spice wrapped around me. Jacob was taunting me, that was for sure. Lathering up my body with the bodywash, I hurriedly cleaned myself, washing my hair as well. When I was done, I wrapped a towel around my body, and waited a few minutes for the steam to clear so I could use the mirror.
My hair was wild if left untamed, so I quickly ran a wide-toothed comb through it, getting the worst tangles out, before using a balm to keep it smooth. Not that necessary now my fey side was released, but some habits were hard to break.
In the mirror, the face staring back at me was not the one I grew up with. In parts it was the same of course, but so much had changed. The color of my skin had always confused humans. I wasn't black or white. I wasn't Hispanic or Latino or Asian. Or any of the other many cultures represented in the human race. None of them claimed me, and for that I existed on the fringes. It wasn't until I released the bonds on my energy, met my parents, and saw the varied skin colors of my people, that I truly understood my culture. And now the ruby tones that littered my skin, hair, eyes, and soul…
I was home. I belonged here.
But I also belonged with Jacob.
A knock on the door interrupted my musing. "Everything okay in there?"
"Yep," I called back, sweeping all my hair stuff into the drawer, leaving the bench spotless again. "Be right out."
Using magic, I removed the excess water from my hair, marveling that I'd even remembered I could do that. The amount of times I'd reached for a hair dryer only to find there wasn't one here…
They did not need it.
When I finally made my way into the room, I found Jacob sitting on the edge of my bed, dressed. Nora had come through, and though the basketball style shorts hanging low on his hips didn't hide the glorious planes of his stomach, it hid what lay below, and I would take that reprieve.
"They magicked me up a few sets of clothing," Jacob said, his eyes locked on my face. I was wearing just a sports bra, panties, and a pair of soft shorts as well, but the way he was watching me, I might as well have been naked.
I felt naked.
Fuck. We were so not making it through tonight without something sexual happening. No one was that strong.
27
Jacob Compass
I couldn't even remember the female who had brought me the clothing. Normally I'd pride myself on being polite and courteous, especially to someone who was trying to help me, but Justice was all I saw. The only one filling my mind.
It was going to be a long damn night not being able to touch her the way I wanted to.
"Come to bed," I said softly, noticing the fatigue beneath her eyes. It wasn't obvious, but I'd spent enough time staring at her face to see when she'd had a long day and needed to sleep.
Shifting myself off the covers, I pulled them back and patted the bed. Her smile was soft as she stumbled closer, long legs shining in the low light, along with all the other bare skin she had on display.
As she slid in next to me, something settled in my chest. A release and then fissuring of two sides that hadn't been joined until now.
"This feels right," I murmured.
Justice shifted on her side, pulling the covers up higher, so when she faced me I could only see her face. "It does. All those nights I slept next door to you, I spent a lot of time wondering what you were doing."
"A shit ton of cold showers," I told her honestly, a laugh escaping as I thought back to the restless nights pacing my room.
Justice laughed, her white teeth flashing at me as she shook her head. "Same."
Fuck.
And now I needed another cold shower. "Let's change the subject," I rasped out, "because I'm about five seconds from repeating our little hallway interlude."
Her pupils dilated, and she parted her lips. With a puff of air, she flipped over the other way, reaching into a drawer beside the bed, and pulled out her phone. She scrolled through, and country music filled the room.
"This is a love song," I said, "Don't think that's going to kill the mood."
I was mostly joking, but she stilled, and then, without any warning, she threw herself at me. I caught her with