I tried not to think about how much I wanted to bathe with Alor, but even while I stripped my bed and laid down fresh white sheets and a plush duvet, his post-sex face came to mind.
Anything for you
.
No. This wasn't happening
. It was garbage day today and the bins in the kitchen were full, I charged into the kitchen only to realise I was still buck naked and sweaty.
God, why am I thinking backwards?!
I checked the clock on the wall.
6:55am.
Crap, the truck always came at seven. I didn't have the luxury to get fully dressed and soaked right now, I could throw on a bathrobe. But there was also the hot demon in my bathroom.
Then I heard the lumbering engine of a hulking truck, the throwing down of empty trash bins.
I could avert my eyes from Alor, that would've been easier.
As soon as I slipped through the door into the bathroom, Alor eyed me.
He grinned. "You've caved."
"No," I said without a glance his way, grabbing the bathrobe from behind the door and shrugging into it. "Got to take out the trash."
I caught a glimpse of a damp lock of hair hanging over his eye before shutting him out again. Dammit, I promised myself I wouldn't look! Why did the mere thought of looking at him make my stomach twist?
At a brisk pace, I went back into the kitchen tying the ties around my waist before grabbing both trash bags out of the cupboard and hauling them over my shoulder. The clock read 6:59am and I made for the front door.
When I opened it, it wasn't the hallway of my apartment building anymore. I stiffened mid-step, my bare foot elevated in what could only be described as deep space.
The trash bags fell to my feet, only to topple over the edge of the doorframe down into... nothingness.
I fell back and shrieked, scrambling to slam the door shut. Except I failed, leaving it ajar. Alor shuffled out of my bedroom, making an appearance in nothing but a towel around his waist. "What happened!?"
"You tell me!" I crawled back to where he stood, eyes never leaving the door into open space. "Where the hell are we Alor!"
Alor gave out a small
ahh
when he noticed the door. He didn't seem concerned at first, only peered over the edge scanning the darkness and stars beyond. His eyes darted to the windows around my apartment, assessing."We're in an astral plain."
"Well, how do we get out of the astral plain?" I asked.
He shut the door. "We can't. Someone's brought us here."
When Alor turned back to me, there was something dark behind his expression, almost like he was regretful. Then I remembered C4 tower.
"You got their attention." I accused. Whoever this someone was.
"No," Alor said venomously. "This wasn't how it was supposed to happen."
"Stop being vague!" The weight of everything Alor had done crashed down onto me, and I couldn't hold back anymore. "What are you hiding from me Alor? First you body snatch Ethan, then Jin, say you want to conduct a spell and then you climb up C4 tower for the whole world to see you. Why do all of this?"
Alor grasped both my arms, pulling me against him. There was an earnest but tortured look in his red eyes, like he wanted to say a thousand words in a glance. I couldn't pull away from him.
"Iβ"