Page 54 of Homebound
He leaned against the wall splaying his legs wider, oblivious of how inherently masculine the pose was.
Despite her simmering frustration mixed with awkwardness, Gemma couldn’t completely stop her eyes from roaming all over him. He had no facial hair. His arms, legs, and torso were lanky and slick and velvety - a huge deviation from the Obu. Gemma could still feel the rough scrape of the beast’s wiry hide.
She shuddered again.
And realized Simon was watching her out of his swirling eyes. His expression hadn’t changed but Gemma knew he noticed, and interpreted her shudder as an aversion to himself.
She wouldn’t explain. Let him draw his conclusions,Mr. Never Assume.
“Afraid I might jump you?” he quietly taunted in his calm, fluid accent.
That deadpan voice of his did it. Gemma’s bottled up temper reached a full boil and exploded out of its containment like a nuclear reaction gone rogue.
“As a matter of fact, I’m not. What are you going to do? I mean, with what? I might’ve chalked it up on the cold, but you aren’t even cold.”
She was no longer embarrassed, uncomfortable, or considerate. He had been subtly yanking her chain since she walked into his cell with that washcloth, and she’d had it.
He remained deadpan. “I think you’re confusing me with the Obu. With the appendage.”
”Yes, he had enough of that for the two of you. Obu’s brain might be the size of a raisin, but heed my advice: don’t ever enter into a pissing contest with them.”
“Rix don’t drink. So we don’t piss.”
“Good to know. Saves you uncomfortable moments at the urinal. ”
“We aren’t that disadvantaged.” He was looking at her strangely.
“It’s okay,” she patted him on the knee, “to be different.”
“Different. Is it an insult to my manhood?”
“An insult on what, again?”
He looked like he wanted to say something but changed his mind.
“Aw, it’s alright, honey,” she cooed with fake sympathy. “No one’s perfect. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have, think about all the positives. You’re tall. You have good hair.”
He made a sound deep in his throat.
She’d be damned if she backed down now, even though for a split second her stomach pinched with something akin to regret. It made no sense but she couldn't lie to herself. She wished he was hung. Just to make things right in the world.
His face an impassive mask, he finally said, “I’ll take my chances at the common showers before I let you sponge-bathe me again and get ideas.”
Gemma was aghast. “You don’t mean that!”
“I do.”
“Forget the manhood issue if you can for a minute. You don’t want to be alone with a bunch of them in the dark basement. Remember the Tarai? I’m sure he’ll use the opportunity to grab you by the neck, or other parts that hurt, and you know what? I won’t be there.”
“I’ll take a hard beating any day over my pride being viciously abused with a sharp tongue.”
The anger went out of Gemma as abruptly as it had flooded her chest, and she was left with a healthy dose of remorse.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t.”
“Please, don’t try going out with the others. It isn’t safe. If something happens to you…”
