Page 96 of Bliss & Her Idols

Is this the man who Torin grew up with? Fell in love with? Who the rest of the world are never lucky enough to even glimpse?

Cricket is wearing matching clothes, which at least fit.

I have a sense that Cricket could have ordered something else but wanted to wear the same as the man who he reveres.

“Hmm, I’m starving.” I wrinkle up my nose. “What’s that delicious scent?”

“Me.” Cricket blushes at his boldness but still puffs out his chest.

He glances from underneath his eyelashes at Torin.

Torin attempts to hide his smile, picking up a cup of tea from the coffee table at the side of the couch. “Careful, or I may need to eat you…again.”

Cricket’s blush deepens.

Jin laughs. “You’d have to get in line. I’ve tasted all of you in every possible way over the last few days.I want to do it again.”

“Leave me out of it.” Torin grimaces. “I have knot chafing as it is.”

I wince.

Ouch.

Jin gives a cheeky grin. “Of course, the smell could also be these pastries that Torin ordered for our breakfast.”

“What? Nothing to do with me,” Torin replies, coolly.

Lie.

Jin enthusiastically points at the tray on the nightstand, which is overflowing with pecan muffins, buttery croissants, pain au chocolats, and scones with pots of cream and jam.

I’m relieved to see that the knitted golden cricket is lying next to the tray and hasn’t been ruined in the carnage of the nest, abandoned in Jin’s costume pocket.

Next to the tray is a pot of tea.

I raise my eyebrow. “No coffee?”

Torin is unable to hide the way that his lips quirk, before he takes a deliberate sip of his tea. “As I said, nothing to do with me. I thought that you liked my scent…?”

I do.

I want to be surrounded by it for the rest of my life.

I can’t tell him that.

Instead, I clear my throat. “I’m not a scent vampire. I’m not sucking you dry of your scent, am I? Although, that would be a great idea for a romantasy novel. Look, you don’t want to see what I’m like in the mornings without my coffee.”

“I think I am now, aren’t I?”

Cricket splutters with laughter, before sending me an apologetic look. But his eyes still dance with amusement.

I can forgive the lack of coffee — just — to see that look in Cricket’s eyes.

“Here, this chocolate chip muffin is amazing.” Jin snatches up a muffin.

Then he does a breathtaking magic trick, which makes it appear in hisotherhand.

Cricket gasps, clapping. “I love your tricks. You’re amazing.”

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