Page 18 of Curses & Cold Brew
My elbow in Ramona’s ribs stopped her from finishing that sentence. “That’s okay,” I amended. “It was worth a shot.”
“You might try Dean at Midnight Market,” Citrine suggested. “Have you met him yet? He’s Billy Bacchus’s nephew, new in town. Six foot seven, bright green. Buff. Hard to miss.”
“Keep it in your pants, Citrine,” Ramona muttered under her breath.
“Hmm?”
“Why should we go ask the new guy in town?” I interjected, once again saving Ramona from an underhanded comment.
Citrine shrugged. “Lots of demons in the town he moved here from. Apparently, he was a docent for the demonic council there. So maybe they had to deal with something like that in the past?”
“New in town. Interesting,” Ramona said tightly, turning to leave before I could ask anything more.
“Oh, um, I should follow her.” I hooked a thumb behind me and chased after Ramona.
“See you at the next coven meeting!” Citrine called after us.
Outside the shop, I caught up to Ramona quicker than I expected.
“Are you going to find this Dean guy?” I asked.
“I have no interest in tall green boys, no matter how buff,” she snarked. “No, it’s the demonic council I need to go talk to. I need to know if there’s any new demons gracing Maple Hollow with a visit.”
“Okay, well, where is the?—”
“You can’t come with me on this one, red.”
“But we agreed I could help.”
“The demonic council would eat you up, spit you out, and laugh at your masticated corpse.”
I crossed my arms. “Well, that was a gross and entirely unnecessary description.”
“Don’t you have a day job? What about the apothecary?”
“Jordyn can handle the shop for a bit longer,” I said with a wave. “Please?”
“Don’t think that pouting will work on me.” Ramona’s eyes narrowed. “The only thing those pouty lips will get you is a trip to my playroom to meet my favorite flogger.” I nearly stumbled, choking on my own air, as Ramona continued, “And while I appreciate that your first instinct is to beg for my attention, right now isn’t a good time, witchling.”
I reared back, heat filling my veins. “I . . . uh . . .”
Ramona laughed. “You look about ready to burst into flames.”
She started to walk away again.
For some reason, I desperately didn’t want that to happen, so I pulled out the last card I held: “But what about our date?”
Ramona’s slim frame whirled on me so fast I couldn’t react. She pinned me against the brick wall, her arms caging me in so all I could see was the wicked smile on her red lips.
“Tempting me with your desperation?” she purred.
I trembled at the way her eyes snagged on my mouth. I knew being with her would be so,sogood, but a thrill of fear ran along with my certainty. Most of the women in this town I could handle with my eyes closed, but Ramona? I might be out of my depth with Ramona.
“Name the place and time, witchling.”
“Now,” I rasped, wanting so badly to breach the distance between our mouths. “I want to go with you to the demonic council for our date.” I had meant for it to be a “Gotcha!” moment, but I was too flushed and turned on to pull it off.
“That’s not a date, love, and you know it,” she whispered, her breath hot on my lips as she leaned in. “A proper date with me will end with you panting and begging for more.”
