Page 41 of Lost and Stolen Gods
This was my room too now, and he’d have to deal with it. My inner pep talk helped to inflate my bravado, leaving me ready for whatever confrontation was to come.
I opened the door to my quarters to find that Araz was back.
And he was naked.
Chapter 16
HOLY AUBERGINE BATMAN
Naked Araz was a vision. I think I forgot how to breathe for a moment, and then my face was on fire, and I might have dropped the basket, all prompting him to turn to face me and assault my eyes with his…thing. Big thing. Huge thing.
I snapped them closed. “What are you doing? Put some clothes on.”
“Maybe knock before entering my room,” he snapped.
“Our room. This isourroom now.”
The rustle of fabric gave me hope.
“You can open your eyes now, or don’t. I don’t care.”
I risked a peek, and thankfully he’d pulled on some pants. His chest was still on display, though, but I got the feeling that was going to be the status quo with him. I’d just have to get used to the sight of his hardpectorals and cobbled abs, and I was not tracing the copper tattoos that ran across his pecs, down his washboard abs and into the waistband of his pants to meet the monster hiding there. Nope. Because he was an asshole, and the last thing I wanted to do was find him attractive because what kind of sick bitch would that make me?
I set my basket of clothes by the wardrobe and pulled it open.
“What are you doing?” he demanded. “I thought I made it clear for you not to touch my things.”
“The wardrobe?”
“Yes. It’smine.”
“Is it? Is it really? Or does it belong to the barracks?”
His eyes narrowed. “It containsmyclothes.”
“The clothes that you prefernotto wear?”
The tick in his jaw was a warning that I should probably heed. “Don’t push me, mortal,” he growled.
Heat flooded my body. “Or what?” I stalked toward him, trembling with anger as I recalled how he’d treated me mere hours ago. “What are you going to do, Araz? Strangle me and threaten me again? Go for it. It won’t change the fact that we’re stuck together. You don’t want to cook for me, or get my clothes, or share a bed, that’s fine, but this is my room too, and Iwillmake myself comfortable, and if you have a problem with that, you can kiss my ass.”
His gaze dropped to my hips, eyes narrowing speculatively, and I wanted to kick myself for mentioning my ass. But then his attention was back on my face, expression stony and giving nothing away.
The heat of anger fizzled out, leaving me drained and tired. I wanted this day over. “Look. I’m not asking you for anything just…let me put my clothes away and get some sleep. Please.”
He stared at me for several beats. Long enough to make my skin itch, and it was a relief when he turned away with a derisive snort muttering something under his breath that sounded likeyou have no idea.
With his back turned, I felt free to start unloading my items.
There were several free shelves in the armoire, so I claimed them, then grabbed the bathroom stuff and headed for the washroom.
The tiffin sat on the desk where I’d left it. Had he even looked at it?
“I made food if you’re hungry.” I indicated the tiffin.
He stared at me. “You cooked?”
“Yeah, Chaya and Keyton taught me. I ate already but brought you some.”
