Page 98 of Demons and Debts
I can't help my chuckle and this little roleplay from the other day goes through my mind. I want to ask him about it, but I'm not sure where to start.
He leads me out of my room and down the hall in just my towel and I pull it closer around me.
He brings me to the room he’s sharing with Paris.
‘Where's Paris,’ I ask.
‘He went to Metro ahead of us earlier this morning. Sie left late last night. We’ll meet up with them there today.’
Sie’s gone? He must have been the one who was leaving last night while I was in the pool. Right after we … I frown. What did I expect? Cuddles? Love? What happened may have been a big deal to me, but it was probably just another encounter with an on-call girl to him.
Theo opens a drawer in his bureau, taking out a set of clothes and I recognize my leggings, the ones that I was wearing at the diner that night when I first came here.
‘I kept them just in case,’ he says, handing them to me and turning around.
‘Thanks,’ I say, wondering why he’s acting like a gentleman when a few minutes ago he was talking like he wanted to get me into bed.
I get dressed quickly though, finding my comfy undies in the little pile and a grey tank top that isn’t mine but fits me well enough.
‘You’ll need the right outfits in Metro. I’ll make sure Paris gets you some more clothes when we get there,’ he promises as he looks me over.
He must see something in my face because he gives me a smile.
‘He’ll go through what kinds of things you like with you, ok? He knows what he did wrong last time.’
I nod, relieved that I’m not going to have to throw out another whole closet of clothes.
‘I know you don’t like some fabrics and stuff,’ he says, ‘but you can’t just wear jeans and sneakers. The Iron I’s have a reputation to uphold so you do need to dress the part. We'll make sure it's nothing you can't handle.’
At the reminder that he knows about my medical history now, I look down. ‘When did you find out about …’ I swallow hard.
‘When did I know you’re Autistic?’ His tone is gentle. ‘Only a couple days ago. I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner.’
‘I hide it,’ I whisper.
‘You don’t have to do that here.’
I give a disbelieving scoff. He has no idea and the last thing I want is all of them looking at me like I’m crazy.
‘Was that what last night was about?’ he asks.
I nod. ‘Partly. I — Did you guys make me sign because I’m ...’
‘Different?’
‘A freak.’
He’s in my face as soon as I say the word, making me back up a step. ‘No and don’t you ever say that again about yourself. No one here thinks that, so don’t even think it yourself or I swear I’ll tie you down on my exam table and edge you for so many hours, that every time you hear that word in general conversation afterwards, you’ll break out in a cold sweat.’
Edge me forhours? I mean I know what edging is, but forHOURS? My eyes widen and I swear my underwear is instantly damp even as I worry about his threat. But I also can’t not ask the question that pops into my head.
‘You have an exam table for …?’
He shrugs. ‘You know a little about what I’m into, Miss Mercy. What do you think?’ He smirks. ‘How do you feel about PVC?’
An incredulous giggle explodes from me before I stifle it, my self-effacing thoughts forgotten. ‘You want me to wear a rubber nurse’s uniform, or something?’ I laugh.
Theo’s eyes seem to glow for a split second. ‘Fuck that’d be hot,’ he breathes.
