Page 15 of Lucky Shot
Turning my attention back to the game, I tap on the rack and scroll through the dresses. When I can’t choose between three, I buy them all. Not that I plan to give them to the mage. Not yet, anyway. Seriously, who knows if I’ll even see him again in the game. It’s just a game. It was a single encounter.
The chances of me meeting up with this pretty mage again are slim. Why does my heart sink at the thought?
SIX
NOAH
I try notto panic when I can’t get the paint off me. I stand under the hot water for far too long and scrub at my chest until I’m sure it should be red. But the white paint doesn’t fall away, only the layer that was caked on does. I watched that flake off and disappear down the drain. But the white? The black and gold and red? That doesn’t go anywhere.
“Okay,” I mutter to myself as I turn off the water and step out of the shower. The mirror is steamed up, but my distorted reflection shows that I’m still very much a painted mess. Except my cock. That’s blessedly paint free. I don’t even dare turn around. Did he paint my ass crack?
Since it’s still early, I step into some sweats and leave my room to track down Azure. He’s sitting on the second deck with a handful of others, so I grab his wrist and tell him I need help.
Catcalls follow us as I drag him toward the rooms. But I don’t care about them or what they think right now. I’m freaking out. Am I going to stay Vegas’ mascot forever?
When my hand hits my door, Azure says, “I thought we weren’t going to fuck.”
His words make me stop short. A second passes and I spin around to face him with wide eyes. “What?”
“You said it wasn’t an invitation.” He gestures at me. “The sunscreen. Is paint?”
Because I’m slightly freaking out, I laugh and shake my head. “No. I just need your help.” His eyes drop to my groin, and I flush. “Fuck’s sake, Azure. Get your mind out of the gutter. I can’t get this fucking paint off.”
“Oh,” he says, and I swear I see him relax a little. Should I be offended?
Turning back to my door, I start the key code over and then push my door open. Being a hockey player means we’re not the least bit modest. There’s no saying how many people I’ve been naked in front of at this point. So I don’t think twice when I drop my pants and step out of them on the way to the bathroom.
I turn the water on again and step inside. Azure stands in the bathroom doorway and watches me with confusion.
Sometimes, he’s a little adorable.
“You going to help from over there?”
Once again, his eyes drop for a second and then bounce back to mine.
“Seriously, I don’t want to fuck. I can’t get this paint off and I’m this close to freaking out.” I pinch my finger and thumb together until there’s barely a breath of space between them.
Azure nods and follows me into the room. He’s still only wearing his swimsuit, so he steps into the shower with me. As usual, his touch is soft when he guides me under the water and his hands move over my back. He scrubs thoroughly and since he doesn’t speak, I assume that means he’s being successful.
That is, until he says, “It’s not going to come off.”
I wince and turn to face him, barely controlled panic making me breathe heavily.
“Didn’t you read the bottles?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Captain Tal said that it’s all safe and that my skin may remain tinged for a while. This is more than tinged, Azure!”
“I don’t suppose most people keep their paint on them all day,” Azure says, his gaze following the paint down my body. “Or are as thoroughly covered as you are.”
My head drops back and I groan. “How long am going to walk around wearing your jersey?”
Azure’s head tips to the side. “I think it’ll fade over the next few days. Water will help. But it’s made with natural dyes. The kind that have been used for centuries. They’re kind of made to last.”
I glare at him, causing Azure to smile. “You look good in my jersey,” he says.
While his tone is as neutral as usual, the glint in his eyes says that he’s making a joke. I shove at him and then realize we’re in my shower and I’m naked. I sigh in exasperation. “Fine. Thanks for trying.”
“Think we should warn the others?” Azure asks as he steps out of my shower. I turn off the water and follow, wrapping a towel around me again and handing Azure a second one.
