Page 95 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
Whatever. It didn’t matter.
I was happy. Victoria was happy. Elias was happy, which shouldn’t make me happier, but every time I peered out his window and saw him talking and laughing with one of my friends or people from Colina, my own joy grew to match his.
“All right, pipsqueak,” Ryenne said. “That’s enough frosting.”
Victoria scrunched up her nose. “No such thing as too much frosting.”
I ran my hand over her braid, filled with flowers that George and Brenton had found and placed in her hair. I’d taken care of her many times throughout the years, but I’d never seen her quite this happy. She thrived under Elias’s, Brenton’s, and George’s tender attention. It made me grateful . . . hopeful it would lead to better things for her.
“Later tonight, we can eat the rest of the frosting straight from the bowl,” I said in a mock whisper.
Her eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly. With that, she ran out of the house, straight to Elias. Fear made my heart race, but before I could say anything, he tucked her into his arms and gently placed her on his other side, away from the hot grill.
I grabbed one of the many trays filled with desserts while Ryenne took cupcakes off her tray and hid them in a cupboard. I raised a brow at her in question.
“What if they eat them all?” she asked. “Don’t judge me. I haven’t had cupcakes in forever.”
“Good point.” I opened the cupboard, slipped the cupcakes out and back onto her tray, then I handed it to her. “Hide the whole tray.”
She cackled.
“That sounds like trouble,” Nate shouted from outside.
“Mm.” Ryenne licked chocolate frosting from her finger. “I’m totally licking this off that man tonight. Dessert with my dessert.”
I snorted, and with a small tray of cupcakes, I walked out the door. My chest warmed as I searched for Elias. Our eyes met, and from the short distance, I saw the way his darkened. I scooped a bit of icing from a cupcake, andwatching him watch me, I pulled my shirt down and smeared it over the swell of my breast. When I licked my fingertip, he moved forward, straight into the pit. I laughed. When Victoria grabbed his hand, he bent his head down to her while he angled his body away to reposition his. . . crotch area.
I smirked.
Ryenne gripped my arm and shoved me to the back of the kitchen while I tried to balance my tray. “What the hell was that?” she hissed.
I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and did my best to look innocent. I went as far as batting my eyes at her. “What? I dropped some frosting,” I said.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” she whisper-shouted. “Y’all had sex, didn’t you? Spill. Everything, now.”
So I did. Quietly, as we carried tray after tray of desserts outside. To her benefit, Ryenne only screeched once. Okay, three times, but they were happy screeches, followed by a ridiculous dance that should’ve embarrassed her, but it was Ryenne. The entire time, I felt Elias’s attention on me. With each second that ticked by, the breast I’d smeared frosting on grew heavier. Needier.
But as more people arrived, I was forced to shelf my plans of seducing Elias.His partyhad begun, so his attention waselsewhere.
It reminded me of easier times, watching people eating, drinking, and talking. There was also laughter, which was a welcome sound. Something I hadn’t realized we’d all let go.
Elias was constantly swarmed with people. Sometimes his expression grew grim, but mostly, he stayed happy. And he seemed to always know where I was without ever having to search for me in the crowd.
“Go save the man from his grilling duties and suck him off or something,” Ryenne said a few hours later.
I shoved her. “Shut up.”
“What?” She smirked. “I’m gonna do the same for Nate. He worked hard. Totally deserves it.”
She turned to call for Donnie and one of his buddies to take over the grill while I went to Elias. His eyes tracked my every move, making my breasts heavier and my core tighten. When I reached him, I hugged him from behind and kissed his shoulder blade.
He turned to me, and his grin made it easy to ignore the people who watched us. Judged me.
Fae whore.I could practically hear their comments. As if they couldn’t come up with something more creative.
At least Elias hadn’t seemed to notice. I was pretty certain if he had, they wouldn’t be able to open their mouths or speak for a good long while.
“Come on.” I tugged his hand. “You need to eat.”
