Page 67 of Gambler's Conceit

I don’t expect to find Caleb and Seven sitting in the large jacuzzi bathtub, bubbles covering the surface of the water. Seven is sitting with his back against Caleb’s front, scowling.

The tiled floor around the tub is wet, like they were splashing around earlier.

“Uh. Am I early?” I ask.

Caleb shakes his head. “No. I needed another pair of hands, though. Can you grab the shampoo and wash Seven’s hair?”

I don’t understand why he needs me to do that when he’s sitting right there, but I’m not against touching Seven.

Seven slides down more in the tub so that his shoulders are under the water, too, and he glowers at me as I approach. “I can do my own hair, Caleb. Or you could do it.”

“If I do it, you’re going to try to leave the tub again,” Caleb says. “You’d think I was attempting to drown you.”

“Yeah, well. It would probably make me cry, and you’d like that,” Seven mutters.

I swallow hard, imagining Seven underwater, my hands on his throat. He’d be completely at my mercy, clawing at my arms for air?—

Fuck.

“Sure. Shampoo.” I find the bottle and pick it up. After a brief consideration, I remove my shoes, socks, and shirt. No need to get everything more wet.

“There’s a small cup over there,” Caleb says, gesturing vaguely. “So you can get his hair wet without risk of drowning.”

“You could both still find a way,” Seven says. But he sighs and looks up at me. “Is this really the kind of shit Caleb has you doing?”

It really is a strange job. I’d be doing this for free, but I’m not going to complain about getting paid for easy things like this. I fill the cup with water and take Seven’s chin to tilt his head back. He closes his eyes as I pour the warm water over his head and get his hair wet.

I notice that Caleb’s arms are tight around Seven’s arms and chest, like he really is keeping Seven in the bathtub with him.

“This is going to get awkward with you in the way,” I say to Caleb.

“It’ll be more awkward if Seven starts thrashing around again,” Caleb answers.

Again.

“Why was he thrashing around?” I ask as I lather the shampoo into his hair. I have to sit on the edge of the tub to do it.

“Because he was trying to drown me,” Seven says, turning his head to glare at Caleb.

My hands still.

Caleb rolls his eyes. “He’s being dramatic. I would hardly stoop to drowning him in the tub if I wanted to kill him.”

My mouth goes dry. I’m torn between wanting to punch Caleb, and the arousal I get from the mere thought of Seven struggling for air.

Shit. I’m not supposed to be a bully.

Caleb brings one of his hands up to Seven’s throat. “Be good for Havoc, pet, or wewillforce you under.”

Seven lets out a low sound as those fingers flex around his neck. “I’m being good,” he protests. “I have been nothing but good since I got into this tub.”

Judging by the water on the floor, the getting into the tub part had been the problem. I go back to massaging the shampoo into Seven’s hair. Did they fight? Did Caleb have to force Seven in? Are they covered in bruises underneath the bubbles? I can’teven see a hint of Seven’s body with how thick the bubble layer is.

“Lucky you,” I say, hoping my voice is steady. “You’re getting a whole spa treatment. Right? I’m the bath attendant now?”

“A spa treatment,” Seven scoffs. “Yeah. It’s just the lap of luxury around here. I get tea, and a spa treatment, and to cuddle in bed. It’s all just dandy.”

“Tea?” I repeat, baffled. I don’t see any mugs in the room, and I can’t imagine drinking hot tea while in a tub.