Page 45 of Riv's Sanctuary

Didn’t she have to relieve herself in the cleansing room?

Riv frowned at the rai soaking up the paste, a snarl curling his lips.

Why the phek did he care anyway?

If she wanted to come out, she could come out. He didn’t care, as long as she stayed out of his way and didn’t remind him of her existence.

Lifting the bowl, he was about to put it at his lips when he paused.

Why hadn’t she come out, though?

His frown deepened and he slammed the bowl on the table, almost spilling its contents.

Phek.

She was in his head.

Memory of her body falling against his filled his mind and Riv leaned back against the chair, flexing his fists.

He’d caught her in his arms as if it’d been the most natural thing to do.

It’d been such an alien feeling, holding someone so close, that he still didn’t know what to make of it. Only that it had messed up his thoughts for the greater part of the dark-cycle and for most of the day.

Her body was unbelievably soft. It seemed as if she had no rough edges, only pure softness.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he asked Raxu why on Hudo III did he send this being into his solitude to disrupt it.

He couldn’t even eat a bowl of rai without wondering about her.

She was distracting and he didn’t need distractions.

He’d said it before and he’d say it again for as many times as it took for the universe to listen: he had enough trouble in his life; he didn’t need any more.

Opening his eyes, he looked down into the bowl of rai and sighed heavily.

Phek.

He knew what he was going to do before he even began moving.

Standing, the bowl in hand, he looked down at his tevsi on the floor. Grot blinked up at him, his tail wagging in friendly adoration.

“Stay,” Riv said and the tevsi made a low sound of understanding in his throat.

11

Riv rolled his neck as he stood in front of the door, bowl in hand.

Just what the phek was he doing?

He should turn around, head back to the main room, and eat his rai in peace.

Yet…

Slamming a hand against the locking panel, the door slid open with a hiss.

Wide brown eyes flew to the door and met his immediately.

She was sitting half-way up, as if she’d been resting on the sleeping cushion, and her shoulders stiffened when she saw him standing there.