Page 10 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
“I saw an opportunity and I took it,” Janik replies. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s late and I’m sure my guest would like to get settled for the night.”
There he goes with that guest bullshit again, but I’ll argue with him about it later.Afterhis mother is gone. She glares at mea moment longer, and I give her one of my fake half-smiles. A far too familiar flash of disdain crosses her face—one I’ve seen enough times from my own mother not to recognize it—but she dips her head in acknowledgement.
“I shall see you in the morning, then.” With that, she spins and walks out the door, her back ramrod straight.
“She’s a delight.”
“She is concerned.”
Right. “Yes, she’s concerned that I’ll distract you from your rebellion against Alik.”
Janik sighs. “Come, I’ll show you to the hygiene room.”
I let him lead me through the living area into a separate room where I pause.
“This is your bedroom.”
“Which is where the hygiene room is.”
I don’t know why I’m feeling weird about this. It’s not like my bathroom isn’t also in my bedroom back in Preska. Maybe because the room smells exactly like Janik. It’s overwhelming…in too good of a way.
“I will leave you to get cleaned up,” he says. “I’ll also find you something else to wear.”
“What’s wrong with what I have on?” Quinn helped me pick out this dress.
Janik scans up and down the length of me. Everywhere his gaze touches along my body tingles. One side of his mouth curls likehe knows exactly how it affects me. I’m annoyed that my core throbs in response.
Bad pussy.
“You look stunning, but I am sure you’d like to be a bit more comfortable. Am I right?”
As annoyed as I am to have to admit it, Janik isn’t wrong. At least the part about wanting to be more comfortable. I’m choosing to ignore his compliment, strictly for the fact he’s only saying it to get under my skin.
“Fine.” I stride across the floor, into the hygiene room, and curb my desire to slam the door behind me. Instead, I close it gently. Of course, there’s no lock on the damn thing. Then again, I don’t want Janik thinking I’m scared or nervous of him or the fact he could walk in at any time. It’ll take a lot more than some cocky jackass to intimidate me.
Intimidate? No. Be acutely aware of? Ugh.
Taking care not to snag or tear it, I unwrap the fabric from around my waist and slip the dress over my head. I fold it neatly and set it on the long vanity.
The mechanics of the cleansing stall are similar to mine, so I easily get the water turned on and set to the perfect temperature. A quick glance around confirms the fact my hair is going to be abused by the lack of proper products, but I’ll make do. I won’t ask Janik to provide me anything special. The only thing I want from him is to take me back to Preska and my friends.
Not that I think he’ll invade my privacy, but I still make quick work of washing up. No need to tempt him to come and see what’s taking me so long. I forego washing my hair by wrappingit in a towel. After I’ve cleaned my face and the rest of me, I grab another drying cloth and wrap it around me. Twice.
I expect to find Janik waiting in the bedroom, but it’s empty. Lying on the bed is the clean clothing he left. There’s a black, sleeveless shirt like the one he’d been wearing and a pair of linen pants I can already tell are going to need the waistband rolled. Even with my curves, they’ll be too big. I’m not keen on not wearing any underwear, but I’m less keen on putting a dirty pair back on. Commando it is.
Just as I’ve slipped the too-big shirt over my head, there’s a knock on the door. Before I can even give them permission to enter, it opens and Janik walks in.
“Excuse me, but maybe you should wait to be told you can come in.”
“It’s my room.”
“So. Do you walk into the room unannounced with every guest you host? Guests who might be naked?”
“I wouldn’t know, since you’re my first. And if I’d have known you were naked, I would have come a few moments earlier.” He gives me that cocky-ass grin again.
“You’re just asking for someone to punch that smug expression off your face, aren’t you?”
“Many have tried and failed.” His nonchalance is infuriating.
