Part 5 (2/2)

When I was sure they weren't going to rip each other's head off, I headed back into the bathroom. I went straight for the tub again. It was still full of water. I put my hand in. The water was still warm. How the h.e.l.l hot had Pallo made the first bath? Was he trying to save me or burn me alive? At this stage of the game I didn't care. I just wanted to get cleaned up and go home.

Chapter 8.

After I finished scrubbing away the day's festivities, I cracked the bathroom door open and peered into the bedroom. The bedding had been changed to all black. I had to marvel at the speed and efficiency of Pallo's housekeeping staff. I had yet to see a one of them, and everything was always spotless. I wasn't sure if I was impressed or spooked. Either way it was clean and tidy again. No trace of what had occurred was to be found.

I had no clean clothes with me, so I wrapped up in a red towel that covered all of me, not that it mattered--I had just given the performance of a lifetime. I felt sick to my stomach thinking about it again. I felt cheap. I hated that piece of me that wasn't strong enough to fight the spell. I was relieved that it was Caleb that it directed my l.u.s.t to. I would have preferred Pallo, but I was happy that it wasn't something like one of those disgusting trolls that had attacked me. I shuddered at the thought of having s.e.x with them, and stepped out into the room.

”Feeling better?” Pallo's voice came from my right. I jumped, startled by his presence.

He was leaning against the wall, on the other side of the bathroom door. If I didn't know any better I would say he was hiding there. He had changed his clothes and was practically camouflaged with the bedroom decor. I smiled at the thought of needing a search party to locate a vamp in his own room. Calling that in would be hilarious--help, I've lost Pallo. His monochromaticness has done him in. I laughed and shook the thought from my head.

Pallo's hair was pulled back tightly from his face. The loss of his soft brown curls framing his face made him look hard--made him look villainous. I had half a mind to run back into the bathroom and lock the door. I knew he could break it down without really trying, so it seemed silly to bother. I edged out of the doorway, making sure I moved away from him. His eyes dropped to the floor.

”I have no plans to harm you,” he said, softly.

I let out a small snort. The phrase ”could have fooled me” came to my head. I took another step back from him. ”I just want to go home.” My voice sounded mousy.

Pallo kept his eyes lowered. I knew he was trying not to stare at me only wearing a towel. I was happy to know he was trying to be polite, but I didn't really see the point. He had just watched me do another guy on his bed. Short of charging admission, I wasn't sure how much more a show I could have put on in front of him. Mortified didn't even come close to describing how I felt.

”I will see to it you get home safely,” he said. I heard a but coming on--”I would like to offer you one thing first.”

I watched him skeptically, wanting to ask what the condition was, but I wasn't sure I really wanted to know. He didn't wait for a response.

”I would like to offer you my friends.h.i.+p,” he said, raising his eyes to meet mine.

I couldn't believe my ears. This guy was offering me his friends.h.i.+p. Was he just waiting to see how I'd react?

”Why?” I asked, waiting for the loophole.

”Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro,” he said, his voice wrapping around me, forcing to me to concentrate on breathing again.

I shook my head, knowing I had to look as puzzled as I felt.

”I said, he who finds a friend, finds a treasure.”

I thought I'd been on the verge of melting before I knew what he was talking about. Now, I was sure I'd to faint if he kept it up. Pa.s.sing out by way of s.e.xy talk wasn't how I wanted to go down. I smiled and tried to compose myself. ”Pallo, I don't think this is such a good idea.”

”Gwyneth, I would rather have you as a friend than not at all.”

My mind raced to the various visions of the two of us I had been having. I got the feeling that there was more to the story than Pallo was letting on to. I also got the feeling that his offering to be strictly friends was a big deal. It gave me the impression that he didn't offer his friends.h.i.+p to anyone, and that I should take him up on it.

”Strictly friends?” I asked, secretly hoping he'd say no. I didn't want to be just friends with him.

”If the only thing you wish from me is friends.h.i.+p, then yes. Is that all you wish from me?”

I took a step towards him. ”Yes.” I was lying through my teeth, and I think he picked up on it. A devilish grin swept over his face. He looked like a kid in candy store--lacking the innocence, of course. His dark brown eyes twinkled. His mouth pulled into a strong, wide smile.

He was enough to make a gal go weak in the knees. Problem was--he knew it. I rolled my eyes and started to walk away.

”Here,” he said, holding out an arm full of clothes to me.

”What are those for?”

”Are you planning on wearing my towel home?” he asked.

I blushed. ”No, I'm not. But where did you get all of those?”

I counted at least three different dresses. He gave me a wicked little grin. I smacked myself on the forehead lightly. ”Don't tell me you keep women's clothing lying around the place.” I had to laugh. The thought of him buying women's clothes was just too funny. Sure, it bordered on the weird, but what with Pallo didn't?

His mood was warming--it was good. ”One can never be too prepared,” he said, with the slightest hint of laughter in his voice.

I took the clothes and walked to the bed, laying them out on it. There were actually five dresses there. Why was I not surprised that there wasn't much to them? Three of them were black, one was red, and one was white. They looked like they were all made of spandex. I grabbed the red one. It had the most material to it ... and that wasn't saying much. I turned and looked at Pallo. He just stood there grinning at me.

”Umm, Pallo, are you going to watch me get dressed? Friends don't really do that.”

He released a small sigh. ”It appears that we travel in very different circles. Very different indeed.”

”Pallo,” I said, making my voice sound stern. All I really wanted to do was bust out laughing. Encouraging his bad boy behavior seemed unwise, so I didn't.

He nodded, and I watched him leave the room, then s.n.a.t.c.hed up the dress. It looked two sizes smaller than what I normally wore--probably a size four.

I let the towel fall to the floor as I pulled the dress over my head. Something brushed over my breast lightly as I yanked the dress down. I let out a small gasp and tried to hide the fact that it had excited me.

Pallo was standing beside me holding a little red piece of material close to my body. I glared at him.

”I thought you said just friends? Do we have to go over the ground rules?” I was mad mostly because I liked it.

He leaned close to me. ”If you would rather not have this, I will go.” He pushed the material at me.

I took it and looked at it. It was a thong. ”You've got to be kidding me!”

He started to take it back. ”If you would rather go without?”

I s.n.a.t.c.hed it back. ”NO!”

Pallo laughed and turned. He vanished from the room. I was getting sick of the whole popping in and out routine. I hoped I'd get used to it, doubted it though. Grown men materializing from thin air might be one of those things that one can never actually prepare for.

I put the thong on and walked back into the bathroom to look in the mirror. I saw my reflection and was shocked. I looked like a hooker. I had no bra on, so my nipples were visible beneath the skin tight material. The dress barely covered my b.u.t.t. If I bent over I knew I'd flash anyone around me. My hair was almost as long as the darn thing. Going 'G.o.diva' would have covered more than the d.a.m.n dress did. I had to laugh. I had never in a million years thought I'd wear anything like this--maybe for Halloween.

I did my best to adjust myself, and headed out of the room. Pallo was standing in the doorway with Caleb. I stopped and waited for the fireworks to begin.

”I said that I would see to it that you made it home safely,” Pallo said, looking at me but gesturing to Caleb.

My gut clenched. I wasn't ready to be locked in a car with Caleb. I didn't think I could control myself around him. ”Thanks, but no way! I've had enough excitement for one night. Besides, I brought my own car,” I added, hoping this would free me in some way.

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