Page 31 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“Ahh!”she cried, trying to roll away.

“No, no—hold still!”Lupinsnapped, striding over with a hose in his hands.“Youmusthold still soIcan get the contents of the pool off of you.It’sabsolutely essential to remove every last trace or the nanites will keep on working and we don’t want that.Wecan’t let them go too far.”

The icy water struck her again, pelting her breasts…her stomach…her legs.Noellecried out and tried to scramble away, but her limbs were trembling and useless.

“Come now, don’t be such a baby,”Lupinchided, as if she were just being fussy about a cold shower instead of being power-washed after being mauled by a monster.“Onyour feet now,” he chided.“Imust reach all of you.”

Gripping her by one arm, he made her stand up—shoving at her until she was swaying on her feet, arms crossed over her chest in a futile attempt at modesty.

“Put your arms up—up,Isay!”he demanded.

“I…I’mn-naked!”she protested through chattering teeth.

“AndI’ma eunuch, remember?You’reof no interest to me except as a canvas to perfect.Now, arms up!”

Dios…Dios…Dios,she chanted silently as she lifted her arms, trying not to weep.

The cold spray blasted her armpits, then her back, then—mortifyingly—between her legs.Shelet out a little strangled noise of protest, butLupinonly huffed and kept going, directing the hose with clinical precision.

“There,” he said finally, after what felt like an eternity.“That’sbetter.Nowfor the dryer.Comealong.”

Noelle followed him on shaky, bare feet, her skin blotchy and goose-pimpled.Thespa’s metal floor was freezing, and she left wet footprints behind her as she stumbled after the orange dwarf.Everystep she felt like her knees would buckle but somehow, she managed to stay upright.

She didn’t even have the strength to argue when they came to a tall, upright cylinder in the far corner of the room.Itlooked a bit like a tanning booth stood on its side—if tanning booths were made of dented steel and had ominous blinking lights on them.

“Now just step in here and we’ll get you all dry and warm,”Lupinsaid cheerfully, as though this was the most normal thing in the world.

Noelle hesitated.

“Is… is th-there s-something in there?”she asked, hugging herself tightly.

Lupin frowned.

“Something?Likewhat?”

“Another octopus monster?”she asked.“Somethingwith tentacles?”

He rolled his eyes.

“Another what?Don’tbefoolish.It’sa dryer—not a death trap.Nowin you go!”

Before she could protest further, he gave her a firm shove between the shoulder blades, pushing her into the cylinder.Thecircular door slammed shut behind her with a metallicclang, sealing her inside.

“Wait!”Noellegasped.

But before she could say more, a suddenwhooshof air hit her bare feet and rushed upward, sending her wet hair flying above her head like she was in the middle of a tornado.Thewind was hot and dry, and it whipped around her body, tugging at her skin and wicking the moisture from every inch of her.

She gasped and stumbled, but the gust held her upright, keeping her suspended in place like a leaf caught in a whirlwind.

At least it’s warm,she thought, closing her eyes.Dios, it’s actually kind of nice after the pool and the hose…

But just as she was getting used to the buffeting winds, a chime sounded—ding!—and the door popped open, releasing her into the spa once more.

She stepped out on uncertain legs, blinking.Herskin felt too tight, like someone had stretched her across her own bones.Everynerve ending buzzed beneath the surface.

I feel like a cotton t-shirt that got shrunk in the dryer,she thought dizzily.

“All, all dry.Verygood—nowyou’re ready for your other treatments,”Lupindeclared, already bustling around the spa like a man with an appointment book to keep.“Hereyou go,” he added, shoving a towel at her.