CHAPTER TEN
There were many ways they could have approached the situation, and Simon would have happily tortured Jin had it been needed. But Robin had been adamant that they didn’t do anything to jeopardize their identities as much as they could, and Simon was reluctant to admit that she was right—after all, there was still the slight chance that Jin was actually innocent, and torturing him when he was would only result in an international scandal that no one wanted…most particularly Dylan, who already had enough politics to deal with.
This meant he had no choice but to rely on Robin while she used her magic—her feminine magic, that was—on the guy.
She took the whole day to build her rapport up with him, being as animated as possible and perfecting her character. Royalties weren’t usually Simon’s type, but the way Robin played the character had even him torn between enchantment and annoyance. Anyone with eyes could see she looked really good in her princess dresses and her blindingly brilliant smiles, and the innocence only added to the allure. It made her irresistible, and he understood why Jin practically wouldn’t leave her alone during their stay here.
It didn’t mean Simon liked it, though.
Still, he did his best to be supportive up until the moment Robin went back to her room and changed in her bathroom, then came out wearing only a silk robe.
Then she announced her plan, and all supportive thoughts flew out the window.
“I haven’t gotten anything, but I told him I’d be heating up in the sauna. Naked. Let’s see if he bites,” she said like it was the most normal thing.
“No,” Simon blurted out before he could stop himself. He inwardly cursed at his lack of finesse but shook his head all the same. “That’s a very bad idea.”
Robin blinked. “No, it’s not. I’m trying to bait him.”
“And you shouldn’t use your body like that.”
“And how exactly should I use my body?”
Her chin lifted, and her green eyes cooled, and Simon knew an upcoming argument when he saw it. He backtracked and tried his best to be reasonable. “You can use your body how you like. Be naked for all I care.” He slammed thoughts of her naked body away, not wanting it in his mind right now. “Just don’t resort to that with Jin. I told you, we can work on this together.”
The cooling in her gaze lessened considerably, and her stance softened a bit. “We have to think about Jake.”
Well, shit.
Simon had no response to that except to nod his head.
*****
She got to work right away, sashaying her way into the sauna located in one of Jin’s gardens, with explicit instructions for Simon not to lurk behind her and get himself caught. Now that they knew there was a demon around, she said, it just wasn’t safe anymore.
Simon nodded, then did the next best thing: climbing up a tree a few meters away and settling there with a determination to act the moment Jin tried something bad.
The sauna was made of rocks carved smooth until they turned to stone, shaped into a huge bowl on the ground and surrounded by plants and some flowers. Smoke rose from the hot water, making for a fuzzy view. But he spotted Robin the moment she entered the garden, watching her silk robe sway around her legs as she walked over with the laziness of someone who had all day. Her hair was pulled up in a bun by a single stick, and when she turned around, he was treated to a view of her slender neck.
He tried to ignore it, his mind already working a mile a minute on how he was going to listen in on their conversation from his spot. Robin had removed her earpiece this morning, and Simon had accidentally stepped on it, rendering it useless. Perhaps he could just study body language and such, and—
Robin removed her robe and let it drop on the floor.
All thoughts halted, and Simon was back in that phase where the world stepped back. Time froze once more, and his vision tunneled towards her as he grew blind and deaf to everything else. From his spot in the tree, he could see her backside perfectly—all creamy curves from her slender shoulders, to the shape of her side breasts, down to her waist before it flared to her hips, then her legs. He told himself to avert his eyes, but it was like a single part of him couldn’t move at all as he watched her…as he just watched her.
His mouth went dry, and his blood rushed down his groin.
Then Robin stepped inside the sauna and the bubble wrapped around him popped. All sounds came rushing back, particularly the crickets as she immersed herself in the bath. She began humming a song, and the faint tones carried over to where he was. It was sweet and melodic, and Simon was pretty sure there was magic infused in it as it gave the air a general dreamy quality.
A few minutes later, Jin appeared in his robe as well, watching her from the door to the garden. He spoke something along the lines of wishing to join her, and Robin turned her head to give him a charming smile. Soon Jin was removing his own robe, wearing only boxers underneath as he got in beside her. He had a bottle of sake with him and two glasses, and they got into conversation for a long time before he finally opened it and poured.
They toasted, then conversed again. A frown marred Jin’s face, but Robin patted his shoulder lightly and whispered something in his ear that had him smiling all over again. She sipped on her drink, though Simon had a feeling she wasn’t really drinking it as she didn’t ask for a refill.
A few minutes later, Simon knew something was wrong when Robin suddenly stiffened. He tensed as well, watching as she tried to control her emotions and laugh at something Jin was saying. Then she cut it off short, turning around from Jin as she stepped out of the sauna and into her robe while still wet. It molded the robe to her body, and Simon didn’t miss the way Jin eyed her from head to toe, desire flashing in his eyes even while he waved her goodbye.
Simon also didn’t miss the way Robin swayed on her feet and tried to walk as steadily as possible.
When Robin was gone, he observed Jin, watching as the Japanese man settled more comfortably in the sauna. It looked like he wasn’t going to get out. Simon waited him out for a few more minutes.
Then he climbed out of the tree as fast as he could and went in search of Robin.
She was in the bed when he slipped into her room, and he locked it quickly and stared at her. She was lying on the corner with her still-wet robe with her eyes closed. Alarm rushed through him, and he immediately strode over to where she was, thinking she got poisoned. Robin heard the footsteps, and she sat up quickly.
Then she looked at him with both helplessness and something else in her suddenly husky voice.
“Help. I’ve been poisoned.”
Simon realized that something else was amiss.