“No.”
“Why not? I might mean it as an insult. It might be an inference that you’re lazy or big and bulky.”
I made a dismissive chuckle to lighten the mood. “I wouldn’t be offended because I’m not a bed. That’s just ridiculous.”
“Did you ever suck a man’s cock?”
“No!” I shrieked as my hand flew to my chest.
“Are you hideous?”
My cheeks were flaming red and I was losing my patience with him. “What are you trying to say?”
“You wouldn’t get offended if I called you a bed, because you’renota bed. So why would you get offended if someone called you a hideous cocksucker, when you’renot?”
“Those are horrible words.”
“Yet, they’re just words.”
“Words hold power,” I argued.
“True, but only the power you give them.” He moved even closer and was in my personal space now. “Please, try to adapt, Christina. Don’t give away your power so easily.”
“I’m not giving away my power,” I said, mostly to convince myself.
“Yes, you are. You’re allowing me to use my words as weapons against you, and every man will figure out your weakness if you’re not careful.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
He sighed loudly. “Because it’s the only thing I can do to protect you in some small measure.”
“But you won your fight – you could still be my champion, couldn’t you?”
Boulder scoffed again and this time it was a hoarse, pained sound. “A champion with a broken arm? I don’t think so.”
“But I’ve gotten used to you and you’re…”
He waited for me to continue. His gray eyes locked on me. “I’m what?”
“Notentirelybad for an Nman.”
“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said with a laugh that sounded bitter. “You’re not entirely awful yourself… for a Momsi, that is.”
After that, we didn’t speak for more than an hour until a dress was brought to me.
“You need to put this on, and maybe you can do something about your hair too,” Boulder instructed.
I thought about protesting, but the crimson dress was beautiful, like something from an old movie, and I secretly wanted to try it on. I went to the adjacent bathroom and smiled in the bathroom mirror at the sight of the silky material against my skin. Spinning, I watched my reflection in the mirror from all angles. The dress was sleeveless and went all the way to the floor following my natural curves, and with fabric thin enough to reveal the outlines of my half globes on the lower back and the upper front.
I undid my braid and sighed when my hair puffed out in all directions. And then I remembered my roommate, Kya, and how she was always proud of her voluminous hair. My big curly nougat-brown hair would have to do.
“What about shoes?” I asked when I stepped out from the bathroom.
Boulder looked up from the book he was reading and from the way his eyes grew big, I got the feeling that he thought me presentable enough.
He cleared his throat and moved in his seat. “Magni brought those.” He pointed to the floor where two different pairs stood. “They belong to Laura, but maybe they’ll fit you.”
I moved closer and squatted down to look at the shoes. They were like something from a museum and had me smiling with glee. I’d always wanted to try on high-heeled shoes and now was my chance.
