‘Sure,’ I say easily, unsure why I’m forcing myself to act natural right now.There is absolutely no reason to be feeling nervous.He’s not even here.
Zayden’s room is a total mess.His bed is unmade, there’re a few dirty plates stacked on top of his bedside table, empty water bottles are piled into a heap and there’re clothes messily thrown across the floor.This room looks like the opposite of my clean space.I’m a little obsessive with keeping everything neat and tidy.It makes me feel better mentally to have everything organised.I even have my clothes colour-coordinated, as well as my bookshelves, which creates a nice rainbow feature against my wall.Only a quarter of my books are in the apartment due to the limited space, but I have enough books to fill a room.When I buy my own house, I plan to make a library, with one of those cool ladders that slides across the shelves.I’ve always wanted one of those.
Stepping over the piles, I head to the bathroom.It’s not as bad as I expected.I inhale.It smells like him.His cologne.I’m also not going to admit that it’s creepy that I know how he smells.I’m around him enough to know, and it’s totally not weird.
There’s a sliding door that closes off the bathroom from his room, but I don’t bother to shut it.It’s only us girls here, and I doubt either of them will come wandering in.
I step out of my clothes, letting them pool at my feet.Moving inside the cubicle, I let the warm water run over me.Pressing my forehead against the cool tiles, I wait a few seconds for the room to stop spinning.I definitely had too many drinks tonight.
My eyes shift to his body wash.After a moment, I squeeze a dollop onto my palm and begin to rub it over me.Inhaling long and deep, I sigh.It’s a nice smell.
After a minute or so, I exit, towelling off.I’ve pulled my pants up my thighs and am just hanging my towel over the spare rack when Zayden’s bedroom floods with light and I hear footsteps enter the room.I freeze, eyes wide, my heart dropping to my feet.His shadow flickers across the open doorway.
‘Woah!’
My face is engulfed by flames as his eyes land directly on my chest.I scramble to cover my exposed breasts, realising that should have been the very first thing that I did, but as usual, my normal freeze response took over.
Zayden blinks at me, lips parted in shock, and I’m speechless.
My heart thunders.His mouth opens, and he goes to say something, but his eyes move downwards once more.
Suddenly, he spins, turning his back to me.
‘I amsosorry,’ he says quickly.‘I had no idea you were in here.’
‘It’s okay!’I reply.My voice comes out in a high pitch that sounds totally unlike me.‘Anya said I could use your shower.I’m stupid for not shutting the door, I thought you’d be out all night.’
‘It’s all good,’ he says.‘I’m really sorry.’
‘It’s fine.’
Panicking, I search desperately for my top.
‘Where the fuck is it?’I hiss, flinging things around in the hope that I accidentally placed it underneath something else.
A throat clears.‘I think your shirt is out here.’
Oh, just kill me now.
Swallowing, I run my tongue across my teeth, attempting to slow down my breathing and decrease my climbing heart rate.
‘Ah,’ I say after an awkward pause.
His hand appears, my t-shirt scrunched between his fingers.Slowly, I take it and make the mistake of looking in the mirror at his reflection.His gaze lifts, and our eyes meet.
And for some reason unknown to anyone in the world, I let my other arm drop.
He stares at me.
And I let him.
I’m only in my shorts, my breasts and curves on full display, and for some reason – most likely the alcohol providing me with an unhealthy confidence boost – I don’t care.I’d love to know what he’s thinking, since his eyes are trained on the two little bars I have threaded through each of my nipples.
‘Thanks,’ I say.
‘Any time,’ he says smoothly.
Neither of us move for a moment, then I slowly slip my arms through the t-shirt and yank it over my head.As I push the door open the rest of the way, our gazes connect.Heat spears through me at the look in his eyes.His lower lip is between his teeth as he studies me for a moment.
