Anzil (Gladiators of Krix #2) - Miranda Martin Page 0,5

not paying attention. If they were it wouldn’t have been so easy to sneak out. No sign of Ductores—of all the people here, he’d pay the most attention.

Finding no help or support, I look at Anzil again. Really look at him. He and I have had a weird relationship, but that’s always been the way it is for me. Most guys can’t handle a woman who is physically as strong or stronger than them. It makes them insecure, which Anzil obviously isn’t.

More than anything, I don’t think he would hurt me. He’s full of himself, sure, but he has a sense of honor. Outside the arena I don’t think he’ll take anything that’s not freely offered. Especially me.

It seems like my thoughts have taken a long time, but he hasn’t reacted. I walk past him into the room and stop in my tracks again.

“Wow,” I say, giving a low whistle.

“You like?” he asks as he steps inside and closes the door.

“It’s a lot better than the quarters I’ve been staying in,” I say.

He snorts and walks past. The room isn’t huge, but it’s nice enough. There’s a table and two chairs to my right and a bed large enough for two on my left. Thick blankets and pillows lie invitingly on the bed, demanding my attention.

A trunk sits at the end of the bed, but Anzil doesn’t stop until he’s crossed the room. There’s another door there that he opens, and my eyes nearly pop out of my head.

“You’re kidding me,” I say.

“About what?” he asks.

He bends over the end of the massive copper-looking tub and turns a handle. Water streams out, pulling me forward. The dirt caked on my body feels like a thick shell. An honest to god bath. As the water fills the tub, steam rises from the tub.

“Is that… hot water?” I ask.

Anzil smiles.

His face transforms with the smile. I’ve seen him smile before, but it never touched his eyes, not like this. No, this smile, this does something more. It makes him sexier; it shows the softer side that hides beneath his macho exterior.

“It is,” he says. “A perk of being primus.”

I move next to the tub and dip two fingers into the water. It’s perfect. The wet warmth touching my fingers causes a tingle of pleasure to race down my spine. How long has it been since I’ve had a bath? Since I’ve been really clean? Too damn long.

Anzil is staring into my eyes intensely. His lips are parted, and the desire written on his face is so clear that a blind nun could read it. We could, and for a brief moment, I consider it. It’s a fleeting thought, immediately negated by my missing girls. Nevaeh, Scarlet, Camilla, Paisley. This isn’t the time for distractions.

“Here is sand to cleanse with,” he says, holding up a dish filled with black sand. “Towels are here,” he says, pointing to a small door. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Silent, he walks past me to the door. I turn, watching him leave.

“Just like that?” I ask.

He looks over his shoulder, his smile making his features softer, more endearing.

“You said no sex,” he says.

I blink rapidly. My lower torso tightens and my pussy grows wet. He’s sexy, nicer than he seems, and it’s a one-night stand, right?

“Thanks,” I say, ignoring burning desires.

I’m not going to be enjoying myself when god only knows what’s happening to the girls I lost. I’m a marine, for god’s sake. I’m coming to terms with losing the ship, but losing the girls who I told I would protect; that I can’t let go.

He nods and closes the door behind him. I stand for a moment, listening to the sounds of him moving around the small room beyond the closed door. I’m not sure what I’m waiting for. Certainty? Him to come rushing in?

Whatever it is, nothing happens. Taking a deep breath to focus my thoughts, I strip off my clothes. Before I take off my bra, I pull out the tattered piece of paper hidden there and look around for a hiding place. This rough map is my best chance of finding the girls. I don’t want it to get wet; I’ve worked too hard for every landmark noted on it. I open the closet and lift one of the lower towels to stash it between them.

“Oh,” I say in surprise.

The towels are warm. I stick my hand further into the closet and move it around until I find that there is warm air