Page 62 of Phantom Flower

Dimitri walked in with a towel wrapped low around his waist, water still dripping down his chest and abs. I yelped and yanked the blanket up to cover myself so fast I almost fell over.

He smirked and walked closer. “Don’t be so shy. I already saw everything.”

My brain short-circuited. Did we -? Did he? I clutched the blanket tighter around my body, heart hammering.

“Y—you—what did you do to me?!” I stuttered.

He went to the big closet on the other side of the room, opened it, and pulled out a pair of black boxers. Then he dropped the towel.

I yelped again and slapped both hands over my eyes. The blanket slipped off my shoulders and fell to the floor. I yelped a third time, scrambled to grab it, and ended up yanking it over my head like a fucking ghost costume.

Oh my god, I was making a complete fool of myself.

I heard his footsteps coming closer. Then he grabbed the corner of the blanket and yanked it down so my face was uncovered again.

“Don’t hide, little fairy,” he said, amused. “You can stare if you want.”

I swallowed hard, face burning. “What—who wants to stare?!”

He smirked, then ripped the blanket completely off me in one smooth pull. I was naked again. I immediately covered my chest and lap with my hands, curling in on myself.

It was not like I had never been seen naked before. I had gone swimming with Marco. Locker rooms at the gym. But this felt completely different.

He stepped in close, grabbed my waist with both hands, and pulled me against him. His skin was still warm and damp from the shower.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

I could barely get words out. My voice came out small and shaky.

“I… I’m fine.”

He watched me while I was still pressed against him, my hands trapped between our bodies. Then he moved his hand over my hair again.

God, why was he so gentle…

His fingers slid through the strands once more, then his grip changed. He grabbed my jaw tight, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to meet his eyes.

The gentleness was gone.

“Next time you go to a party, you tell me. If you go anywhere, you tell me. Do you understand?”

My chest rose and fell fast.

I wanted to defy him at first - tell him he was not my fucking keeper - but he looked scary right now. I was not scared of him exactly. But yesterday still had my stomach in knots. I could still feel those hands on me.

And Dimitri had saved me.

“Okay…” The word came out small.

He did not let go of my jaw yet. “Do you know who drugged you?”

“No.”

He released my face. “Go shower and get dressed. Then come eat.”

He stood, pulled on black pants and a dark shirt, then walked out without looking back.

I exhaled shakily the second the door closed. My legs felt like jelly as I made it to the bathroom. I turned the water scalding hot and scrubbed every inch of skin like I could erase the memory of that guy’s hands.