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"Yes!" I threw myself on top of the oversized downiness and ate the chocolates, one right after the other Then I sat up, cross-legged, and opened the box that’d been left for rinned Thanks, Dad

I was tired, but full of adrenaline, so I decided to explore the rooiant wooden bureau and found a television The next cabinet hid ato find it eed and

I sat down, re it in my palm It’s funny how the body reacts si for substances or a case of lust: blood and breath quickening, skin heating, palolden liquor back in its spot, loving the sound of the bottles clinking together

A soft knock sounded froe closed I h the wall and whispered, "Kope?"

"Anna? Are you behaving?" His voice had a teasing tone He’d heard the bottles Aagh! Geez, did other Neph ever take a break fro?

"U, Mr Parole Officer"

He chuckled

I wouldn’t have drank anything, but I’d certainly been entertaining the daydreaiant sunken tub with fancy bottles of soaps, I decided on a bubble bath instead While I lay in the foa the chorus to Lascivious’s new song That would not do So I changed it to the next thing that came to irls in his car Then a horrifying thought stoppedto ? He wouldn’t do that, would he? The very idea ly and paranoid I slunk down a little farther into the bubbles and shut ood and wrinkly I wrapped ested we dress nicely for the arena It was a Christth skirt made of stretchy material and a fitted maroon blouse Bad outfit choice Where was I supposed to put the hilt? The dagger was already strapped to h I couldn’t wear the hilt on ed under the fabric of the skirt when I tried to put it atinto his rooed around his room until it found muffled music, like a radio that had been overturned I ho on the music and could barely make out that it was classical, instruain Still no answer I couldn’t iine that he’d fallen asleep He would have toldsomewhere I listened in his bathroo up both our room keys, I hurried the short distance down the hall and knocked lightly on his door Still nothing

I gripped the hilt in its leather case in one hand, and with the other hand I swiped the roo a timid step inside the dim room, I propped the door open with my foot What I saw on the floor in front of the bed madeHe wore earbuds blaring classical ht then, but I was struck still by the sight of hi back on his heels, head bowed in reverence He wore navy running pants but no socks and no shirt The triceps in his ared and his rounded back was a brownthat made it hard for me to breathe was the way he co on the floor like that To see a big, strongwith his whole being was enough tofar too long When I took a step backward his head whipped up and our eyes collided He tore the earbuds out with a startled expression in his light eyes

I was so busted

"S-sorry," I said I ducked away and shut the door, drawing jagged breaths Behind me I heard Kope open his door and rush out When I turned, ht of his body because he took one glance down at his bare chest and bolted into the roo with foolish e the ht soht’ve happened when you didn’t answer me"

He relaxed "I should have warned you It’s the only tihten you"

"It’s okay," I whispered "Do you, um, think you could come in for just a " I held up the hilt to show him what it was about

"I will join you now" He followedeach other across a small desk I took a deep breath and willed my heart rate to slow as visions of half-naked Kopano danced in my head I didn’t like hiht Okay, he’s waiting for you to say soether I clearedthe hilt for me today? I won’t be able to in this outfit"