She passed the test.
I'm interrupted from my musings as a shivering Allegra tentatively opens the door, a moan escaping her lips as she steps inside the heated room.
Why is this suddenly erotic?
I shake my head, furious at myself for even thinking that.
"Here." I hand her a pair of pants and a new shirt so she can change. She eyes them suspiciously but takes them.
"Turn around," she motions to me with her hand, and my amusement perks up again.
"Is there anything to see?" I arch an eyebrow. "I thought we established I don't do children," I say, more to provoke her than anything.
I've seen those sharp claws of hers, and maybe I'm a little masochistic, but I want her to scratch me again.
She blushes, the red spreading down her neck. She lowers her head, her eyes fixed on the floor, and the next thing I know, the blanket is off her shoulders.
My eyes widen as she takes her tattered shirt off, throwing it to the ground, before moving to remove her pants.
I can't help it. My eyes are rooted to her body, a mix of anger and curiosity boiling inside of me.
She seems unbothered as she puts on the dry clothes. Me, on the other hand, I'm verybothered.
Because I'd lied.
She doesn't look like a child. She's a woman with a woman's body. One that was very much naked a moment before. I swallow hard, beaten at my own game. Again.
Minx!
"Thank you for the clothes," she says, keeping a distance from me as she sits down on another chair.
"I'd rather not have your death on my conscience," I add casually.
"You didn't seem that concerned a moment before," she replies dryly.
"Bah, that's in the past. I've changed since then," I look intently at her, waiting for her next retort.
"Sure," she narrows her eyes at me, "like a leopard changes its spots."
"Let's say my spots have been genetically modified." I lean forward, the desire to rattle her increasing by the second.
She scoffs, pushing her dainty nose in the air, raising her chin in a challenging gesture. I take a moment to actually study her. She is small and a little too slender.
Her black hair flows down her back, wet strands clamped together from the saltiness of the seawater. Her dark eyebrows are nicely formed, giving her a gentle look. Her eyes are achocolate brown, accented by thick eyelashes. They slant upward in a catlike fashion. The rest of her face is just like her—small and delicate. She looks young and innocent, and for the first time, she might actually be those things.
"What's your name, anyway?" she suddenly asks.
"Why?" I wiggle my eyebrows at her suggestively. "Did you suddenly change your mind about…" I don't get to finish as she throws her wet shirt at me. I catch it right before it hits my face.
"Don't even try to finish that," she points her finger at me, trying to seem threatening.
Yes, show me those little claws.
"Enzo. Enzo Agosti." I stand up and do a small bow. "At your service."
Allegra snorts, a little frown marring her forehead.
"Is that you remembering to be a gentleman?"
