”
“You could’ve knocked and asked through the door.” I shivered from the wet hair plastered to my chest and the damp material plastered to my legs.
I turned so that even in the mirror he couldn’t catch another flash of my bare cleavage and tugged on the suit, managing to get one arm in. Spearing the other, the one I’d injured, proved trickier. I gritted my teeth, afraid my shoulder would pop out of its socket this time. At least the shallow ache and aggravating outfit took my mind off the fact that I’d just flashed Remo.
What in the Neverrian Skies had gotten into me?
Even though I was in no way warm, sweat broke out over my upper lip as I wriggled my hand down my sleeve. I had to stop to catch my breath, before pushing more of my limb through. When I stopped again because the fabric was forcing my arm to bend, I considered ripping off the sleeve which had begun to tear anyway but then decided against it. Who knew how long it would be until we got out? Bare skin was more fragile, and even though it had felt warmer in this world, what if nights were freezing?
The strain in my shoulder suddenly eased as the fabric stretched away from my skin and a warm breath pulsed against my lobe.
“I don’t need your help,” I grumbled.
“I know, but you’re still getting it. Consider it an apology for coming in without your permission.”
As I wormed my arm through the sleeve and got the material over my shoulder, I said, “We’re never discussing what happened in here. With each other or with anyone else.”
“What happens in the Scourge stays in the Scourge.” His knuckles grazed my skin as he released the top of the suit, and goose bumps appeared. I prayed he hadn’t felt them.
I gathered my hair and pulled it out of my suit, then tugged the zipper up, squashing my upper body back inside. I was never taking this outfit off again, not until my Infinity was functional and zapped it away. When I finally turned, my nerves were still behaving spastically.
“I need to get my boots on, and then I’ll be ready.” I spoke to his Adam’s apple since there was no way I was staring any higher.
“Are you going to avoid looking at me from now on?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not going to be awkward.”
Because looking him in the eye wasn’t awkward?“I’ve never flashed anyone before, Remo. No one. But here I am flashing you of all people, and for what? To prove you don’t intimidate me?” I lowered my gaze to the chipped red polish on my toes. Polish in Neverra never chipped. Here, everything chipped. Including egos. “All I’ve proved is that I’m insecure and idiotic.”
A beat of uneasy silence passed before he said, “I didn’t mean to make you feel insecure or idiotic.”
“Oh, you didn’t do that. I managed it all on my own.” I tried to step around him, but he boxed me into the corner, the cornerI’dput myself in. A pattern was emerging. “Can you back up?”
“For what it’s worth, you have very nice breasts.”
I shut my eyes.Gejaiwe, strike me down. “Please forget you saw them.”
“Hey . . .” His breath pulsed against my forehead. “You saw my ass.”
“Don’t worry. I’m working on erasing it from my mind.”
“Why? I have great glutes, or so I’m told.” The smile in his voice plucked away a layer of my embarrassment.
I dared to lift my lids. “Where do you get your information? From your harem of women?”
“Exactly. And just so we’re clear, I’ve never paid for sex. You mentioned call girls earlier. I have nothing against them, but they’re not my thing.”
I neither nodded nor apologized. I just waited for him to back up so I could slip past him. When he didn’t, I said, “It’s none of my business. If our engagement were real, it would’ve been, but since it’s all fake, you don’t owe me an explanation.”
However, as long as we were considered betrothed, we weren’t supposed to date other people. Unless I used mygajoïto make him dissolve our sham union, but locking Remo out of Neverra seemed suddenly unfair.
“We’re going to have to be really discreet about seeing other people. We wouldn’t want the Cauldron to punish us or kick either of us out.”
His eyes lost their playful glimmer, and he pursed his lips. Had he not considered this? Had he forgotten what had happened to my aunt when she’d broken her engagement off to Cruz Vega?
“Did you find some ointment for your cuts?” He pivoted toward the sink and opened the cupboard, revealing empty shelves. “I’ll go check the other bathrooms. Put your shoes on.” He shut the doors harder than necessary and stalked out of the room.
