Page 20 of Magic & Matchmaking
We clinked our glasses and each took a sip, the tea fragrant and rich with hints of chocolate and cherry.
“Okay, now that’s good tea.” He took another sip, then set the cup down. “I don’t get tea like this on the road.”
“Then what do you mainly drink?” I asked.
“Ale. A lot of ale.”
I leaned forward. “Well, since you mostly play in taverns, I guess that’s not surprising.”
“Do you go to The Brewhouse often? Ever see Draven?” he asked.
I hadn’t been in a long time, admittedly. “No,” I said quietly, looking down at my hands. “I don’t get out much. I definitely don’t live as glamorous a life as you do.”
“Well, let’s change that,” Riven said, and I looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s get out on the town. Do stuff. Have fun.”
That didn’t sound so bad. I wanted to go out, to do things, but I didn’t have anyone to do them with. And besides, after long days working at the shop, I was so tired, I usually went home, made dinner for me and my father, maybe got a little reading or piano in, then fell asleep. It wasn’t like I was bored.
“Okay.” I took a sip of my tea, feeling more open, more flirtatious, than I had in a long time. “So what does a typical date with Riven Shiu look like? What are your moves?”
A wicked smile came to his face, dimples and all. “I can’t go giving away all my secrets.”
“Yes you can. I’m already your girlfriend, remember? I just want to know what to expect on some of these outings you’re planning.”
“Oh, I’m the one planning them?” He pressed a hand to his chest.
I nodded. “I think it’s only fair with you being gone all the time, leaving me so lonely and sad. You owe me a few nice dates.” I took another sip of tea as his smile grew. “Let me guess: a nice dinner somewhere, a drink after, maybe a personal concert back in your room at the inn?”
So maybe I’d heard a few very intimate details about Riven and the women he hosted.
“For a casual date, someone I don’t know. Sure. But not for my girlfriend.” He stared at me with such intensity I couldn’t get a proper breath out.
“So what would you do?” My voice came out breathy and husky. “For your girlfriend?”
He shot me a charming smile and stood, gesturing for me to do the same. My legs felt weak as I came to a stand in front of him.
He lifted a finger and tucked a stray curl behind my ear.
“I’d do something much more intimate,” he said and wrapped an arm around my waist, tugging me closer until our bodies were almost flush. He lifted his hand and I did the same, our palms touching. He leaned down, his breath grazing my cheek, my neck, my ear. “I’d start the night with a dance.”
“A dance?” I asked as he twirled me around.
We spun, our feet moving in the same rhythm as he maneuvered usin between tables and around chairs. He lifted my hand above our heads and twirled me in a circle.
I laughed. “I didn’t realize you were such a good dancer.”
“I’m good at many things, Ms. Thorne.” He pulled my body back into him and dipped me.
“I’m starting to see that,” I said, his nose nearly touching mine. He held me like that, my back arched, his arm wrapped tight around it, hand curling tight over my waist. I stared into his eyes, a beautiful rich brown that had always reminded me of the oak trees populating Thistlegrove Forest.
He slowly brought us back up and stepped away, taking all the warmth of his touch with him.
“And next,” he said, like he hadn’t just literally swept me off my feet, “I’d cook for her.”
I crossed my arms and laughed. “Now I know you’re lying. You’ve proven you can dance, but you forget that I know you, Riven Shiu. And I also know that you can’t cook.” I’d learned that when we’d attended the Coven Institute. We lived in separate dormitories, and he came to mine almost nightly for dinner. “Remember when you started getting mysterious hives every time you visited, and we came to find out my roommate hexed you, hoping it would deter you from coming over?”
