Page 41 of The Cerulean Sister
"Yes. Are you comfortable here?" His finger glides over my collarbone.
I smile, seeing his worried brow. "Yes, I love being here."
He leans in before I can say more, lightly brushing his lips against mine, and I know he is making good on his promise of kissing me the first moment he is able. I close my eyes tightly and sink into the sweet kiss, the sugar bowl clasped in my hand, squished between my breasts.
"I am glad we still came," I say before stealing another peck.
"Me too." 99's eyes flick up to the cupboard where Allister keeps the handwritten recipe book. I can hear the echo in his mind of hearing Allister and me laughing in here while he sat in the gathering room, and with it comes an immediate wave of amber light.
"I hope you like salty stew," I whisper.
Chapter
Eleven
“Tea?" Allister gestures to the serving tray of mismatched cups and a metal kettle rested on a low table in the middle of the room.
Viathans and their tea.
I sit myself next to 99, who pulls me in tighter against him, moving his arm to the back of the lumpy settee. I stare at him until he turns to me, a slight twinge of a smile on his handsome face. His eyes flick to my lips for a long moment, then back to my eyes, like he wants to kiss me again, but I know he never would in front of the others.
Allister’s movement catches my peripheral, and then I see him holding out a cup to me with a sly smile. I duck my head as I take it, knowing he must have caught the little moment between 99 and me.
"Thank you."
"You are most welcome," he says, still smiling, and hands 99 a larger mug with a little nod, like he is trying to express something without words.
"It smells wonderful," I add as the steam hits my nose.
"Calliape gathered some kind of tree leaf." He looks to her for confirmation. "I normally get mine from the depot in town, but this is much stronger."
August sits up to pour himself a cup and then reclines in his usual casual pose. He seemed completely uninterested in drinking the tea until it was announced Calliape was to thank.
"What you buy at the depot is not tea," Calliape jokes.
Allister practically barks a laugh before taking a large sip.
August looks a little jealous at their easy teasing and takes out a flask from under his jacket, splashing some of the contents on the top.
The act elicits an exasperated eye roll from Allister for some reason.
"August, the lord general has requested debriefing," 99 informs.
"No capital talk," Allister snaps into his mug but winks at me like we are both being subjected to it.
"Tomorrow, my friend, I'm off to see my parents and sisters for yet another meal with them tonight."
"So spoiled," Allister murmurs.
"You haven't seen your family yet?" I ask.
"No. I, uh. I came straight here," he stammers, taking a larger swig and all too obviously ducking his eyes away from Calliape.
"Lucky us," Allister says into his cup.
"I brought bottles to replace whatever August drinks," 99 says to his father, interpreting his comments as innocent frustration.
It's then that I see the liquor cabinet with the door askew, like August may have raided it before our arrival.
