Page 64 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

Zoe stretched, her back popping. She took her glasses off and rubbed her tired eyes. "Okay, you've convinced me."

Zoe couldn't imagine what Kahil's apartment would look like, but it wasn't the neat space she walked into. It had wooden floors and dark gray walls. Beautiful swords and knives hung on the walls along with art from different time periods. A lot of them were portraits of him and Arslan, and then there was Kerem popping up in a few of the later photos.

"I like it," Zoe said, looking around with a wide smile. "Maybe I can get you to renovate the apartment above the shop sometime."

Kahil suddenly looked bashful at the compliment. "I'd be happy to. I'll have you know I look very good wearing a tool bag."

"You look very good all the time. It's annoying actually," she replied. It was a lie. She loved staring at him. She couldn't help it.

Kahil laughed and opened a door. "The safe is through here."

Zoe expected an office, but what she got was a war room. It was full of weapons of all kinds. Racks of blades and a wall of guns. Kahil shifted a metal toolbox out of the way to reveal a gray steel floor safe.

"If you have all of these weapons sitting out like this, I can't imagine what you keep in the safe," Zoe said, eyes wide.

"Treasure," he teased and took the codex from her. He placed it inside and locked the safe again. "There we go. Out of sight. Now, you can stop worrying about it for the night."

"I don't think that's how it works."

"I'll just have to find a way to distract you," Kahil said, rising to his feet again. He looked her over in a way that told her exactly what he was planning.

Zoe was ashamed of how quickly her lady parts were on board. She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he affected her. He knew anyway.

"Is that so? Are you going to tell me how magical your dick is next?"

Kahil lifted her chin. "You already know how magical it is."

"You got an ego on you. I'll give you that," she scoffed.

"Stop pretending you don't like that about me," he said. He leaned in, and she rose up to meet him. He just laughed without kissing her. "Come along,balim, the steam awaits."

"Tease," she grumbled but still followed him. She didn't know why this annoying man did it for her, but damn did he know how to get her going.

"Look who's talking? I've been neglected for hours," Kahil said, leading her out of the apartment and through the gardens.

"Poor baby," she tsked.

"It's okay. I know how I want you to make it up to me."

Zoe's body went hot all over. "I'm pretty sure you promised me a shoulder massage first."

"And I intend to give it. This way," he said, opening a door for her.

The Order was such a maze. Zoe wondered if she would ever find her way around it. Majority of it was underground, and there were no helpful signs saying where things were.

The air grew warmer, and Zoe knew they had to be getting close. There was a door marked 'Private—See Booking' and Kahil opened the door with a key.

"Ladies first," he said, holding it open for her.

Zoe found herself in a small changing area with benches and hooks for clothes. Linen towels were rolled and waiting for them with bottles of water.

"I haven't been in one of these since I was a kid," Zoe said, kicking off her shoes. "The closest I've gotten is a steam room at a gym with a bunch of sweaty strangers."

"Sounds awful," Kahil replied and pulled off his shirt.

"The company is already better," Zoe said and quickly turned away before he caught her ogling him. She got rid of her clothesand wrapped one of the thin linen towels around herself. She turned as Kahil was bundling his long hair up into a knot.

"Damn," she whispered, looking at the flex of his biceps and at the towel slung around his hips.

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