Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow, #3)

by Rainbow Rowell

And then . . . Well. I needed to come here. I’m still going to do it, have them off, but I—I needed to talk to you.” I feel something against my wings and crank my head back. Baz is kissing me. Well, he’s kissing the wings. Down one side. Slowly. And . . . Up . . . The other. It feels like he’s kissing the inside of my ear. Or the back of my throat. I shudder. Baz puts his arms around my waist, and holds me there. “You’ll get Betadine on your mouth,” I say. His voice is low: “Probably needs it.” It’s too much. My skin is crawling, and my wings are flinching. I’m worried they’re going to fly out, like someone opening a spiked umbrella in his face. I pull his hands apart at my stomach and turn around. His lips really are orange; it makes me laugh. “We should take a shower,” I say. Baz raises an eyebrow. My cheeks get hot. “I mean, we should both take showers. Like you said. Can I—I mean, this is your aunt’s place, right? Does she have a shower? Would she mind?”