Obsidian - Miranda Bridges Page 0,20
and I slide my gaze to his tattoos that glow like stars in the night sky. They’re mesmerizing to look at, but the whirlwind of questions invading my mind forces me to look back at him. Out of all the things I desperately need to ask, the most pressing one is…
“What do you want from me?”
The male studies me for a moment, his hands clenched into fists. Slowly he releases them. “Nothing yet, human.”
My heart lurches against my ribs and panic threatens to assail me at the word yet.
“Well, that’s not true,” Castien says, rubbing his clean-shaven jaw. “I want you to go for a shower.” At the arching of my brow, he lifts his hands. “Normally I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea of showering together, but…” His lips widen until he’s smirking at me, only it’s more seductive than mocking. “I imagine you’d like some time alone after your ordeal.”
I don’t move, keeping my body pressed to the wall. “First I need to know why you’re helping me.”
He cocks his head, his dark brows pulling together. “We have the whole night, damsel. I’m sure we can discuss…”
His words fade as I close my eyes. Even though I know it’s foolish to do that when faced with a threat, the way he’s speaking to me has anger bubbling in my gut. It’s not that he called me a damsel because I certainly am one, and I’m very distressed at this moment. But it’s more that his tone is patronizing as if I’m a helpless child. This is something that I’ve allowed all my life, and after what I went through today, I can’t anymore.
“I need to know now,” I say, fixing my gaze on him. My words seem to echo in the quiet room, ricocheting off the expensive furniture. “I haven’t escaped Lord Tolas’s bed just to end up in yours. So please…” My voice fades in strength and volume as the fire inside extinguishes. I sag against the wall, trying to hold back tears at my lack of control over my life.
“I met Hazel on Earth recently when another commander revealed he’d been mated to her.”
I blink back the moisture in my eyes, bringing Castien into focus as he continues to speak.
“Hazel and Adam are alive and well, along with Kayla and Khloe.” He thrums his long fingers on the side of his thigh and gives me a pointed look. “Now will you go and refresh yourself?”
I bite my lip. “Is the offer still one that’s unaccompanied?”
“Not for much longer.”
Unlike the debilitated bird I was in the golden cage, I all but run to the bathroom like a roadrunner before Castien can decide to join me in the shower. And I swear I hear his throaty chuckle as I slam and lock the door behind me.
Even though I didn’t travel a great distance, my lungs gasp for air and I lean against the tiled wall, panting.
One thing’s for sure: Castien is bad for my health.
I sweep my gaze over the bathroom, taking in the enormous tub and waterfall shower, but the opulence of it is lost on me. The rooms in the brothel were expensively decorated, and it didn’t ease my suffering whatsoever.
After my breathing evens out, I walk over and inspect the shower mechanisms. I can’t read the strange symbols, but after twisting, pushing, and tapping, I finally get it to turn on. The water that pours from the holes in the ceiling is a perfect temperature, and I now find myself beyond eager to jump in. Although, I think Castien’s the one who needs a shower—a very cold one.
There’s no denying he desires me.
It’s been evident in every single one of our interactions, and he said he wanted something from me. I’m just not sure how to navigate this situation with him. It’s obvious he’s comfortable around women, but the same cannot be said about me with men. My large breasts, slim waist, and curvy hips have always attracted male attention, most of it unwanted. I quickly learned that they saw my physical features before they ever glanced at my face.
Castien looks at all of me as if every part is appealing to him.
I toss aside the brothel garment, happy to be rid of the filth and memories that cling to it. The warm water glides over my skin when I step into the shower, and there’s something therapeutic about it that I enjoy. So I end up losing track of time, slowly cleansing myself from