Page 13 of November Reign
I scoffed. “After how things have been between us? Doubtful. We’re only just becoming friends.”
“A friends-to-lovers story arc is a beautiful one. It’s a classic for a reason,” Mori argued.
Behind his lover, Damon just grinned. Maybe this was payback of some sort for all the mistakes with his training, for giving him his magic in the first place.
My stomach twisted with regret. Maybe I’d never get to a good place with my little brother.
With a sigh, I gave in. “What do you want me to do?”
“Watch and learn.”
It felt like hours I was in the room with Damon and Mori, though it was only one at a push. They pulled their best moves on each other, the sexual tension between them climbing. Not going to lie, I spent half my time with my hands over my face so I didn’t have to watch the baby I’d helped raise until I’d been forced to leave him act in such a manner.
There were some useful tips in there, like adding touches as I spoke to Oak. Leaning into his space while he talked to show I was properly listening. Somethings I’d already been doing but more exaggerated. All the eye contact. Staring into Oak’s gunmetal gray eyes wouldn’t be so bad. The compliments were a little much, some of them downright saucy, but I could tailor the idea to Oak, really build on small amounts of praise to something more.
“I’m going to go,” I muttered as Mori pulled Damon close and captured his mouth in a fierce kiss. They really didn’t care that I was in the room, did they?
The door closed with a click, then locked, probably with Damon’s magic, just after. I rushed down the hall for the safety of my room. I was so embarrassed!
Thud! I collided with someone, momentarily pressing all of me against his hard body. I gripped onto his shirt to stop myself from falling to the floor.
A warm arm wrapped around me, holding me in place. I craned my neck to meet those eyes I knew so well.
“Sorry!”
My face flamed.
Oak looked down at me, the tiniest smile at the corner of his lips.
“I was looking for you.”
“You were?” Neither of us moved. I still gripped onto his shirt. I didn’t want to break this spell.
He continued to look at me, searching my face for something. I didn’t know what.
Finally, he gave a cough and stepped back, tugging my fingers from his shirt.
“Want to, um, make that milk for me again? I could do with a good night’s sleep.”
Looking at him without the lust tinted glasses, I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the way he wore his weariness. Maybe this wasn’t the time to be flirting with Oak. Maybe he just needed someone to be his friend.
“Sure!” I said, keeping my voice bright. “Come on. I wouldn’t mind a mug myself.”
I might have sat closer to Oak than usual at the kitchen table, but I didn’t push it further than that.
Baby steps.
Boundaries
Oak
Over the course ofa few days, I noticed a change in Thyme. It was pretty obvious from his clumsy attempts that he was trying to flirt with me, which was cute, but not entirely welcome.
Why not, when I found him so attractive?
I didn’t deserve him. Pure and simple. I wasn’t worthy of someone as special as him. He was sweet, kind, intelligent, warm, while I was none of those things. Being with someone like me was an invitation for heartbreak. Thyme… he was worth more than me.
He didn’t know who I really was. He only knew a part of me, the small sliver of myself I was showing to what remained of our coven. I was a liar. Not to be trusted.
