Page 75 of Rock Giant

“That cos of your long legs?”He was right up by the ceiling, and she could see he had things taped up there, but not the details.Also, it was too high up for him to be planning on depositing her there.

“Not so overlooked up there.The bottom has a similar vibe, but you’re constantly confronted with arrays of feet traipsing past, and I’m not much for being kicked in the head.”

“That happen much to whoever’s down there?”

“No one in their right mind would do that to Spook.”

“’Cause he’s such a sweetie?”

“’Cause he’d a sadistic motherfucker, and he’d make you pay for it.Luthor’s on the other side at the bottom, but if he’s ever slept there, it’s news to me.”

“Him, Xane, and Dani squeeze into one bunk?”

“Nah, that’s a bit too sardine like even for them.They tend to commandeer the back bedroom.Downstairs.Like the one on Bertha the First, if you remember that.”Maybe Luthor would wind up in his bunk tonight, if someone else won the night in the bedroom.

Also, yes, she remembered the back room.She also remembered landing in a tangle of limbs with him on that bed when Bertha bus had decided to masquerade as a sailboat.Okay, that might have possibly been her fault.

Beyond the bunk room at the very back of the bus on the upper floor sat a small room containing U-shaped seating around the edges.A flatscreen occupied one wall, and various paperbacks and projects were jumbled together in the corners.Rock Giant lowered her onto the seat, then shuffled some stuff out of the way.

“Right, let’s take a look at that ankle.”

“Was it really necessary to carry me all the way up here to do that?”

“First aid kit’s up here.Also, wouldn’t mind winning the game.My bunk’s not so bad, but I’d love a decent stretch out.”

Just as long as he wasn’t imagining them sharing it, like, for instance, she was.

“I’ve a Prince Albert piercing,” past Rock Giant said in her head.“Wanna look?”

“Yeah.No.I mean that wouldn’t be very appropriate.”They had only just met.

It wasn’t appropriate now.

“Let’s have a look at this ankle.”He felt around the bone above the top of her shoe.“Can’t feel any...Hang on, what’s this?”He pulled a teasel out from between her skin and her sock.“Try your ankle now?”Jodi put some weight on it.

“I think it might be okay.”

Paul gave his chin a scratch.“Well, while I’m down here.Let’s take a look at those knees, shall we?”

“I’m sure they’re fine.”

He ignored her and raised her trouser legs.Luckily, they were of the wide-legged linen variety so didn’t get stuck on her fat thighs.

Paul pushed out his lower lip as he inspected her wounds.Long fingers gently probing the flesh.“Bruised, and they’re going to be a bit scabby, but you should live.”

“Sure I won’t need an amputation?”

“Nah, think one of these should do the trick.”He pressed his hot lips to her knee.Jodi’s breath caught then released as a squeak.His hand was warm against her calf.His lips pleasingly moist.Cheekily, he slid his hand upwards to the underside of her thigh.

“Paul!”

“Just checking there aren’t any scrapes I missed.”

“No you’re not.”

“Fine, I’m copping a feel.Does it make you happier if I’m honest about it?”

She’d like it if he didn’t present himself as a fucking ginormous ball of temptation.“I think you’d better stop it,” she mouthed, hardly making a sound.She wasn’t going to win any assertiveness awards for that whisper.