“Bad day at the office, Mórrgaht?”
He stretches his neck from side to side, eliciting cracks I hear over the slap of water. “I’ve had worse days.”
“Such a positive man.” My voice is as tight as a rubber band and snaps against the water and stone.
“I’m sorry I kept secrets from you, and I’m sorry I stayed away.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck that you stayed away.”
His eyebrows draw close. “Your tone says differently.”
I laugh a very ugly laugh. “Please.” I roll my eyes. “You were busy; I was busy. How’s Alyosha? All moved in?”
A half smile cocks up one corner of his mouth, and it makes me want to stab him in the eye. Inbotheyes.
“Good thing we meet in the Baths, then. Fewer chances of me being staked.”
Gods, how I hate that he walks so freely into my mind. “What makes you think I don’t have the weapon hidden on my person?”
His eyes dip to my body that the muggy, dark air is hopefully blurring. “I’d imagine, depending on the blade’s sharpness, that carrying it on your person would be rather uncomfortable.”
A blush seizes my cheeks because I’m fully aware Lore isn’t hinting at it being strapped to my thigh.
His eyes shimmer at my discomfiture.
Tàin.
That half smile of his grows brighter. “You’ve been enhancing your vocabulary, I see.” One vambrace drops to the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m in dire need of a bath.”
As the second vambrace hits the floor, I toss his words back at him. “You have a tub in your room. Use it.”
He’s already unstrapped his armor and is gliding it over his head. “I haven’t bathed here in centuries.”
When his fingers clasp the hem of his skin-tight black shirt, I whip my gaze to the stone lip of the basin and scuttle toward it. “Hold your crows. I’m leaving.”
“Why?”
I gape at him. “Because, Lore.”
“Because . . .?” He draws the shirt up slowly, revealing his ladder of abdominal muscles peppered by scars.
Again, I avert my gaze. “Because I need to get dressed for dinner. Please turn so I can get out.”
“Dinner won’t commence without me.”
“Mydinner will.” I scrutinize a chink in the rock wall. “Turn.”
“Why so adamant to get away?”
A growl vibrates up my throat, and I slam my gaze back on his. “Because I’m all bathed out.”
“You’re all bathed out, or you’re frightened to soak with me?”
“Frightened?” I roll my eyes to emphasize hownotfrightened I am. “Are you planning on shredding my skin with your iron talons?”
