When he plonked down onto the bed, the mattress dipped, nearly touching my head. I shot a horrified glance at Rennie and pointed at the forged documents I had left on the nightstand. Rennie gave the slightest shrug.
Oliver removed his shoes and set them in a line next to the nightstand. The bed groaned as he shifted. Then there was silence. He shot to his feet, and the springs in the mattress uncoiled with a snap. A growl came from him.
“Son of a bitch.”
Dash it. He must have seen the documents. I clamped a hand over my mouth.
He paced with long strides, muttering. My nose was tickling from the dust on the floor. I took a deep breath and held it, forcing my muscles to remain still. Instead, Rennie didn’t seem to have any trouble staying motionless. His gaze was focused on Oliver’s feet and his body was tense, but he didn’t look like he’d swallowed wasps, like I was sure I did.
Minutes passed. Oliver stopped pacing. When he slid his shoes on, I wanted to cheer. The moment he left the room, Rennie helped me out of our hiding place and coiled an arm around me as we hurried towards the door. We didn’t speak until we were out of the cabin.
“I’m sorry.” He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I shouldn’t have been distracted.”
“I distracted you. So it’s my fault. Where do you think Oliver went?”
“I’ll follow him.” We stopped in front of my cabin. “Stay here. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“See you later.”
He kissed my cheek before dashing away.
I washed, changed, and read a book, but after an hour, I grew worried about Rennie. What was he doing? Should I search for him? Maybe Oliver caught up with him. I fiddled with my hands, wondering if I should ask Norton, when there was a knock at the door.
“Monia?”
My traitorous heart gave a kick at the sound of Rennie’s voice.
“You’re back.” I opened the door and beamed. “Did you find?—”
He kissed me hard and slid inside the cabin, gently pushing me back. With the heel of his boot, he shut the door behind him. I was lost in the kiss as his tongue explored my mouth and his hands roamed my body with an urgency that weakened my knees. His hands were working on the buttons of my shirt. Yes! My legs touched the bed. A moment later, I was lying on it with Rennie on top of me.
“I can’t fight it anymore,” he whispered, tracing my jaw with his lips. “But if you want me to leave, just say it.”
“No.” I gripped his biceps. “Don’t leave.”
A sinful smirk twitched his lips. He kissed me again, one hand cupping my breast. The hard length of his erection rubbed exactly where I wanted it to, but it only made me wilder. He scattered kisses on my neck while undoing my shirt. When his hot mouth closed around my nipple, I arched my back, begging for more. A jolt of desire went through me when he slipped a hand under my skirt.
His deft fingers were so close to my throbbing nub. I sighed as he sucked my nipple gently. His shaven chin... shaven? I remembered feeling his stubble earlier. He could have shaved meanwhile, but the smell of the after-shave cologne he used was missing.
I froze, my eyes flaring open. Oh, no. Oh. No. “You aren’t Rennie.”
He lifted his head, and for a terrible split second, his pupils became two vertical slits and his eyes turned black.
I screamed. I couldn’t help it. Yes, it was pretty useless. I should have hit him in the bollocks, although I had no idea if such a move would hurt a lamia. But at that moment, freezing and screaming sounded like a jolly good idea.
He froze too, as if confused. “Stop screaming.”
“Let me go!” I shoved him... it. But it didn’t budge.
“Stop it.”
The door to my cabin was flung open, and Rennie, the real one, barged inside. There was a moment of chilled silence during which we remained still, watching each other. Then Rennie grabbed the lamia by the shoulders and hurled it away. With shaky fingers, I buttoned my shirt and adjusted my skirt. They fought, rolling on the floor, with their identical grey jackets flapping around. I snatched the oil lamp from the nightstand and lifted my arm, ready to strike... but who? Confound it. Who was the real Rennie?
“Hit him!” one of the two yelled.
But what if he was the wrong one? From here, I couldn’t see Rennie’s stubble.
“Monia, hit him!” the other one said.
