Eventually, he stood, still cradling her in his arms. He carried her out of the stall, cool air kissing her damp skin, raising goose bumps. She shivered as he set her on unsteady legs. Holding her up, he dried her off, then himself.
Her mind whirled. “Are you taking me back to the dungeon?”
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened. Closed. No sound emerged.
Hadn’t decided yet, huh? She switched gears—for now. “I need clothes,” she told him, struggling to project an easy, carefree vibe. “Good ones.”
“To aid your escape, yes?” Once again, he didn’t sound upset by the idea, just matter-of-fact. “Don’t deny it. I was a prisoner once, too, only my captors were demons.”
“Captivity is captivity, no matter the host.” Though she did not like the thought of him suffering at the hands of demons. Or anyone! The horrors he must have endured…
“You are not wrong.”
Gah! Did he have to be so reasonable? “But I’m sorry for what you must have suffered. No doubt you fought to escape every minute of every day.”
“I did.”
“So why are you chastising me for doing the same?”
His brow furrowed. “I cast no blame. I understand why you do what you do.”
Great! Wonderful! More reasonableness. And she liked it—she liked him more by the second. At this rate, I’ll be in love by tomorrow night. “I have no problem escaping naked, baby.” Truth. “You’ve seen me, right? I’d be doing any witnesses a favor.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “I cannot argue your point.”
Smart man. “So, if you want to head off any escape plans, you’ll have to meet my demands.”
He stiffened but said, “And what are those demands, hmm?”
“For starters, I require a cell phone. Galen and Legion must be worried out of their minds.”
An-n-nd he got stiffer. “I will contact Galen on your behalf.”
“Not good enough.”
“And yet it’s as good as it’s going to get.” Bjorn took her hand, something he’d done before. This time, he linked their fingers, as if they were partners working together, versus a captor leading his captive.
Her heart nearly burst from her chest.
He escorted her to the closet, where he donned a robe and gifted her with a clean white T-shirt and—surprise, surprise—a thong, the butt floss of underwear.
Normally, she would rather go panty-less than don a stupid thong. But. She remembered his reaction to the last pair, and couldn’t resist taunting and tempting Bjorn with another.
Wait. A thought hit, and she shuddered. “Where did you get the thong? Because, if you gave me someone else’s undergarments and I come down with panty crickets, I will choke you with your own intestines!”
He snorted. “I sent a Downfall employee out to shop for you. Every article of clothing is new.”
That snort…utterly adorable. But, gah! She must be making serious moon eyes at him right now. How embarrassing for her.
What if he took a scheme from your playbook and now hopes to make you fall in love with him, so you’ll do whatever he asks?
Ugh. She could always count on Distrust to ruin her day. Ignore the fiend, and enjoy Bjorn while you can. “What’d you put on that shopping list, exactly?”
One corner of his mouth twitched again, making her heart skip a beat. “The list had one notation—undergarments, with two sub-notations.”
“Let me guess. Sexy and sheer?”
“And make you feel like an object? Hardly. I asked for as little material as possible. You know, for your comfort. And airy, so you wouldn’t get overheated.”
A laugh bubbled up. She’d never seen this playful, teasing side of him. I am living for it!
Just like that, he went still, not even seeming to breathe. He stared at her with…awe? Whatever it was, it caused the air to crackle with awareness. She labored for every breath.
Distrust hissed. Such a fool! You long to bed him now so he can kill you later? Run! Or suffer the—
Shut up! If she fled in fear, she would never know what could have been.
Oh…crap. What could have been. She’d never planned to escape him, had she? Not really. She’d merely needed an excuse to try and build something with him. She was a fool.
Like they would ever be able to make a relationship work. Deep down, whether he admitted it or even realized it, a part of him would forever resent her for the harm she’d caused his people. And she would never be happy with a man who resented her as much as he wanted her. Not long-term. So, she’d have to enjoy him while she could, and do a better job of guarding her heart. No more softening! And maybe no sex, period. But orgasms were fine. Better than fine.
Anyway. Unless and until he agreed not to imprison her, she would willingly stay with him. After all, she owed the Sent Ones a debt. If given half a chance, she would help during their war.
Decision made, she shimmied into the thong, pulling the material up her legs. Bjorn’s pupils expanded, a puff of air parting his lips. Well, well. From now on, consider her the #1 fan of thongs.
“Be honest,” she said, looping the hem of her shirt through the collar, creating a half-shirt. Then she turned to display her spectacular ass. “Do these panties make my butt look amazing…or magnificent?”
Voice like smoke and gravel, he offered, “Amazingly magnificent. If I didn’t have one hundred Warriors to recruit—something you made me forget—I would toss you onto the bed and go for round two.”
Don’t ask to go with him. Don’t you dare. Instead, she opened her mouth to graciously accept his compliment. “Why don’t I accompany you?” Argh!
“You may,” he offered while strapping a pair of sandals to his feet. The fact that the affirmation wasn’t accompanied by a caveat or thirty… “But I’m not going out today. Just pouring through a bunch of books with names.”
Fox got stuck on his first two words, reeling after a punch of shock, a kick of awe, and a double jab-jab of excitement. “I want to be sure I understand this correctly. Tomorrow you plan on taking me out in public, where I will socialize with Sent Ones at your side. You’re trusting me not to portal away for good?” Would she regain her ability once she left this stronghold? “You’re trusting me not to portal you and your chosen ones to dangerous terrain and leave you? And since we’re on the subject of portals, why can’t I open one here?”
“I’m not trusting you, no. I’m testing you. There’s a difference.” He pinched a lock of her hair, rubbing it between his fingers. “Flunk my test, and suffer the consequences. Get an A and earn my trust.”
So…a game. Fun! “Oh! I should warn you. While you’re testing me, I’ll be charging you. I expect a daily wage for staying by your side, and a bonus for every portal I open. My friends and family discount is ten thousand dollars per eight-hour shift. Therefore, you’ll owe me twenty thousand a shift. I expect tips.”
The mouth twitching started up again, and damn, it was a gorgeous sight. “I do not receive a lover’s discount?”
“Maybe if you put out more.”
Twitch, twitch.
“Also,” she continued, “I’ll be testing you, too.” She stepped into his personal space to pat his cheek. “Don’t give me a reason to ditch you and—spoiler alert—I won’t ditch you. Give me a reason, and you’ll suffer the consequences. Meaning, no access to my goods.”
“Is that so?” He clasped her wrist, yanked her against the hard line of his body, and forced her arm behind her back. Her spine arched, thrusting her breasts against his chest. “Shall we play a game, then? You will tempt me sexually, and I will tempt you. The first one to cave—without self-pleasuring—loses. Winner receives a boon of his—”
“Her,” she interjected.
“—his choice. Deal?”
Bjorn, doing his best to seduce her…
Fox, doing her best to seduce him…
She’d get to put her hands all over him and say the most suggestive things, all i
n the name of a game… Yes, please. Sign me up. “Before I agree to your game, you must agree to my payment plan.”
He arched a brow. “You are that in love with money and control?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m more in love with money and control than anything ever.” Why deny it?
To her bafflement, his expression softened. He tenderly smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Very well. I agree to your payment plan. But you must help me study tonight.”