Culling

Part II • Chapter I

"Yes. Mr Blackbourne said that I just need to be honest." I answered the second question. As for the first, I looked down at myself and pulled my sweaty shirt away from my body. "I'm all gross. It's bad enough I have to go over there. I'd rather not be disgusting and smelly if I can help it."

Victor was standing on my other side and he smiled down at me. "You could never be disgusting, Princess."

It was still hard for me to get used to them being so kind to me, calling me nicknames, or doing things for me. Sometimes it all seemed surreal.

I started blushing under his scrutiny before what he actually said registered. "Wait. So I am smelly?"

"Just a little bit." Gabriel stated as he smirked at me.

"Gabe!" Victor chastised him as he chopped him on the back of the head. "Don't be mean."

I groaned in frustration and walked into the bathroom. "That's it, I need to wash. He already hates me enough. The last thing I need is to go stink up his office."

Kota peeked his head in after me. "Just let us know when you are done and we'll come in. You'll have time for a bath, Gabriel can still get you ready in less than an hour."

"Ok." I went to a spot at one of the sinks at the other end of the room, washed, and shaved as quick as I could. Despite the time constraints, I still felt that I needed time to soak and mentally prepare myself for my impending meeting with President Hendricks. While I tried to put on a brave face for the boys, the truth was that I was terrified of him.

After I was done, and changed into modest shorts and a t-shirt, I went to the door and let the boys know it was alright to come in.

I should have been prepared for it. Especially considering that I bathed daily with at least three of them at a time, but once again my breath caught as the four of them walked into the room shirtless.

I turned quickly to give them some privacy as three of them, sans Kota, headed directly to the showers.

Oh my god.

Thankfully, or was it regretfully, I managed to be fast enough to give them their privacy.

Kota had stopped behind me and he watched me with a bemused expression. I quickly found myself distracted from his face though, because my nose was now even with an excellent chest. I squeaked and backed up a step in shock.

I was not ever going to get used to this.

"You are still shy?" His mouth had twitched as he asked the question, giving away his amusement. "Most of the men take off their shirts during training."

That was true. I never imagined that I'd be witnessing so many muscular, male chests. My poor mind didn't know how to handle this, yet other men's bodies didn't affect me as much. "It's different. Well, I mean, with the nine of you."

Kota's eyes lost that teasing sparkle and instead changed into something more affectionate. "Yeah, it is. As it should be. I haven't had a chance to talk to you one on one in a while. Are you doing alright?"

I heard Gabriel yell at Luke about something, but my focus was on Kota. "Well, I'm alright. How about you? When you ran into me that night, did you expect that you'd be stuck with me forever?"

He grinned and touched my nose with his pointer finger. "Something like that."

What did he mean by that? "Kota, wha-"

"Later. Get in the bath, go on now." He made a move gesture with his hand indicating towards the tub.

Had he been distracting me so I wouldn't be nervous?