Sorry it took so long, hope it's worth it.
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Chapter 8
I feel asleep waiting. And I woke up feeling nasty, in my torn and wrinkled dress with my shoes still on, sprawled out face-down on my bed. Damn it, I was making a habit of waking up to unpleasantness in the ever after. One more reason to get home quicker.
I had no idea if Al was home yet, and while curious as to what the hell had happened last night and actually wanting to hear his side of it, I mostly didn't want to see his dumb demon face again. God, what had he been thinking? Was he really planning on doing it right there in Dali's garden, whether I consented or not?
My head hurt even though I hadn't had anything to drink. I so just didn't want to think about last night. I felt like crap. It was time to test out Al's giant tub. Soaking would definitely improve my outlook on life right now.
I checked my interface out of habit since it seemed to be my little high-tech phone system. Two lights were blinking, but there was no call trying to go through. Pushing buttons almost at random didn't reveal anything I could make sense of, so I decided to ignore it and grabbed my bathroom stuff to take up residence in Al's tub for the foreseeable future.
Not being able to help myself, I first peaked into the library and the workroom. Al wasn't anywhere I could see, and I sure as hell wasn't going to check his bedroom. I retreated into the bathroom with mixed emotions. Damn it. I was confused, and pissed, and hurt. But then maybe I was just dumb for trusting a demon and being surprised when he took advantage. And what an advantage he had taken. I shivered, remembering our time in garden before Newt interrupted. I should have my head examined.
The tub was sunken black marble, and huge, and it took forever to fill. So I had plenty of time to snoop around in Al's bathroom, though it really wasn't that interesting. Anything that looked like a cabinet wouldn't open for me, surprise surprise. Guess I wouldn't be finding out what brand toothpaste Al favors. I had thought enough ahead to pack some bubble bath with my other toiletries, and I poured a few generous caps into the filling tub.
I couldn't get out of my dress quick enough, so I sat on the edge while the tub finished filling, dangling my feet in and sighing at the penetrating warmth of the water and the tickling mounds of bubbles expanding around my ankles. Steam was fogging up the mirrors and the goose bumps I'd gained when I'd undressed were already gone. I eased into the tub, moaning a little as the hot water covered me, feeling like it was seeping into my skin instead of just encasing it. I usually didn't have time to soak in a tub, but damn I needed to make more time for it.
I washed my hair first, just because I swore I could still smell the aroma of some of those night-blooming flowers from Dali's conservatory. With that taken care of though, I leaned back until the water was at my earlobes and just let myself relax. I wasn't going to think about Al or last night or Newt or the Coven or any other bullshit that had been plaguing me these last hard months. I wanted to close my eyes but was afraid I'd fall asleep, so I draped a dripping washcloth over my face instead, breathing in even more steam as if it could purge poisonous thoughts.
"Oh what a splendid idea, last night was rough," Al's cultured British tones tugged me from my reverie. I sat up with a yelp of surprise and indignation, then hunkered back down on second thought, seriously glad I'd thought of the bubble bath.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled, wanting to pull even more bubbles closer to me but knowing that might leave bare patches of coverage for elsewhere.
Al raised an eyebrow at me, his face drawn and tired looking but also managing to look smug. "It's my bathroom, Rachel," he said simply, as if I'd managed to forget that. Even with my scented bubble bath, coconut shampoo, and lemon grass soap, everything still had the whiff of burnt amber, even the water. "And my tub. Scoot over," he added, smiling devilishly as he bent down to pry his boots off.
My mouth dropped open. It was a gigantic tub, there was enough room for ten people if they didn't mind brushing elbows, but I sure as hell wasn't going letting him get in here with me!
But he was planning to, and as I watched him unbutton his coat and drape it over the counter, I thought I might cry. It was just too much again, after last night, not being sure how I really felt about him, and having him betray me like that, and now, part of me really wanting him to get all naked and soapy with me and the other part completely terrified. And pissed. I was still pissed too, enough that my anger was still roiling under every other emotion.
My eyes were on him though, hypnotized as he undressed slowly. His red goat-slitted eyes watching me as I watched him. He undid the buttons of his shirt and slid it off, revealing the perfect muscled chest I'd seen last night. He placed his shirt on the counter as well, his movements slow and casual, but purposeful; we both knew what would be next. My face must have betrayed some of my turmoil, because his hands stopped at his fly, and I forced my eyes up to meet his.
"We need to talk about last night, Rachel. What better way than naked in the tub together?" he grinned, showing white blocky teeth, but his tone was plenty serious.
Before I could argue, he had his pants undone and was working out of them. My gaze was glued to his crotch even though I kept trying to stare over his shoulder or at the bridge of his nose instead. No underwear, but I guess it seemed right that Al would go commando, especially if he had planned last night's little adventure. Fewer clothes to get in the way. His thighs were heavily muscled like the rest of him, and his skin was perfect, unblemished, and as I remembered from last night, a soft contrast over so much unyielding muscle. Al stood completely naked and unapologetically half-hard in front of me, and I was torn between screaming at him to get out and screaming at him to hurry up and get his hot demon ass in the tub. Damn it, this was too much too deal with in the morning. As if agreeing, my stomach grumbled, a not-to-gentle reminder I'd gone straight to the tub and hadn't even thought about breakfast. I was almost out of snacks and had been making use of Al's more mundane kitchen. It wasn't gourmet cuisine, but I didn't think I'd starve while I was stranded here.
But then Al was moving towards the tub, and I felt adrenaline pour into my body. I rose as much as I could without showing my chest, not that he hadn't seen enough last night, pointing an accusing but useless against a naked demon finger in his direction.
"You are not coming in here, get out!" I shouted with much more conviction than I felt. But then if he left, I'd get a view of his backside. I felt myself blushing even as my eyes drifted off his imposing figure to glance at the mirror, showing me a perfect view of Al's tight ass.
Al grinned at my straying gaze and lowered himself into the tub before I could offer further protests. The water sloshed high on my chest, and I sat back down, hoping the bubbles would hold. It pissed me off to think he'd probably seen it all when he'd changed me into a nightgown and too much again last night, but still I wasn't in the mood to give him any better a look, which he'd certainly have if I stormed out of here.
"Stay on your side or you'll walk funny all week," I growled at him, pleased it actually did sound threatening. It's hard to threaten someone when you're blushing from staring at his junk.
An odd look crossed Al's face, some mix of frustration and concern, or so I thought. I didn't have my Ph.D in reading demon facial expressions, yet. "I won't touch you unless you say I can," he said firmly, holding my eyes until I was forced to look away. When I had myself more suitably under control, I glanced back to see him reclining back in the tub, his eyes fluttering shut as he sighed in pleasure.
"I told you not to plenty last night, and you kept at it!" I yelled, not caring how red my face was anymore or if the wetness spilled over the rim of my eyes. So much for control.. "What the hell is your problem?" I continued then jerked back when he moved. But he was only reaching for the bar of soap that had appeared on the edge of the tub when he had moved for it.
"Last night was complicated," Al said, and I forced my gaze away from him as his large hands ran the soap over his chest, building up a thick lather. I could smell the soap from my end of the tub, spicy like cloves but with something else not as sharp but brisker somehow. I breathed in deep, thinking about Al's words but also fascinated by his soap. Did he buy it from a demon soap-maker or make it himself? Order it from reality and pick it up? Did UPS make ever after runs? Mint, it was definitely mint, and for some reason, it did work with the cloves.
"It will keep you safer from Newt," he finally added, and I jerked my eyes back to his.
And apples, I thought, glad I'd finally processed the scent. Damn, if I could smell such individual things now, did that mean I was totally numbed to that pervasive burnt amber stink? I was afraid it did. I wondered if I would smell like it when I came home, and would Ivy and Jenks be too nice to say anything if the smell never quite washed off? Well, maybe not Jenks.
"How?" I asked, not really keeping the disbelief from my voice. I've known he was plenty easy on the eyes since I could look at him without unabated terror. And yeah, so now he smelled good too, but I wasn't going to let that influence me. At least that is what I kept telling myself.
Al's red eyes opened a crack, his face and posture relaxed, his gaze anything but. I waited, and felt chilled for a moment though the water was just a hot as when I'd first gotten in. Neat trick, but it seemed to me demon magic ought to have more such benefits since it was perpetually getting me in trouble. Well okay, maybe it was sometimes just my fault.
Despite the goosebumps, I was about to yell at him to spit it out. But he must have sensed my impatience, or maybe he was just playing with me. If I had to bet, I'd put my money on the latter.
"It's not final yet, but I'll win. Newt was observed using illegitimate aggression to disrupt a mating." He trailed his hands through the bubbles, as if what he was saying was of little importance. But I could still the weight of his gaze, and knew it was in his words as well, no matter how well he hid it. "Not the worst of crimes, but these last five hundred years have escalated it," Al said with a forced chuckle.
"So what happens when—if she loses?" I asked, actually feeling relieved for a moment. Was it worth it if it got Newt off my case? Or would she be even more pissed, and try even worse ways to take me? I had no idea.
"Then the queen bitch pays a hefty fine, to me," Al said with a devilish grin, and I had to stop myself from lunging across the tub and making use of his unclothed state to kick his 'nads somewhere up closer between his ears. Would serve him right. Bastard.
"You did all that for money?" I said, my voice feeling suddenly too hoarse to yell. I knew I shouldn't be surprised, but I was, and that made it even worse, somehow.
"Rachel, your room wasn't free, and as I've said before, you're high maintenance. I have to make a living, and not only for myself now," Al said softly, but I was still livid. I would not let him make me feel guilty. It wasn't like I could help make rent anyway, and he was an ass for bringing it up.
"And Newt cannot simply take you if you're more than my student," Al said matter-of-factly, but my jaw dropped.
"What?" I sputtered, and managed to splash around enough to get bubble all over the place. Al cursed as he wiped the soap from his eyes, and I hope it stung like a son of a bitch. I looked at him, his eyes even redder than usual as he tried to stare back at me without blinking in irritation. "But we aren't!" I yelled, reminding myself once again that storming out simply wasn't an option. Damn it, I needed him to teach me how he makes clothes so damn easily.
"But Rachel, think very hard, my itchy witch. The courts don't know that, and after what was seen in the garden, well, it doesn't hurt for them to assume we've already…"
But I cut him off right there, flinging a hand out as if it could stop his words, but he almost flinched back, more likely in fear of my soap in his eyes than me. "Never going to happen!" I repeated for the-I-don't-know-how-many-times!
"Why not, itchy witch?" Al asked, and his eyes were on mine, serious as death. Double damn.
And suddenly I could quite easily forget about his perfectly beautiful naked body so damn close and only separated from me by water. He was totally serious, as if he didn't get it, and that was a whole new kind of scary for me. "Do you want the long list or the short?" I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest.
Al just sat there, watching me, and waiting. I fiddled with my soap, stalling. It didn't smell as nice to me as Al's did. "You're a manipulative son of a bitch," I said softly, as if I were saying something else entirely. But I needed to say it; hell, I needed to hear it just as much as he did. This was all just getting out of hand, so damn quickly too.
"You're a frickin' familiar slaver. You're mean, petty, spiteful," I said, ignoring his slight growl at this tirade. When you kissed me last night, I was afraid the top of my head was going to come off. But I couldn't say that, of course.
"I have to constantly enforce our agreements with threats. I can trust you with some stuff, but not anywhere near enough to actually relax around you," I said truthfully, watching my hands mound up the bubbles absently instead of daring to watch his face anymore. Damn it, why was this so hard?
"I just don't understand you," I said, taking a breath for the really hard part. "You scared me last night," I finally forced out. But I didn't look up, I didn't want to see his reaction. Damn it, this was supposed to be a relaxing bubble bath.
"Rachel," Al whispered, and I jerked back from the hand he was extending toward my face.
"You said you wouldn't touch me," I hissed accusingly, and his hand dropped. His jaw clenched, his face tight with anger or frustration or both.
And suddenly he was moving, standing up and stepping outside the tub. I gasped a bit, both from the visual he was so thoughtfully providing and concern over the ripple of water that threatened to disturb my protective layer of bubbles.
But it was now or never. I couldn't stand this conversation anymore. It was time to get out. When he turned to grab the towel that had appeared for him, probably intentionally giving me an unadulterated view of his perfect butt, I bolted out of the water and lunged for the ugly face sigil. And like that, bam, I was back in my room, fast as an embarrassed bare-ass witch. I threw on some clothes, not really thinking about what I was wearing. I had much more serious things to consider. Like what the hell was I going to do about Al…and why the hell was my inbox full?
I searched high and low and have finally found some more plot. yay
And you all can thank VinylVictory for the fact that Al got nekkid too. Wasn't my original idea, but soooo much better this way!
By the way, for anyone curious, Al's soap is real and delicious. It's made by Lush and it's called "Demon in the Dark". Really, it's not just the name, when I sniffed it in the store, I could totally see Al using it. And it's green =) I'm so getting some next time I'm there.