Page 22 of January Bell

“Yes,” I tell him. “I have no idea how to work this thing.”

“That is alright,” he says. “You are quite adorable when you don’t know how something works and you need my help.”

I nearly growl in frustration, but instead I just grind my teeth. I don’t want him pissed off at me if he’s actually going to help me wash my hair. I have a delicate scalp, much to the annoyance of every hairstylist I’ve ever been to.

“You have to be really careful not to pull my hair,” I tell him quickly. “I hate to be a baby, but…” I trail off, staring up at him with large eyes, feeling ridiculous.

“My Lily, I think you will be shocked at how careful I can be and how gentle I will be in every way with you.” A tentative smile stretches across his face, and I’m surprised to feel an answering smile of my own. “And I do not think you are a baby,” he says very seriously. “You’re clearly very much a full-grown adult human female.”

I snort at that because I don’t think anyone’s ever told me that I was a full-grown adult human female before, and they’ve certainly never said it in such a sincere way.

Zan points to the strange, short-backed chair nestled against the wall, and I sit down in it, my heart beating faster with anticipation of his touch.

“Your face is all scrunched up again, like you’re upset with me,” he says gently. “Are you really this afraid that I will hurt you?”

He sounds genuinely concerned, and guilt washes through me, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

“No, I don’t think that you’re going to hurt me.” I try not to say the rest of the thought, but thanks to the goddamn truth serum, it comes out anyway. “I’m worried it’s going to feel too good.”

I’ve been around him so long now that I’m used to how huge he is, but now that we’re in this small, strange alien dome, I’m all too aware of just how huge he is—the sheer breadth of his chest, his height, the fact that his wings nearly touch the sides.

“Fine,” I say when he doesn’t respond, simply humming under his breath, pressing the corner of the translucent panel, where it slides away with a hiss. I cross my arms over my chest and squeeze my eyes shut. “Let’s get this over with.”