Page 83 of Reckless
“Is my mood that obvious without it?”I asked.
“Yes.”He reached for the tea carafe before I could and poured into my glass without asking as he signaled a server for my coffee.
I watched the dark amber stream fill the glass.
“You pour tea like a man who’s been trained by a woman who treats hospitality as a competitive sport.”
“That is exactly what happened.”
“Clearly.”I took a sip and hated how comforting that felt.
The rest of brunch moved around us.Charlie loudly accusing everyone of strategic cheating at cornhole before teams had even been chosen.Hope trying and failing not to laugh at him.Miley and Jeff bickering in the way only couples in love and lawyers ever managed.Roxanne drifting through the room in silk and commands.Parvis looking perfectly composed while somehow taking in every single shifting at once.
My coffee came with the hint of lavender.And me, seated beside Xerses in a place that had stopped feeling temporary enough to be entirely safe.
He moved like I was next to him, passed me the tea before asking if I wanted it and answered quietly when I asked the name of one of the dishes I didn’t recognize.
I could seriously drown in wishing for a life beside him forever.
By the time brunch ended and people started breaking into smaller groups, I needed air.
I excused myself and made it about halfway to the little seating area overlooking one edge of the private cove before I heard footsteps behind me.
I didn’t turn around right away.Mostly because if I did, he’d know I’d already known it was him.
When I waited he said, “You disappear with more intention every time.”
I turned back and my heart zipped.
Xerses stood there sleeves rolled, dark shirt open at the throat, and his face was unreadable in that way that had become more and more attractive.
I tried to breathe but my octave was higher when I said, “I was getting air.”
“That is generally how it works.”
His eyes moved over my face once, slower than politeness, quicker than hunger.
The exact speed to make my body go alert anyway.
“I have something for you,” he said.
Every instinct I had sharpened at once.
“No.”
One brow lifted.“You don’t know what it is.”
“I know what the rules are.”
“This doesn’t violate them.”
“That sounds extremely optimistic coming from you.”
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.I stared.“If you pull out diamonds, I’m shoving you into a bush.”
“It’s not diamonds.”
“What then-”
