Wait, who just said that?
He released one of her wrists to yank his fingers violently through his speckled hair. “God. Damn. Yes. I mean no, I don’t mind. Yes, you should bite me. As many times as you want.” He thrust a stiffened finger under her nose. “We’re going to continue this very soon. Got that, Olivia?”
She nodded drunkenly, staring at the finger. He kissed her again, swiftly and hard, and then with a growl he shoved away from her and the wall and strode out of the cabin.
Left to her own devices, her legs wouldn’t support her. She slid into a shaking heap. Astonished euphoria sang a chorus and tap-danced in her veins.
Julian had been right. This had, indeed, turned into an interesting evening.
Fucking fuckers.
She clapped both hands over her face and burst out laughing. It sounded hysterical even to her own ears.
Slowly sanity set in, along with a clash of conflicting emotions that ricocheted like brightly colored billiard balls around in her head. She shoved to her feet and located Sebastian’s bathroom. By general standards it was miniscule, just a small basin, toilet and a shower, but it was polished clean and it had the huge advantage of being private.
Or so she thought.
As she splashed cold water on her face, Phaedra solidified beside her. The Djinn announced, “I am ready for small talk now.”
Olivia jerked upright and swiped at her dripping chin with the back of one hand. “What? No!”
Phaedra gave her an exasperated look and began to dematerialize.
“Phaedra, I’m sorry. Hold on a minute.” As the Djinn paused, her form half-insubstantial, Olivia patted her face dry with Sebastian’s hand towel. The cloth smelled freshly laundered. She folded it neatly on the rail and turned to Phaedra. “I’m rattled and preoccupied, and you startled me. I really didn’t mean to cut you off like that. I wanted to thank you, not only for what you did earlier outside, but for agreeing to surround Sebastian’s room with a barrier while Julian was on the ship.”
Phaedra considered her with narrowed eyes. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Khalil, and, in some measure, for Grace.”
She took a steadying breath, and reached for patience and calm. “Nevertheless,” she said quietly. “You helped me quite a bit this evening, and I am grateful. I know that you are not supposed to bargain for favors on this trip, but I’m offering one to you anyway. And if you ever need a friend, I hope you might consider me.”
“I don’t need friends,” said Phaedra.
Unsurprised, she nodded. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”
“Why did you kiss him?” Phaedra asked abruptly.
Well, that was like a dash of cold water in the face. She threw her hands up in the air. “I can’t believe you were watching us!”
The Djinn twitched her shoulders in a shrug. “Of course, I was watching. What else would I be doing? This trip is boring.”
Olivia’s mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidd—”
But Phaedra dissipated before she could finish the sentence.
As Olivia made her way to the cabin she shared with Dendera, voices echoed along the corridors. From the sound of things, everyone had returned successfully. Exhaustion had replaced the euphoria, and she took advantage of the privacy to get ready for bed quickly. She was just slipping into her bunk when Dendera arrived.
“What a lot of fuss over nothing,” Dendera said. The other symbologist looked as tired as Olivia felt. “At least we will be crossing over a few hours later in the morning.”
“Thank God,” she said.
Dendera didn’t appear to welcome chitchat, and Olivia certainly wasn’t in the mood. Pulling the covers up to her chin, she curled on her side. Immediately she was immersed in the memory of Sebastian’s body moving over hers and the sensation of his tongue in her mouth. Warmth filled her body, and it was both hungry and languid.
She thought she would never fall asleep, but then, suddenly, she did.