voice was barely a whisper but she knew he'd hear it. "You know."
His hand trailed down her chest, leaving pale suds in its wake. Despite the heat, her nipples hardened from his touch.
"You know it's better if I don't." His eyes flashed under his arched eyebrows. "They like it more if they can sense your fear. It makes it more authentic."
"I know." She sat up on her knees, bracing on the opposite side of the tub as he washed down her sides and over her rear. "Maybe just a little?"
A gasp caught in her throat and her back jerked as he lathered between her legs.
He chuckled. "All right." His hand moved down her thighs then back up to her stomach. "But they're going to get suspicious. You don't want to wear out your usefulness."
He dipped the cloth and wrung out the excess water. "There."
She sank back down to rinse the suds from her body. Then she rose to her feet and stepped out of the tub. "Why don't we just run away?"
Austin shook his head as he draped a towel over her shoulders. "I told you. They're too powerful." He brushed it over her skin, drying down the length of her body. "No matter how fast or far we go, they will eventually find us. Be thankful they let us roam the house during the day instead of chaining us up in the dungeon."
She shrugged out of the towel and walked into the luxurious adjoining bedroom, naked and not caring, as Austin followed behind her. With a sigh, she sat down at the marble topped desk and stared into the golden-framed vanity mirror.
"I'm not sure how much more of this I can take." With quick strokes she smeared foundation over her nose and cheeks.
Austin let out a deep sigh. "Amber. You're stronger than this." He rested his hands on her naked shoulders. "You're a beautiful, strong-willed woman. A warrior in silk and lace." His arm stretched over her as he grabbed a brush.
"Warriors don't wear things like that." She tried to keep her hand steady as she applied bright red paint to her lips.
"Looks are deceiving." He ran the brush through her hair then leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Now let's get you into your dress."
She turned as she stood, and the cool air prickled over her naked body. Austin held the black silky dress open and she stepped into it with shaky legs.
"Sorry."
His hands slid up her body, pulling the dress along her skin. It was beautiful, willowy, with intricate embroidery that accentuated her small, pert breasts. As it brushed over her nipples, a shiver ran up her spine.
"You are nervous." He hooked the straps over her shoulders and stood back, a satisfied smile on his face.
She swallowed and blinked as a tear welled in her eye.
"Oh no, no, no." He pressed his thumb to her face to keep her mascara from running. "Relax."
The word hit her with a gentle wave of calm, washing through her muscles, and rinsing away the black pit in her stomach. Her vision wavered for a moment. Then she smiled back at him. "Thanks."
He rolled his sleeves back down. "Try to have fun." Then he gave her a pat on her ass before opening the giant double doors.
***
Scott left his smoking car and walked down the winding road; the reek of scorched metal and oil followed him, assaulting his keen senses like an accusation. Another reminder that the thing he'd become had no place in normal, post-industrial society. He scowled and fixed his eyes on the curve in the road up ahead.
The bar he'd passed was about a mile back, he guessed, though he hadn't paid close attention. Just enough to register in the back of his mind that the place looked like a shit hole. That was in between the car's groans and thumps, before the noxious smell of it dying.
Most of his meager savings had gone into that car, which had already broken down ten times this month: costing him time, sweat, and more than a few meals worth of his remaining cash reserves. But this time, he doubted he'd be able to fix it. The damned thing seemed intent on going to Hell, and he didn't have much of a choice left: it was time to
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
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Brenda Sinclair
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Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham