Page 96 of Rituals & Rivalry

I pry her thighs apart, roll off the bed, and lock eyes with her as I lick my fingers clean. “Mm… I’m going to make breakfast.”

Her eyes widen, and her breath hitches. “But⁠—”

“Work soon.” I lift an eyebrow at her and smirk. “Be good for me and get ready to leave, will you?”

As I leave the room, she lets out a needy whine.

Chapter 29

Aurora

“And then his girlfriend showed up,” Farrah says, her expression dropping.

Farrah, Victoria, Scarlet, and I have been meeting at the café for the last two weeks. I think they probably did this before I started hanging out, and when I got the invitation, I was all too excited to tag along. At the very least, I’ll get to hear more of Farrah’s horrendous dating stories.

They’re a welcome distraction from whatever the hell is going on with Sterling, which I’d really rather not think about. Why does he have to make friends with benefits so complicated? Why can’t he be like all the other guys who don’t care?

“His girlfriend?” Scarlet’s expression flattens. “Please tell me you threw your drink at him.”

“Of course, I didn’t! I was in shock.”

Though I have a feeling Farrah wouldn’t resort to such drastic measures even if she wasn’t in shock. It doesn’t seem her style.

“Anyone would be.” Victoria hefts out a haughty sigh and rubs her hand against Farrah’s back. “At least you can move on now. Onto bigger and better things.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” Farrah gestures vaguely. “Everyone in Starbrook wants you.”

“It’s really too bad I don’t want any of them.”

Victoria is a little lofty, hard for me to get to know, but she’s easily one of the most beautiful women I’ve seen. Her hair is so light it’s reminiscent of the moon, and she moves with the grace of a dancer—or a figure skater, more accurately. Add to that that she comes from a rich, affluent witch family and lives alone in a giant—probably not haunted—mansion…

I mean, there’s a lot I envy about her. She’s never been mean to me, at least not so far, but I don’t think she’s fully accepted me either.

“What’s your type, then?” I ask, lifting my coffee to keep my hands busy.

Victoria looks toward me, her head moving in a snappish fashion. For a moment, I wonder if she’s going to answer me at all.

Scarlet answers for me. “Tori likes submissive men.”

“That’s personal information,” Victoria mutters, though she doesn’t disagree. “And don’t call me Tori.”

“What’s your type?” Farrah asks, looking right at me.

I haven’t forgiven or forgotten her trying to set me up with Sterling, but it worked out in the end, I guess. Sort of. I’m still not nearly bold enough to admit that these days, he’s my type—even if he wouldn’t have been before.

I definitely shouldn’t admit that to him. I gave him an inch, and he tried to run a mile or two.

“I don’t have a type,” I say. “I’m into, like, pretty much anything. Anyone.”

“Who do you have your eye on then?” Victoria asks. “I’m sure all of Starbrook has its eye on you. It’s not every day that we have new, single, attractive people in Starbrook.”

My face flushes. “Oh, um… I’ve hung out with a few people.”

Farrah leans in, all too animated. “Aurora. Please. We can smell the sex on you.”

I press my hands to my cheeks. “You cannot.”

“I can’t,” Victoria says, wrinkling her nose. “And I’d rather not.”