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He combed through it with his fingers as if to confirm. His eyes danced with barely contained humor. “Your skills of observation astound me. Anything else to add?”
Fuck. You are beautiful. It’s actually not fair, and I can’t get myself to turn around.
My lips moved like stiff rubber, but I managed to speak. “No. Where are your clothes?”
“Bottom right drawer of the dresser.” His gaze dipped to my lips for a brief second.
Heart in my throat, body thrumming with the overwhelming force pulling me to him, I swiveled on my heel and strode out.
I jerked the drawer open, and sure enough, a lump of unfamiliar clothing lay rolled up beside my pajamas. “Godsdammit,” I muttered and stalked back to the bathroom. I didn’t even pause to hand it to him and just tossed the clothes at his feet.
He wouldn’t get the satisfaction of seeing me drool over him twice. Reinforcing my inner steel wall was paramount. Every time Razai warmed up to me and eased into my comfort zone, it was more likely that I’d slip up.
Again, I thought. Slip up again.
And for some reason, I doubted this would be the last time. I was in big fucking trouble. Wasn’t I?
Chapter Forty
Azra’s stern warnings echoed in my head as I turned on the TV. The newscast clamored to life to a reporter talking about a skirmish between Demonic and Divine forces on Barrier Island. Her reports claimed foul play over trade, resulting in a fight. Five Divine dead, seven injured. No reports on Demonic casualties. Her tone was scathing, warning of the dangers of getting too friendly with the Demon races.
I sighed and shut it off just as Razai joined me on the couch. He plopped down beside me and propped his legs on my lap, leaning back.
“Do I look like a footstool?” I stared at the long, muscular calves resting on my thighs.
The news distracted me, though. Visuals of the explosions and flashes of elemental magic on the island coast captivated me.
He whistled. “Tension, tension. I wonder how long it will take for a war to be declared. Those ‘fights’ have been happening too often.”
“You sound jaded,” I said. “Thought that was my role.”
“Have you realized that it’s always the Demons they’re blaming?” One brow quirked up with heavy insinuation.
Carefully, I replied, “Yes. Because they likely are to blame.” There. That was a safe reply that any Divine citizen would give.
“You don’t believe that,” he pressed.
“You’re not in my head, Razai.”
“So, you’re saying that every single time there’s an attack, it’s always the fault of the Demons? Is that statistically sound?”
“Well, no, but they report—”
“What makes us look and feel better,” he finished with a bubbly grin.
I shut my mouth. He’s not wrong. But probably safer for me to let him say those things. Not me.
He crossed his ankles, and I absently rested my hands on his shins. “What else are you thinking about?” he asked.
Time to change the subject. “All the victims may have been buying stimulants.”
“That’s a fair suspicion. Think Sydni will fess up?”
“I don’t know her. She’s the one who asked to talk to me, so I’m hoping she has something of value to say.”
“Tell me something about yourself,” he said suddenly. “And don’t stiffen up like that.”
Damn
