Page 16 of Ashes and Lilies
“I like you already,” a perky, feminine voice said as red-tipped, manicured fingers wrapped around my hand in a surprisingly firm grip. My gaze snapped up, locking with Maria’s soft brown eyes. A slight grin touched her pink lips. “I’m Maria; Titus has told me a lot about you.”
I looked at Titus, who, suddenly, was studying the quivering group of hyenas. What in the world had he told her?
“I’m craving a Jack and Coke myself,” Maria continued with a nod. Something had been decided, but I wasn’t sure what. “Just give me one second, and we’ll head out of here.”
“What?” Was she going to take me to a bar?
Without answering, Maria—still naked—released my hand and strolled toward the front door.
Even though it was improper, I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was utterly flawless in every way. My heart sank as my self-confidence plummeted to negative one million.
I’d been subtly doubtful of their chaste lifestyle, but nothing could have made it clearer than this. Damen and Titus had not even blinked in her direction. It was almost as if they didn’t even care that a goddess was prancing around the room.
Or that she was going outside… Was that allowed?
Besides, it was chilly out there.
“Titus…” I inched toward the boys. “Is that okay? Shouldn’t she… get dressed?”
Titus made a confused sound. I glanced at him, wondering if his reaction might change now that he knew. Perhaps he hadn’t realized she was naked before.
But he didn’t appear affected at all. In fact, he and Damen exchanged a bored look.
“Nakedness isn’t that important to us,” he said, and then he and Damen returned to their conversation.
Yes, they were definitely dedicated to their celibacy. This was reassuring.
“Maria,” Titus suddenly called after her. As she stopped and glanced over her shoulder, he placed his palm on my shoulder. “Just take her back to Damen’s. It’s getting late.”
“Um…” I shook my head, my skin flushing. Why was he trying to tell me what to do? I wasn’t a child. Plus, this was no way to impress Maria—and for some reason, I really wanted to. “I’m fine,” I told him.
However, it was sweet that he cared. So I smiled at him.
He and I had come a long way from the old days when I thought he was an axe murderer.
“Thank you, though,” I told him.
“Yeah.” Maria was suddenly at my side. “Thank you,” she said to Titus, grabbing my hand once more. I tried to avert my gaze from her ample bosom—which was difficult seeing as her boobs were eye level for me. My face burned.
“But I don’t need you to babysit us. Until you can make it to a meeting on time, you’ve no right to lecture me. Come on, Bianca,” she said as she began to leave once more, this time dragging me behind her. “Let’s ditch the dead weight.”
I thoughtshe was bluffing when she refused Titus’s order, but apparently, him being the Xing meant little to her, and she proceeded to take me to what appeared to be a high-class drinking establishment.
Either she was brave, or the boys had an inflated sense of self-importance. I suppose time would tell which was right. I hoped it was the former, though, and that some of her confidence could rub off on me.
But while she was quite clearly enjoying her alcoholic beverage and rebuffing the occasional pick-up line from various admirers, I was wallowing in guilt.
Of course, it was my luck that upon my first outing with another female, I was in a less-than-ready state—both mentally and physically.
I frowned into my coffee while rubbing my arm. My clothing had been mussed from the fight, and while I’d tried to brush it off earlier, honestly, I really had been scared when the hyenas had come after me.
“Do you think they hate me now?” I asked, interrupting Maria’s spiel about Titus skipping work for theHello Kittyconvention. To be honest, it sounded rather nice, if a bit irresponsible. But that wasn’t important right now.
Despite Damen’s reassurances, I still couldn’t control my insecurities.
Maria paused her tirade, and focused on me. “I doubt it,” she said, pursing her lips. “I’ve known Titus my whole life. Hate is far from what he is feeling right now.”
“But he was so angry,” I said, blinking back my blurred vision.
