Page 153 of The Amber Sunburst

“You know how the Mothers are.”

The Educator smiles, but does not let go. “I suppose I do.”

“But,” she asks, playing with a bra strap, “could I return tonight? To your chambers, I mean. I want you.” It’s far too breathy and wanton, but it seems like it works well enough for him.

“You’re more than welcome.” He releases his hands and lets them hang off the back of the couch. “You may have to share me with another, though.”

Ophelia pouts. “I suppose that’s alright.”

Then she eases off of him and desperately tries not to look like she’s scrambling for her robes. Her skin feels itchy.

Not that she’s above using sex to get what she wants, but there’s something about the Educator touching her and using her however he pleases that makes her want to scream. What if she was one of the younger girls who don’t know how to say no? Would he have flipped her over and taken what he wanted without asking twice?

She has to let that go for now. She closes up her robe on her way to the door.

“I will be waiting patiently for tonight, sir. I need you.”

Forms, she is really laying it on thick.

“I’ll see you soon, little one.”

She sprints down the stairs and slips into the hallway outside the control room. Despite what she had to do to get them, she’s giddy from her successful key-wrangling.

She tries one key, then another, then another, until she’s reached the final one.

“This has to be it,” she whispers, trying to contain her anticipation. When she slots it in, though, it doesn’t turn.

“What?” she asks the empty hallway.

She must have missed one. Or perhaps not used them correctly. But she knows how a key works, doesn’t she?

She frantically pushes keys she’s already tried in and out until a voice stops her short.

“Looking for this?” the Educator asks, standing smug behind her and holding up a sole key.

47

EUDOXIA

“Beach or mountains?” Zeno asks, pulling her attention from where she’s affixing a mirror to the wall.

She smiles indulgently, despite her stress. “What?”

“Well, we need to decide where to go once we leave here. So, beach or mountains?”

Something in her chest goes loose—like a knot finally untying after so long living in tension. And every casual mention of their togetherness relaxes her further.

Yesterday was good… Oh, who is she kidding, yesterday was perfect and this morning Zeno wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, so she thinks it’s safe to say he doesn’t regret it.

And neither does she. Not really, at least.

Now there’s just more to lose if they’re caught. And once they decide what kind of stupid house they want, it’ll be another thing they dreamed but never got to have.

But she can’t help giving in to the fantasy.

“Alexander loves the beach, and I don’t think I have the heart to separate you, so waterfront it is,” she says, sliding another mirror into her hand as she moves along.

Zeno skips to catch up and gets to work on his own mirror a few yards away. “I hoped you’d say that.”