Page 57 of An Empress of Fire & Steel

“What have I told you about being mean? We are rooming together tonight. People who share rooms together should never be aggressive towards one another. It’s impolite.”

“And barging into an occupied room isn’t?” She pulled a towel from the railing bolted through a wooden panel beside her. “Please, turn around,” she said. She stood and placed the towel out, blocking Torin’s view of her. She jumped out the tub and wrapped the fluffy towel around her body, all flushed.

And as she looked up, to her surprise, Torin had turned around, giving her some privacy. However, her pounding steps in his direction gave him the heads up that she was directly in front of him, and he turned to face her again.

“We are not sharing the same room.” She was unfaltering in her words.

He laughed, looking at the drips from her wet hair running down her arms and face. “I think you will find that we are. We shared a horse, and a few snacks on the way here. What’s sharing a bed with your favourite guard?”

“This is not a joke, Torin.” Her eyes widened. “We can’t share a room.” Her voice was small but stern.

“Why? What’s the matter?” A twitch flickered under his eye. “Are you scared you are going to want to say my favourite two words?” His smug smile relaxed his features, making him look younger.

Yes.

“No,” she croaked. “I am not scared of that. I know I won’t say them.”

He pushed himself off of the beam. “I think that is what you are scared of.” He closed the gap between them. “Besides, it was either me or one of the other two. We could only get two rooms. The third is for the innkeeper and her husband, unless you want to sleep with them?”

Why was there a shortage of everything around here?

“So I don’t need to share with you.” Her chin lifted. “I choose…Magin.”

“Really?” His thick neck bobbed as he swallowed. “Because I can go and get him for you now if you’d like.”

She knew he was calling her bluff. There was no way he would let anyone else sleep in the same room as her. And Torin was the only one she really knew. She at least felt comfortable enough around him to be herself. She let out a sharp exhale. “You drive me insane.”

“I think you like it, angel.” He rolled his lip between his teeth.

“There is only one bed,” she acknowledged, completely ignoring his pet name for her. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I will make room for you on it.” His infuriatingly cute dimple appeared on his right cheek this time.

She wrinkled her nose in irritation. “Turn around,” she said, sulking. “I need to get dressed.”

He let out a lazy laugh, but he did as he was told for once.

Heading to the bed, she pulled the longest nightgown that she had from her satchel. It was the only nightgown of suitable length that she had packed from the tower, knowing that when sleeping rough in the forest, she would be wearing her travelling clothes to keep her warm.

She paused.

But that was not the only nightgown that she had brought for the Amethyst Palace. She had packed much more fashionable pieces, knowing she would be at the capital of witches. She had been in Huntswood, after all.

And if Torin wanted to keep on playing this dangerous game—this enticing little game—maybe she should play along for a little while.

“Did you bring the burgundy dress?” Torin asked, dripping in sensual tones as he faced the wall. “You can change into that if you like.”

As she glanced over her shoulder at him, he had strapped his hands over his chest; the muscles of his back threatened to burst his tunic.

Her eyes burned into his back like her flames were licking him. “If you mention that bloody dress one more time, I will strangle you with it,” she promised.

“I always knew you had a kink,” he purred.

She ignored him and pulled out another nightgown, one that was cut from expensive emerald satin with thick lace straps that travelled into the plunged neckline. With her chest heaving, she placed it over her arms and it slid into place on her body. The material hugged the curve of her breasts and then hung loose around her hips. The hem came down to her mid-thigh, and she was sure it was bought from the daring section of the Huntswood markets.

Oh Gods, how did she think packing this was a good idea? She had thought she would be alone in these situations, not sharing a small room with Torin Blacksteel. He, however, had strolled in here so confidently, with the audacity to say that she couldn’t handle sharing a room with him because she was scared to admit that she wanted to kiss him.

Like she wouldn’t have the restraint.

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