Page 63 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
My heart stalled as I wondered if our bond had brought her dreams of me. “She’s writing about fae?”
“Not fae,” he said. “Some other fantastical, supposedly mythical creature, but who knows? Maybe whatever she’s writing about is real too.” He huffed out a humorless laugh.
While I was curious about what she’d written, about getting to know another small piece of who she was, I wanted to learn it from her. Not sneaking through something that was obviously private.
Still, it called to me. Urged me to open it.
“What are you and the others doing here?” I asked, eyeing his cup and taking in its aromatic scent.
“Long story.” He lifted his cup toward me. “You want one?”
“I don’t know what it is,” I admitted.
He shot me an incredulous look, as if I were stranger than he’d originally thought. “It’s coffee. Helps wake you up in the morning and give you energy.”
Without another word, he went to a counter behind him and started pouring the light brown coffee into another mug. When he slid it to me, I inhaled it deeply and then took a long swallow, that immediately burned my tongue and roof of mymouth. Before I could take a slower, more careful sip, I healed the inside of my mouth.
“It tastes. . . different but good,” I replied.
“Teddy lives off it,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Calls it her life blood. My sister, Ryenne, the girl sleeping on the floor, stays away from it. Says it makes her jittery. My best friend, the guy sleeping with Ry, is Nate and he swears his brain doesn’t start working until he’s had two cups. Fair warning, don’t talk to him until he’s finished at least half of his first cup. Not sure what we’re going to do if we ever run out of it. Thankfully, it’s the one thing Teddy hoarded so for now we have plenty.”
I drew my brows together in thought as I took another drink. “It’s a magic potion of sorts?”
“If we’re talking about coffee, yes, it’s magic.”
I scrambled to my feet at the sound of Teddy’s voice. Nervous and scared and maybe a little excited, I shoved my mug toward her.
“You can have my. . . life blood?” I said. “I’ll pour another.”
Her lips twitched. When she peered up at me from the rim of my cup, her eyes tired but glistening with amusement, it was my cock that replied. I jumped toward the counter, hiding my wince of pain, while I also hid my growing problem and poured another mug. I begged it to go down, which it finally did when Hee-haw nudged my ass with his head. I bent over to pet him in silent thanks but straightened when I felt Teddy watching me.
“He’s a good donkey,” I said in explanation, mirroring what she’d told me last night.
She smiled and my heart exploded within my chest. At that moment, I didn’t care what kind of fool I had to make ofmyself, I’d do and say whatever just to have that smile aimed at me again.
I smiled back at her, not moving or saying anything. Just staring and smiling. Like some prepubescent who’d never spoken to a female before.
“This is too painful for me to witness,”Nalari complained.“Pull yourself together before I put your shame to rest and burn down her house in the name of mercy.”
I barked out a laugh and felt my face warm at Teddy’s inquisitive stare. “Nalari.” I motioned toward Teddy’s ceiling. “She said I’m embarrassing myself and that she’d burn down your house to save me from myself.”
I ignored Donnie’s laugh and instead focused on Teddy’s growing smile. When I sat back at the table, I noticed her book was no longer there. Although I wanted to ask her about it, I wanted her to want to tell me. Without mentioning it’s sudden disappearance, I gave her the cup I’d filled for her while I took back the mug that she’d drank more than half.
Mixed with the smell of coffee was Teddy. This time, when I drew it to my nose, it was simply to breathe her scent in.
“I take it you like coffee?” One of Teddy’s brows rose.
Entranced, I watched her guide the mug to her lips. When she let out an appreciative hum, pride flared inside me. It wasn’t anything big. All I’d done was pour her a mug, but it’d brought her pleasure. Something I’d done had brought her a sense of joy.
“Yes,” I agreed, my voice gravelly. I cleared my throat before I spoke again. “First time drinking it. It’s incredible.”
“Life blood.” She winked.
And there went my dick again. Up and ready for action we wouldn’t be getting.
“How’s your back?” she asked.
I shrugged, and the motion sent sharp pain across my battered skin. “It’s okay,” I lied.
