Page 56 of Bite Me

“Come on. Drink a little more soda for me,” I nudge her.

“Fine, but it’s because I want to, not because you asked me.”

I smile as she takes another sip, and I have to blink at the tiredness in my eyes.

“You like being praised?” I ask, leaning against the countertop to get closer to her, anything to gain a few extra inches.

“I . . .”

She has no idea how to answer that question because the answer is undoubtedly yes.

“That’s a yes.”

She licks the soda off her bottom lip. “What are you doing?”

“Looking at you.”

For the first time, I let myself take it all in. The curve of her cupid’s bow, the width of her bottom lip, the small cut on her brow, barely visible. I wonder how it got there. Or how she chose the colors to paint on her nails. Is it because she likes that shade of blue? Does it mean something to her?

I think the stars made this beautiful woman for me, and I don’t know why.

“Please don’t let Verity make me kill a family of lobsters,” she asks sheepishly.

“I won’t tell her.”

“Will you show me how you cook them?” she asks through her lashes.

I nod and give her a couple more minutes to recover while I walk her through the rest of the cooking process. It’s a useful skill, but I doubt I’ll see her offering seafood on a menu anytime soon. She’s back to her normal self once the lobster is cooked and she is done killing things, and I relax when she does.

I hate myself for being weak. Something so simple is impossible in her presence. But there’s always tomorrow.

Chapter Nineteen

Emma

“Emma.” Olivia’s using her aggravated voice with me, and it’s only seven in the morning.

“What? He was being nice.”

She doesn’t appreciate any conversation that mentions Dacre’s name.

Her arm is snug around mine as we walk down the castle hallway at, I dare say, a leisurely pace. I can’t believe I got a moment alone with her. When there’s an upcoming show, she gets obsessive.

She’s scary when she’s in go mode. I would consider myself a dedicated individual, but when I’m standing next to Olivia, she makes me look small.

“What is it about him that makes you lose all sense?”

“I didn’t. I was fully in control. We’re not all certified man haters, Olivia.”

“I’m not.”

“You used to be before your mate made you soft. Speaking of, tell me you’re going to see him.”

“Yeah, he convinced me to take the day off. Why?”

“You’re leaving bruises on my arm.”

“I’m sorry. I’m—”