Page 62 of Final Shift
I looked at my feet. “I made it.”
A beat of silence. “From scratch?”
“There's a store that will sometimes have cacao pods.”
When I lifted my gaze, Ethan was staring at me. “You are a constant surprise.”
I wasn't sure if that was a compliment, so I stayed silent. Ethan's eyes crinkled at the edges, and I shoved my hands in my pockets to help me resist the urge to graze my fingers over those fine lines.
He pulled out a cookie and took a bite. I watched him carefully and noted the moment his expression changed. “Cacao pods,” he mused. “Are they hard to find?”
“Very.” In fact, I got super lucky to find the one she had. When I asked for more, the shop owner had shaken her head and said, “I get whatever they send me. Sometimes they come with the shipment; most times they don't.”
Ethan stared at the cookie. “You can't buy this stuff in a bag or something?”
“You can. It doesn't taste the same.”
“Hmm. These are amazing. I would like it very much if you made them again.”
I shrugged. “Depends on if I can find another cacao pod. This was the only one I've ever found.”
Ethan nodded and pushed the port over. “Take a bite of your cookie and take a sip of the port.”
I watched as he did the same. His eyes fluttered shut as his throat worked, and it took everything I had to clamp down on my visceral reaction. I was already careless when Ethan was around, but he'd shown no urge to do anything else other than tease or taunt me. I wanted more, and if he wasn't willing to give it to me, I'd do my best not to show him how much he affected me.
I focused on my cookie, savoring the sweet milk chocolate flavor exploding on my tongue. When I took a sip of the port and swallowed, I gasped in surprise, an involuntary “mmmm,” coming from my throat. The chocolate from the cookie mixed with the sweet taste of the port, a strange but delicious mix of berries and caramel, combined in the most divine taste.
Ethan stilled, his irises ringed in that strange blue and gold glow. Without a word, he took my glass and poured me a little more. “Do it again,” he demanded.
My throat went dry. “Ethan.”
“Drink, Moira.”
Gods. He was so sexy when he was being bossy. I took another sip, unable to keep my eyes from fluttering closer. “What is this?” I whispered. “It's so good.”
He went to pour me more, but I refused to give up my glass. “No. That bottle is old, and I bet this is hard to get. Save your stash for another day. I'll bring you more cookies.”
Ethan watched me, his eyes still glowing. “What is food and drink if you don't share?”
I felt the same way, but whatever that port was, it felt special. “You did share. More than you should have.” I tipped the rest of the port back and sighed when it was finished.
“Whoever your friend is, please send them my compliments. I've never tried my hand at winemaking, but I doubt I could ever duplicate this recipe.”
“I'll let them know.”
We stood watching each other. Ethan looked away first. “Have you changed your mind?”
He didn't need to clarify. “I don't think staying in your territory is a good idea.”
“And why not?” He tilted his head and studied me, his gaze traveling from my face to my neck, to the top of my chest. “Your collarbones are too prominent. Why aren't you eating?”
I stifled my annoyance. “Why are you so obsessed with my eating habits?”
“You're too thin. Beings like us constantly expend magic. Since your magic is altered, I don't think you're fueling your body enough to compensate.”
He wasn't wrong. I noticed the changes in the mirror, but I had no idea what to do about it. I was eating, maybe not as much as I used to, but I also hadn't been as active as I used to be. With Evie's shop closed, I had to content myself with bakingand puttering around the house. “I eat when I'm hungry,” I grumbled.
He came around the counter and walked toward me. I thought he'd stop when he got within a few feet of me, but he kept coming. I took a step back and bumped into the counter. He came so close our chests almost touched. “If you lived on my territory, I would ensure you ate all the time.”
