Page 3 of Sunken Empire

Zale tries to hide his smile as he points to the door on the other side of the room. I march past them, and Zephyr chuckles under his breath. His tattoos move as though they are trying to come alive when he lightly skims his hand down my arm. Goosebumps break out over my skin. As tempting as it is to lean into his touch, I am stark ass naked in a room with three very sexy males. Things could get very ugly or very delicious, very fast.

Down girl, I chide myself. You more than likely made a fool of yourself last night. Just keep walking. So, I do.

Following Zale's instruction leads me straight to the bathroom. I shut the door and lean against it for a second. Shaking my head, I plop it down into my hand. I cannot believe I just did that. Taking another deep breath, I move over to the sink. In the mirror above it, I finally catch my first glimpse of myself. I look like death warmed over. My hair sticks out in random spikes around what looks like bird nests. Something catches my eye. Reaching up, I yank a piece of grass out of my hair.

What in the hell?

Ok, maybe I don't want to know exactly what happened last night. I use my fingers to splay out the dress in my hand. It's soaking wet.

And it just keeps getting better and better.

Staring at the ceiling, I let my eyelids drift closed while trying to ignore the embarrassment and pounding in my skull.

A knock at the door has me flinching right before Zale's striking green eyes and blonde head peeks around a crack he makes. I watch, fascinated, as some of his beaded braids fall over his shoulder. Trying to cover myself with the wet scrap of fabric seems futile, so I give up, letting it drop with a splat to the floor.

He smiles as he ventures the rest of the way into the room. "I brought you a few things."

Coming to stand directly beside me, he sets a folded dress on the counter before sitting a glass beside it and confessing, "This is all we have for you to wear right now."

Zephyr pipes up from outside the door, "I can give you one of my shirts if the dress doesn't fit."

I know it’s him because the tone doesn’t hold the frustration Zanthus expressed moments ago.

"And here I was beginning to think none of you owned a shirt. Thanks for ruining that image," I joke.

Zale's face says he's happy with my teasing of his brother. "Seriously, if it doesn't fit, we can find you something else."

"Well, I guess we should find out," I say, carefully removing it from the counter. My breath catches as it unfolds. The purple material is soft, unlike anything I've ever felt before. When the light catches on it, the fabric changes colors like scales on a fish.

"This is beautiful," I tell him. "Thank you."

He nods his head, and I go to slide the dress up my legs. Of course, my foot catches on the hem and sends me tumbling right into Zale's arms where we meet with an oomph from me.

I glance up to his no longer amused face. He flicks his eyes down to my lips and there's an undeniable hunger there. I know in that moment that he's going to kiss me, and I fully intend to let him.

That's when the door flings open.

"What the hell?"

I jump away from Zale like I was just zapped. A very pissed of Zanthus stands with his arms crossed in the doorway and Zephyr behind him, amusement dancing in those golden eyes.

"It was an accident. I fell," I snap, trying to cover myself with my arms.

Zephyr is full-on cackling at his back with his brown hair swinging, but Zanthus' face never changes. I retrieve the wet mess of my dress off the floor and chuck it at him.

"It's none of your business anyways. Now get out!"

The shirt smacks him dead in the chest, and I see water splatter in every direction. He growls at me and makes a move to come into the room, but Zale stops him one step in. He shoves him back out before turning around to face me. "Dress and drink that. We'll talk when you come out."

"What is it?" I ask as he grabs the door.

He grins at me. "Just a small concoction of herbs. It'll help with the headache."

"Thank you," I tell him.

Still smiling, he shuts the door. I hear the three of them on the other side having a heated discussion.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time, Rubi?" I ask my reflection.

---