a rich ponce with far too many names.

There's a brief moment when he pushes her away—not something Vex experiences often—where she stares at him, surprise and something like disappointment on her faces, turning her mouth into an uncertain pout.

Then his words sink in and she laughs, all pleasure and breathless relief.

"Darling..." she trails off, forging through the water to reach for the soap.

"Are you saying we need to get you clean before you let me dirty you up again?"