Entering the building, I saw that there were two doors. He didn’t herd me toward either one, no, he led me to a stonestaircase. Our steps echoed as we climbed up to the second floor. Again, there were two doors. He unlocked the one on the left with a zap of power and then pushed it open.
And we walked right into a bedchamber.
Hisbedchamber, I thought as my insides seized. A little awkward, I stood stiffly as he wandered about. Though a shaft of sunlight beamed through a narrow arched window, he lit the iron rack of candles with a mere flick of his hand.
The room was spacious but sparse. A bed big enough to sleep two people was set against the wall. There was a large trunk at the foot of the bed. A rug lay near the stone fireplace. Beneath the window was a scarred wooden table flanked by two stools.
Still looking somewhat put-out, Talon caught my eye and pointed to a door that I only then noticed. He pushed it wide open and urged me closer with a flap of his fingers.
Still feeling slightly awkward, I crossed to him. There was a garderobe, I realized.Anda massive bathtub. “You have your own tub? I am so jealous right now.”
He pointed to a square hole-ridden chunk of metal on the ceiling above it and then slapped a button on the wall. Water rained down from the holes, pattering the base of the tub.
I felt my lips part. It was a shower. I’d heard from officiates that Talon and the Marshalls had such a luxury, but I hadn’t known they each had their own private bathing area. “My jealousy just went up several notches.”
He let out a surly grunt that could have meant anything or nothing. And then he walked out, closing the door behind him.
Staring at the door, I raked my teeth over my lower lip. “All right, then.”
Not even his moody behavior could spoil my delight at being able to enjoy an actual shower. I set my sack down on thefloor, balanced the salve on top of it, and then stripped so fast it should have made me dizzy.
Standing in the tub beneath the warm spray, I used the bar of lavender soap to scrub myself clean from head to toe. Though my wounds were healing well, some still stung and pulsed—mostly due to the soap.
Once I’d rinsed off, I stepped out of the tub and nabbed a folded towel from the pile set on a corner table. It was thin and stiff, much like those in the bathhouses. It was also a little smaller than those I was used to, but I wrapped it around me.
As I wrung my hair over the tub, a knock came at the door. Heavy. Impatient. Curt.
“What?” I called out.
A grunt was my only response.
“I don’t know what that means.”
Another grunt.
“I don’t know what that means either.” I crossed to my sack and reached for the tub of salve to—
The door swung open.
I straightened fast, clinging to my towel so it didn’t fall. “Gods, have a little patience. I’ll be out in a minute. I need to put some salve on my wounds and then dress.”
Talon stilled as he drank in the sight of me. Impatience slowly leached out of his expression, giving way to something entirely different. His face went cold, his eyes turned hot and hooded … and he pinned me with a look so carnal it near flattened me.
I had no way to counter the impact that look had on me. No way to stop my belly clenching, my mouth go dry, or my mind replay the last time he’d stared at me like that.
He casually braced his lower arms on the doorjamb, becoming a living barrier between me and his bedroom. Heblatantly allowed his gaze to slowly dip lower. And lower. And lower.
Bold bastard.
He lazily dragged his gaze back up to meet mine. Those eyes burned with lust, greed, and … invitation.
I went motionless. “No. No, not happening.” But my blood started to heat, betraying me. A low hum came to life in my veins, as if my body was charging up.
He didn’t walk away. Didn’t close the door. Didn’t release me from that unrelenting stare.
“I get that you might be all fired up from battle, but you’ll need to find another woman to help you work it out of your system.” The thought of him with someone else made my belly feel funny, but I couldn’t accept his invitation.
Again, he didn’t move or look away. Those watchful eyes remained fixed on me.
