Page 34 of Revelry
“Yes?” She arched a delicate black brow at me, sizing me up. Her eyes locked on the pint of ice cream; my peace offering.
“I, uh, wanted to bring you this.” I held it out to her but she didn’t take it. If anything her lip curled in disgust. “And to ask for a favor.”
She inhaled sharply, still glaring at the ice cream. “Well, you’ve immediately pissed me off so I’d say your chances at a favor aren’t good.”
Shit.
I frowned and looked between her and the treat. “I thought you liked ice cream?”
She shook her head. “I love ice cream. WhenImake it.”
“Ah,” I glanced down at the frosty traitor in my hand. “I think I see where I’ve gone wrong.”
“Do you?”
It was a trick question, the blankness of her expression was a trap, I just knew it.
“I’m scared to answer.”
“As you should be.” But she stepped to one side, an invitation for me to enter. “You know, for a doctor and everything, you’re not too bright.”
I tentatively walked past her. It was a narrow entranceway and although she moved back, it wasn’t enough and I brushed against her.
The house was built similarly to mine, only the opposite layout. The kitchen on the left, the living room on the right. I always felt like Gertrude would be a messy person, her surroundings matching her chaos but the house was surprisingly tidy.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. This is actually my favorite ice cream and thought it would be a good peace offering.”
Her lip curled again and she gestured to the tub. “Thisis your favorite?”
I again regretted my life choices in bringing her this ice cream. “Well…” I didn’t finish.
She pushed past me and hurried into the kitchen. I trailed after her, watching as she tugged open a drawer and pulled out a spoon, holding it out to me. “Eat it.”
I looked between her and the outstretched spoon. “But I got it for you?”
“And I want you to eat it.” She wiggled the spoon at me. It was another test but I figured I’d see where this one went. I huffed and took it from her, pulling open the lid of the ice creamand digging into it. I arched a brow at her before shoving the spoonful of strawberry ice cream into my mouth.
She stared at me as I ate it, her eyes probing my face for a reaction.
“It’s nice,” I said, swallowing and feeling the cool treat slide down my throat.
She snorted and once again pushed past me. Did she not know how to goaroundsomeone? She opened the freezer door and pulled out one of the drawers. The plastic tray scraped over the ice in a nerve-pinching shriek and I struggled to hide my shudder.
Gertrude came back with an unlabeled Tupperware tub and dropped it loudly onto the kitchen counter and tore open the lid. She seized the spoon from me and slid it through the surface of the ice cream and I watched as it curled into a perfect whirl on the spoon.
She faced me, standing on her tiptoes and held the spoon in line with my mouth. “Open up.”
I stared down at her horrified. She wobbled on her tiptoes and it was instinct to grab her elbow, holding her steady, pulling her further towards me.
“Come on. Before it melts,” she said, her voice deepening as her eyes dipped to my lips.
I opened my mouth and she gently slid the spoon inside until I felt it hit my tongue and I closed my lips around it. Immediately the strawberry flavor burst onto my tongue; tangy, sharp but oh so sweet as well.
Moaning, I closed my eyes at the creamy perfection. Gertrude tried to pull the spoon back but I wasn’t finished, there was still ice cream on it. I shackled her wrist and held it in place. A small gasp from her had my eyes flying open, as I scooped the last remaining bit of ice cream up with my tongue.
I could feel her chest heaving against me. Her eyes wide, her mouth forming a perfect O. I stroked over the pulse thudding in her wrist. Her skin was as smooth as silk and I wondered if all of her was this soft.
Except I felt like I already knew the answer to that.
