I shrugged.Less clothing means more friction with the metal.
He nodded fast.Right. Totally.
Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating his flustered face. He exhaled, sharp and very much out loud.
“Fuck.”
The word slipped out of him low and rough, like it hadn’t gone through any internal filter at all.
I doubted he even realized he’d said it.
Without his processor, his voice sounded different. Softer around the edges, but deeper too, like it came straight from his chest instead of being shaped for anyone else’s ears.
I felt it settle deep in my stomach as the thunder rolled again.
Come on,he gestured.You can hang out with me until the power’s back on.
Are you sure?I asked.
I’m not leaving you out here.
He stepped closer, angling his body just slightly between me and the street. The movement was so instinctive, protective without being dramatic, that my breath caught before I could stop it.
Good thing he couldn’t hear it.
He bent down, lifting one foot to tug a key out of his sock, because apparently that was a thing.
Wow, I said, gesturing between his hand and foot.That’s efficient. And maybe a little gross.
He grinned, rainwater dripping off his nose.Runners’ trick.
He ushered me in ahead of him. I hugged my arms around myself, suddenly aware of the chill creeping in now that the adrenaline was fading.
Bennett noticed immediately.
You’re cold,he said, concern etched between his brows.I’ll grab you something dry to wear.
I can grab something from Nessa and Jared’s room.
He blinked once, twice. And then signed,No.
The single sign was sharp, decisive, leaving no room for argument. His jaw tightened just enough that I noticed, a muscle ticking under the stubble shadowed by the dim emergency lantern he’d flicked on in the entryway.
With that, he turned on his heel and headed up the stairs.
It only took him a minute or two to swap out his wet workout clothes for a dry long-sleeved shirt and a pair of sweatpants that left little to the imagination.
There was nothinglittleabout Bennett King.
He held out his hand, offering me a folded charcoal-gray hoodie without ceremony. His eyes stayed locked on mine the entire time, steady and unyielding, like he was daring me to argue.
I reached for it, fingers brushing his as I took it.
Thank you, I signed, clutching it to my chest.But really, I can borrow something from Nessa—
No, he repeated.
He stepped closer, close enough that I had to tip my head back to keep eye contact.
