by the time he kissed me. Actually panting. Jesus. I had never felt anything like this before, and I wondered if I would survive the intensity of my feelings.
"We were never going to take it slow," I murmured, a choked, breathless laugh escaping me.
"You're probably right," he replied, just as his lips closed over mine, and then I completely forgot what we were talking about.
By the time he stepped away I was a puddle, reduced to breathing, blood pumping, pulse racing, heart slamming against my chest.
"Don't forget the clothes," Jacob said as he released me, turning to search out the bathroom. I would have told him where it was, but speech seemed to be beyond me.
When he was gone from sight, I pulled myself together like the strong, modern, independent woman I was—who was I kidding—and found one of the staff. Nora was a few years older than me; her family all worked in this household.
"Could you help me," I asked her, "if you're not too busy, of course?"
She was dusting some of the ornaments in the hall, and I didn't want to take her away from that, but it was kind of urgent to get that ass covered before I jumped it.
"Of course, Princess Justice," she said in her sweet voice, curtseying to me once. She was petite, half a foot shorter than me, with a mass of wild blond curls, rich blue eyes, and alabaster skin. She was absolutely breathtaking.
"I've told you before, please just call me Justice." I pulled her to her feet. "And you don't need to genuflect."
She smiled but didn’t agree—so far I’d been unable to break her of the habit.
"How can I help you?" she asked, looking positively excited by the prospect.
"I need some men's clothing. They'd have to be large enough to fit—"
"Jacob Compass," she interrupted, her excitement levels shooting sky high. "I heard talk of him at the ball and I admit that I snuck in to see him. He's…"
She trailed off and I smiled. "Oh yes, he's very much that and more. And right now he's naked in my room."
She gasped, her eyes super wide and innocent, with a flicker in those deep blue depths that told me she was curious. "I need him to be dressed."
Nora shook her head. "Why? I mean seriously. Why…?"
I threw my head back and laughed. "Yeah, that's an acceptable response. Let's just say there are extenuating circumstances and I can't take advantage of all that is Jacob Compass, so best thing to do is cover him up."
Nora laughed, a husky sound that almost didn't go with her sweet voice and face. "One full body suit with mask coming up," she quipped, and I enjoyed seeing her relax a little around me.
"Yes!" I joked back. "Cover him from hair to toes and I might make it through the night."
We both laughed and she nodded. "I do actually know where I can get some clothes that will fit. And if they don't, I'll find someone to magic us up some. Don't worry, I'll be back at your room soon."
She took off down the hall, face determined as she carried out her mission.
"Thank you!" I called after her.
I'd had to go a few halls away from my room to find her, and on the way back I got lost twice—this house was huge and complicatedly set out—so Jacob was done when I returned. Sprawled back on my bed, a towel around his waist.
"I'm gonna shower," I squawked, before turning and sprinting into the bathroom, slamming the door closed behind me.
I was legitimately not strong enough for this.
Stepping into the room that my parents had redone with modern conveniences similar to Earth, I took a few deep breaths to calm. Faerie bathrooms were different to what I had, but I loved that they’d incorporated my favorite things in here. A huge shower-tub combo, with three showerheads, massaging jets, and a ton of soaps and washes that smelled delicious and didn't dry my skin out.
I’d given up making my own toiletries here; they already had what worked.
Truth be told, If I had to leave, I'd miss this bathroom almost as much as I'd miss my parents. Gods, Deloria really lost it tonight, but I couldn’t point the finger. I’d lost it plenty of times in my life as well, so what was more important was how she handled it after she calmed down.
Tomorrow would be very telling.
Undressing, I stepped into the shower, and sighed as a scent of evergreen, forest