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Oz
Fascinating.He found mefascinating.Andfierce.Andbold.My heart suddenly began to race. Was it the lack of food or was it the purple Technology Model currently holding me tightly to his chest giving me compliments?
I tried to sneak a peek around Viper’s massive frame. Am I being pranked? Is Reaper going to jump out at any minute and yell gotcha?
It would figure today would be the day I hadn’t put on pants.
I’m lying. I hadn’t worn pants all week. At least I think it was a week. Time had seemed to stop, or I had stopped caring. My guess is that it was the latter.
The rapid beat of my heart felt like a return to the land of the living. Or maybe it was Viper’s words. I placed my un-showered palm against his cheek, and he didn’t flinch.
We were in the twilight zone. Or uncharted territory…an uncharted territory I longed to explore. Could we truly befriends? Ormore?I didn’t know, but I wanted to.
“Kind of think you are fascinating too, big guy.” The smile on his lips traveled up his face to ignite within his eyes. They blazed bright, a deep purple hue that left me mesmerized. He leaned into my touch and my body gave a little shiver.
I was in deep trouble. Had all our fighting been flirting? Every clash stoking the flame instead of dousing it?
“I…we…” I shut up.Friends first, Oz.I needed to try to be his friend first. See if that was even possible before I got ahead of myself. But the thing I desperately needed now was a shower.
I took a deep whiff and tried not to gag. Gross. How can he even stand to touch me right now, let alone hold me in his arms?
I let my hand fall from his face to pat his shoulder. “Put me down, Viper. Shower’s calling.”
And after the shower, I could deal with this new version of Viper, who seemed to no longer hate me.
Who seemed to want tocare for me.
Carefully, he set me on my feet. I gave a little wobble then got my bearings. He seemed ready to scoop me up again, but I put my hands up. “I’m good. I promise. Just haven’t got out of bed for a while.” Or eaten. Or slept.
But I didn’t add those for fear he wouldn’t listen to me and decide to help me shower anyway. Like I was a pink pet poodle at the dog groomers.
He gave a solemn nod. “Anything I can get for you while I wait?”
I immediately went to shake my head no, but then I realized I had nothing to put back on that was clean. “Could you find me some clean clothes?” I don’t want to shower, get clean, and then toss on a set of much too ripe cat pajamas. “Not sure if any of mine are still clean.”
“I’ll comm one of the females and have them bring some fresh clothes.” His eyes roamed over my cat pajama top. “Do you require them to have the same pattern?”
“Cats? No. Anything is good as long as it’s clean.” I scanned the fluffy cat pattern decorating my top. “Pretty sure a female named Iris donated those to me. That girl seems to really love cats.”
Glancing down again at the cute little balls of fluff, I realized that more cats wouldn’t be so bad.It appears I’ve been converted to the dark side with cat pajamas.“Buttttt…” I dragged out the word, not quite believing what I was about to say, “if they are more cat ones, I’m not opposed.”
The hint of a grin teased the corners of his lips. “I will contact Iris when you are in the shower.” He turned on his heel, marching out of the bathroom and leaving me to wonder when my world had flipped upside down.
The shower had felt glorious. The warm water cleansed the week’s filth from my body, leaving me feeling almost brand new.
Stepping out, I reached for the towel, wrapping it around my body. The hold felt a bit looser than before. Wiping the steam from the mirror with my hand I examined myself in the glass. Dark circles ringed my eyes, my face was a shade paler, my body a few pounds lighter.
The door opened and I spun around, gripping the towel to my chest. Viper stood in the doorway clutching a handful of clothes, his gaze raking over my frame. I tugged the towel tighter to my chest, holding out my hand. “I’ll take them, thank you.”
Viper remained frozen, his fingers tightening around the clothes in his fist. He pinned me with a gaze so intense that a blush crept up my cheeks.
He cocked his head, interest burning within his dark purple depths. Like a fly in a web I was caught, trapped by the fire blazing in his eyes.
“Oz? Where the hell are you? I need to hug my bestie!” Poe’s voice rang out, breaking the spell.
His shook his head, like he needed to clear whatever indecent thoughts he had been having about me from his mind, his cheeks darkening a deep shade of purple. “I apologize.” He thrust the clothes at me, dropping his eyes to the floor. “I’ll send Poe in.”
I grabbed the clothes and Viper disappeared out the door. I went to call him back, but Poe’s outraged voice stopped me.
