leader.” She ran back into her room and emerged a moment later, stuffing her jeans and a T-shirt into her bag. “I can’t believe this. I can’t be late.”
“So rooftop it,” Christoph said, raising an eyebrow at her.
Analie looked sharply at him. “No way.”
“When’s the last time you ran somewhere? A month? Longer?”
Analie bit her lip and nodded. “But it’s different here.”
Christoph rolled his eyes. “So don’t be seen, idiot. Come on, you’re the second-fastest runner in Goliath. You could totally rooftop it there.”
Analie frowned, but Christoph could see the light in her eyes. “I dunno. I mean, it would be the fastest way. I wouldn’t have to wait for a cab. I’d probably have to take one back, but—yeah. Okay. Just don’t tell anyone, promise?”
“I promise.”
Analie grinned at him. “Sweet. See you later!” She slipped out of the apartment.
Shortly after Analie left, Mouse crept out of her room for the first time in hours, casually dressed in a long brown skirt and simple white blouse. She froze for a second when she saw Christoph in the living room, quickly looked away, and rushed for the door. He might not be putting out, but there were other donors who were, and she needed to feed.
She was unused to having someone sleeping on her couch, watching her come and go, questioning what she was doing or why. Though she did make a mental note to pick him up some clothes while she was out. He probably needed a few toiletries and such, and she could handle the basics, but she wasn’t going to rush to take him to get new things the way Royce had insisted she do with Analie. Maybe after she’d gotten over her horrified initial reaction at Clarisse’s betting pool. Hopefully long enough that he wouldn’t perceive she was buttering him up, or in some way making him think she was preparing him for her to take her fill of him.
Christoph was used to having people react to him weirdly, but having something he definitely feared acting nervous around him was new. He was glad for it. The longer she kept her teeth to herself, the better.
Since she was out of the apartment, he decided it was time to shower. He wondered if he still smelled like a Were. At the moment, he smelled like a locker room. He’d have to figure out how to get at least one other pair of pants. Shower first, figure pants out later.
Though he was curious about Mouse’s room, he slipped into Analie’s instead and used her bathroom. Thankfully she used a scent-free soap, probably to save her keen nose from the perfumed assault it would otherwise have been subjected to.
Once he was clean, Christoph was pleased to find that there was food in the fridge. Good food. Analie’s lessons were paying off. He grabbed a container of meat and veggies and leaned against the counter, eating with his fingers. At least he wouldn’t starve to death. He’d have to ask Analie about making cookies or something.
Though he was still stuck in his dirty sweats, he felt better now that he wasn’t smelling like a gym bag; more confident. He wished he had a shirt. And the collar was embarrassing. Trying to scrub under it had been difficult. He’d tried to snap the leather, but had only succeeded in chafing the back of his neck. Pretty pathetic.
* * *
Ashi did not idle well. He was always a bundle of kinetic energy which he relieved by way of his job. Now he was forced to figure out another way of bleeding it off. He’d been hopping in and out of his closet, doing sets of push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and anything else he could think of to wear himself out. In between sets he hid. Since he was pink, he might even be able to use a punching bag without the risk of ripping it out of the ceiling.
Small comfort.
Sebastian and Thad were some of the few people in the building who weren’t particularly interested in joining the festivities downstairs. Sebastian had fed, and was lounging on the couch with his brother while they watched The Transporter. He was in a slightly better mood than he had been last night, mostly because he’d eaten. Thad was feeling more secure now that some hours had passed, and he was back, safe and sound in his own apartment.
He was getting hungry though.
“Hey, Ashi!” he shouted, not bothering to get up off the couch. “I’m going to