behind me, but I didn’t look back. I didn’t want him to get upset over this, but damn; I needed that shower. I needed cozy, bright warmth. I needed coffee and tea.
Surely it wasn’t that big of a deal to stay at a neighbor’s cabin when you had a fault at your own? What if the roof fell in? Would he persist out of pride in that situation?
I hoped I was making more of it than he was.
“This is just for the night.” Aleksy called out to me. I looked back over my shoulder and saw his face painted with a scowl he was trying to fight, but it was clearly a struggle.
“I’ll get the power fixed and everything will be fine.” He raised his head, and I did a quick look back and forth—Zavier had turned back to make eye contact and the two men looked right at each other for a second.
I was so frustrated and at the end of my rope I almost spoke aloud and only just stopped myself.
Does everything have to be a fucking pissing contest?
I was fully aware that my usual sweet, demure nature was being swallowed up by exhaustion and exposure. If I didn’t get warm and comfortable soon, all my social niceties would crack.
We reached Zavier’s cabin in a few minutes, the two places far enough away that you couldn’t see it from Aleksy’s place. It was lit with warm, bright light and the kids went thundering up onto the porch and threw themselves in the door. The second Zavier got to the cabin, the kids started screaming about their games and movies.
I absorbed this with a wince, thinking that I was supposed to be their nanny. Zavier was taking it all in stride though, laughing as he got them set up inside and promised hot cocoa as soon as he could get to the kitchen.
I came through the door, my eyes going up to the ceiling as they had in Aleksy’s cabin. This place had no high, cathedral-like beams, only flat honeyed wood which served to function more than form. Where Aleksy’s place was a beautiful, carefully planned design, Zavier’s cabin was a simple, large oblong.
It was clearly very old and well lived in. There weren’t any decorations on the walls and all the chairs were comfortable more than attractive.
It was kind of like walking into an old western frontier house, except it had been furnished by modern day good taste.
Zavier had taken off into a side room and I could hear the crackle of the TV as he got it set up for them. I took a few steps forward, noticing that Aleksy was standing in the doorway, looking around before he came in.
I set my bags down and tugged at the edge of my sweater. It was warm in here and I would dry off in seconds, except that would only make me itch even more until I could get clean and put on proper dry clothes.
There was a fire crackling away in the main fireplace, but most of the light came from warm lamps around the room. The place was enchanting in a way Aleksy’s had not been. In corners there were baskets piled with knitting or weaving. Handmade rugs were thrown across the floor near the fire.
Once again, no animal heads on the wall. I was relieved all over again.
As I moved through into the next room, I heard a strange, deep growl. I stopped immediately, thinking I might be disturbing the family dog or something.
The sound came again, a little louder. I got ready to call for Zavier to save me when a movement at the side of the room caught my eye.
“Zavier!” I yelled in reflex.
As my eyes focused on the seat in the dark corner, the first thing I noticed was the reflective glint of very blue eyes. Like catching the eyes of a rabbit or cat in a torch beam. I took a step back, heart hammering up into my throat. What kind of fucking dog sounds like that?
I stumbled back a little, reaching for the light. Just as I snapped it on Zavier came into the room.
I just stared into the corner.
It was a man. Not the kind of man that you would believe could hide in dark corners, either. His hair was black against his pale skin, a shocking contrast. Against those colors, the bow of his mouth looked very red and somehow succulent.
The blue eyes were something else. They glinted