Robyn
It was after nine when I slipped into the house. Luckily, Andrew had given me the code for the security system so I could get in without disturbing everyone. The downstairs seemed to be deserted, so I guessed that everyone had gone upstairs. I went into the kitchen to rustle up some food. I hadn't eaten all day, and I was starving.
I found some left over steak in the fridge, along with some grilled onions, peppers and mushrooms. I dumped them all into a frying pan and put it on the stove to heat. I was still wearing the pants half of my uniform gi, but I had shed the coat and was only wearing my tank top. I moved to the sink and started washing the pile of dirty dishes that Mom and Andrew had left.

"You know you don't have to do those." I jumped at the sound of Phoenix's voice.
He was leaning in the doorway, shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms. "I know," was all I said, as I turned back to my task.
I felt, rather than saw him move closer. "How was your class?"
I couldn't help the smile that creased my face. "It was great."
His eyes scanned over my face as if he was trying to memorize it. Then he moved his gaze to the pan on the stove which was just beginning to sizzle. "That's a lot of steak," he commented dryly.
"Well, I'm a hungry girl." I replied easily. I wasn't going to let him get under my skin tonight. I washed a couple more dishes and then went to flip the meat over, so it could heat evenly. He still didn't move. "What are you doing ? Oh," my eyes flew to the doorway, "are you expecting someone?"

He shook his head, "not tonight." He leaned back against the counter lazily. "But I do owe someone a foot massage."
I shook my head at him as I dumped the food from the frying pan onto my plate. "Don't be silly."
"The deal was for the whole week," he reminded me. I felt my face grow red as I scooted my hip onto the stool next to the counter.
"The deal is off," I said shortly, using the steak knife to cut the meat into bite-size pieces. "Besides, now I'm worried." I pointed the knife at his hands. "I don't know where those things have been."

That caused an unexpected bark of laughter. He turned and reached into the cupboard to take down two glasses.
"Wine?" He asked me.
I shook my head.
"Beer?"
I shook my head again.
He grimaced as he poured a glass of wine for himself. "Water?"
I nodded and he handed me the glass. I usually liked my water with a lot of ice and a slice of lemon, but I didn't want to be demanding, so I just sipped it as it was.
"You know," he hitched his hip up on the stool next to mine. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous."
I finished chewing the chunk of meat in my mouth and licked my lips. "Do I look jealous to you?" I asked, blinking at him innocently. Had I been jealous of the faceless woman I'd heard moaning and crying in his room last night? No, not really. But maybe I'd felt a little disappointed that Phoenix turned out to be exactly the kind of man-whoring womanizer I'd guessed him to be.
Sometimes it really sucks to be right.
Phoenix gave me a hard stare. He didn't answer me, but instead grunted and took another long drink of his wine. I turned away from him, facing forward, and finished eating my food. The steak was overcooked, but I was too tired to worry about fixing something else. I ate almost everything on my plate, except for the onions, which I scraped aside. When I was finished, I picked up my plate and moved to the sink. Phoenix's eyes followed every move I made, and it was starting to make me nervous.
"What are you doing?" I said over my shoulder as I scrubbed out the frying pan I had dirtied
"Just trying to figure you out, Robyn." He had a way of saying my name, rolling it off his tongue almost like it was a caress. It made me shiver inside and wished I could hear it again. But I shook that wish away. He probably said every woman's name like that.
"Well, I'm done here," I said, putting the frying pan in the drying rack. "You'll have to figure me out from upstairs. And I really need a shower, so let's put a rain check on that food massage, okay? I'm sure you are tired."
I flipped off all the lights in the kitchen, double checked the door to make sure I'd reset the alarm properly, grabbed my gym bag, and started to climb the stairs. I was very aware that Phoenix was right behind me. I was glad I was wearing my karate gi, because the baggy pants completely hid the shape of my backside from his shameless stare.
At the top of the stairs, I ducked into my bedroom to grab my pajamas and clean underwear for the shower. To my consternation, Phoenix was still there, leaning against the wall in the hallway. He put out an arm to stop me on my way to the bathroom, but I simply ducked underneath it and went into the bathroom, taking care to lock it behind me. I turned on the shower and tried not to think about the man that was right on the other side of that door. He was a player, and I'd be damned if I was going to let him play with me.
I stripped off my clothes and glanced at my reflection in the mirror. This wasn't a body most men found attractive, but who cares what they thought? I was strong, I had mad skills, and I thought that was sexier than any size zero bimbo with big boobs and a fake butt. I put a finger to the bruise that was blooming on my shoulder. I'd been a little late to block a punch in class.
I shrugged at myself and hopped in the shower. I took my time washing and conditioning my hair, hoping that Phoenix would get tired of waiting and go on to bed. By the time I emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, the hallway was clear, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Until I pushed open my bedroom door and found Phoenix lounging on the bottom of my bed, twirling the lotion bottle.