Hunting In the Neon City (Neon City Nights Book 1) by Octavia Hart

Author:Octavia Hart [Hart, Octavia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-03-02T06:00:00+00:00

a lesson in etiquette

I barely greeted her — giving excuses of being sweaty and gross and not being a hugger — and walked past her into the cave.

“Um, we have freshwater stone baths,” Nidori tried.

“That would actually be great,” I said. Despite my attempts to keep up the cool exterior, I was amazed as we got deeper into the cave. Magic light (no smoke) filled the space, and an open grand entrance split into alleys that could easily confuse the most studious spelunker.

“Which way is it?” I asked. I saw Ceylon’s raised eyebrow and bit my tongue, then spat out, “Uh… thanks for greeting us, Nidori. I promise I’ll be more friendly after I’ve showered.”

Something like pride flickered in his eyes. I felt a swell in my chest and stamped it down. I had to focus on the task at hand. People I could only assume were servants came forth and offered me towels, clothing, and directed me down a hallway. I knew I stank of sweat and the forest, and I was more than relieved when I saw the natural bubbly water of the hotspring.

Ceylon brushed past me, peeling off his clothes and walking down the stone steps into the water. I turned bright red and turned away.

“Uh…” I stuttered out as Fabian also walked past me, pulling his shirt off in one fluid motion and tossing it to the side. He laughed lightly as he waded into the water, even as my brain screamed,

Naked! NAKED…! Naked!

The small fountain to the left had about a hundred different salts and lotions and soaps, and Fabian reached for the first one.

“Are you feeling shy, Vida?” he asked without looking up. He put the bottle back and reached for another.

“Uh. Um.” I managed. “No. I just— “

“Nah, it’s okay,” Fabian said. “I’m just used to people seeing me naked. Growing up I had like a bajillion servants in charge of dressing me. There’s nothing inherently sexual about the naked body to me… but I understand the shyness. Like I said about shame… these things take a long time to unlearn, I guess… but hey! I found it!” he said in triumph, dumping pink bubble bath into the water. The room quickly filled with the soothing scent of jasmine and citrus, and bubbles crowded the enormous stone tub.

“Is that better?” he asked, grinning his boyish gap-toothed smile.

“We can turn around if you want,” Ceylon said, his eyes leveling me, “But I have a feeling that isn’t what you want…?”

“I want… I want…” I started. I took a deep breath and let it out slow, and then shrugged out of my bra, pants, and underclothes.

“Vida…” Ceylon breathed.

“I know, I know,” I barked as I walked down the steps, my toes curling in nervousness, “I haven’t had a proper shower in ages and I haven’t exactly — “

“Vida, you’re beautiful,” Fabian said. I quickly looked up at him in surprise. His pupils were blown as he drank me in. I laughed nervously.

“I haven’t even — “ I started.

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