Page 52 of The Female

His eyes dart toward my still-wet hair, and I fiddle with the strands before meeting his eye and dipping my chin. It was hard not to notice them. Gray installed a whole new shelf and filled it with more products than I think I’ll ever need.

That’s part of the reason I was late for this meal in the first place. I couldn’t stop myself from smelling and testing everything. The minty shampoo is my favorite, and even now I can still smell subtle hints of it.

I’m sure Gray and Silas can, too.

Their senses are a thousand times better than mine, and I assume if I’m able to smell, see, or hear something, so can they. That’s why I’ve taken to using the toilet in the bathroom hidden in the farthest corner of the house, and I run the sink the entire time. I’m sure they know exactly what I’m doing, but I’d rather make it obvious by running the water than have them overhear anything private.

“I also saw all the lotions you left on the sink,” I say.

Gray straightens his spine, the man looking awfully pleased with himself. I can’t help but laugh, and he squeezes my thigh before leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss to my cheek.

I clear my throat, hating myself for the way I know my face is beet red right now.

12

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CHARLOTTE

“CHARLIE!” GRAY SHOUTS, barreling into my room.

I shriek, jumping a good foot in the air and dropping the candy I snuck out of my office earlier. The hard, fruity balls fall to the floor and scatter, and I drop to my knees and begin frantically grabbing at them.

Gray’s by my side in seconds, his position matching mine as he helps to pick them up.

The fact that he pops a few into his mouth doesn’t go unnoticed by me, but I pretend I don’t see. He’s the one who bought the candy, so it’s not as if I can get angry with him for eating some of it.

“Sorry, my female,” he says between chews. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I shoot him a playful glare. Knocking would probably be an excellent way to prevent that.

My lips purse as I stand and shove as much candy as possible into the small package they fell from. Gray’s been extra happy today, seeking me out every hour or so to check how my day is going.

He did it even when I was studying with Rock, much to the shadow’s amusement. I found it annoying, but Rock was choking back laughter every time Gray interrupted his teaching.

Today was supposed to be my first official day of tutoring, and instead of learning anything, I spent the entire time flushed and on edge. Rock has spent the past three days testing me on all the core subjects, and after much deliberation, we’ve decided to go ahead and start from the beginning.

My reading comprehension is fine, but I’m lacking in pretty much everything else. Math feels entirely foreign, and science and history is no better.

Rock hasn’t once made me feel bad for my lack of knowledge, and he even went out of his way to scratch out the age ranges on the workbooks he purchased and gave me this morning. I appreciate it and was more than a little excited to jump in head-first.

Until Gray ruined it.

I should’ve known better than to think I’d find sanctuary in my bedroom.

Gray ignores my annoyance as he drops my candy into its packaging and steps back. He looks me up and down with glee, his face twitching as he takes in my current outfit. I debated whether or not showing so much skin was a good idea, but the sweltering heat made that decision for me.

I made sure to throw on one of my more modest sports bras, the fabric tight around my chest and flattening my breasts in an unattractive fashion. The spandex shorts don’t leave much to the imagination, but considering Gray’s an incubus, I doubt the shape of a woman’s butt is hardly a new sight for him.

“It took you long enough to finish with Rock. I was going to take you earlier, but Silas told me it would be better to wait until after your tutoring,” Gray says, seemingly not realizing I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Take me? I gulp, reassuring myself that he doesn’t mean what I think he means. He promised he wouldn’t take me until I wanted it.

Shoving away my fear, I lift my chin and meet his eye. “Take me?”

Gray blinks before shaking his head, seemingly eager to dispel my worry.

“No, not like that. Take you out,” he explains with a smile.

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