m was a sanctuary

entire apartment Beatri

scent of eucalyptus and sandal

turn with a mix of n

soaking tub, the hard til

obs, the water thunderi

g around her loose strands

ater, watching the

mesme

s dan

e jar of bath salt

ar, filled with black

them for him three y

the time, calling

y, he use

the coarse grains gri

to sprinkle them

ite rectangle, wasn't gr

s

knee slipped out

d grasping at the sl

sn't

ed cry, she pi

y took

nto the water,

f the heat

wallowing her coat, h

py water, coughing as she scrambled to

the bathro

th a crack that ec

is going on?"

eyes wide, scann

opped

tub, her hair plastered to her face, her

sides, pooling on the

ng up at him thr

d for the

had Haphephobia

aphobe of the

d mess were

s a catast

e stammered, wiping

ted him t

o yell for the mai

e didn

spreading across his immaculate floor, a muscle in his jaw twitching with a familiar, barely-contained

omething

ping from one shoulder. The fabric of her white sweater beneath it had t

rk with water, mo

oat bobbed as

eemed to forget his own rules. His polished dress shoe

t seem t

his voice was ro

she wh

nd, her boots sq

f her, splashing

ling back against the

she warned. "I'm dirt

e igno

g, manicured, but she saw them tremble for

your hand

red at

h people," she

give me y

n't a

, she rea

ngers brushed hi

n't pu

losed around her wrist

pul

with effortless strength, wat

, crashing i

r arms, landing with a heavy splash at their feet. Her soak

ting for him to

did

electric second-his arm came

ssed against him, soak

s heart hammering

beati

fa

switch flipp

ting three feet of d

, the mask slammin

suit jacket, his express

is voice dripping with di

arms around herself,

y about t

" he co

ead snapped

in the hallway," he said, turning his back to her. "

door, pausing a

make yourself invisible,"

hallenged, her t

ering on the curve of her hip w

d throw your luggag

mmed t

dripping, shaking,

touch

d hel

e hadn't looked at

at her like he