Page 19 of Magic & Mochas
“What’s next?”He placed one hand on my waist, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do.
“Next, we mix in the pumpkin—and I like to add a drop of vanilla.”I scooped the paste in and stirred it before dropping in the vanilla extract.“Now, it’s time to use the wand to heat up some milk.”
He watched me as I worked, but once the foam was beginning to form, he surprised me by asking, “Can I try?”
“Sure.Just be careful to keep the wand at this angle so you don't spill any or burn yourself.”I carefully handed it over to him, and was pleasantly surprised when he continued using the wand flawlessly.He must have been paying close attention to my demonstration.
“That’s a good place to stop–there’s just the right amount of foam.”I turned it off, before pouring the steaming espresso into two mugs.“Now comes the fun part.”
I grabbed a spoon and used it to hold back the foam as I poured the milk into each mug, jiggling the milk pitcher to make a cat-shaped design with the lines in each cup.“Silas insisted that I learn how to make this particular design.Sometimes he gets upset if I don’t do a cat design for too long.”
It is one of your better designs, after all.Silas sniffed haughtily.
You just like it because it looks like you.I rolled my eyes.
If witches were as cute as cats, you would understand.He settled into his loafing position on top of the cat tree.Oh, and I want the leftover foam.
Fine, you can have some—but only if you refrain from pilfering the groceries Thorne just got.
That can be arranged,Silas sniffed.
After carefully scooping the extra foam into a little dish for Silas, I added a bit of foam to each cup, sprinkled some cinnamon on top, and presented one of the mugs to Thorne.He took it carefully, his fingers brushing against mine and lingering for a moment too long.
I took a cautious sip, savoring the rich flavor.Thorne followed my lead, and I laughed when he lowered his cup.A mustache made of foam coated his upper lip, and I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me at the sight.
He pinched his brows together.“What?”
“You have a little foam on your lip.”
Thorne licked his lips, but he somehow managed to miss most of it.“Did I get it?”
“Not quite.”I set my cup down and leaned forward, using my thumb to wipe away the foam.His lip was soft under my finger, and without thinking, I licked my finger clean.
Thorne’s violet eyes deepened into pools of the darkest amethyst.He deliberately took another sip, replacing all the foam I had just wiped off.
“I’m not the only one, you know.Let me get that for you.”He set his own mug down and brought his hand to my face, but instead of tracing my lips, he leaned closer and kissed me.
The first time he had kissed me was magical.This time, it was divine.
He tasted like pumpkin spice, his lips soft and searching on mine.Warm cinnamon filled my nostrils, and I breathed it in like a drowning woman in search of air.
This was only meant to be a pretend relationship.But could I deny that I was beginning to wish it wasn’t?
Almost as if he sensed the direction of my thoughts, Thorne’s thumb stroked my cheek so tenderly that I wanted to melt.How was it possible that being with Thorne felt so right?It was easy and comfortable in a way I had never before experienced.
And then Rasmus burst through the door.
I really needed to remember to lock that thing.
Why didn’t you warn me?I knew Silas would have heard him coming.
I couldn’t hear him over the sound of you two licking each other’s faces.He flicked his tail irritably.Besides, I like seeing that fishy look on his face when he sees you with the Dark One.
Rasmus did indeed look like a fish out of water.His mouth hung open as he took in the scene Thorne and I must have made.A vein throbbed in his forehead, and his face grew progressively closer to matching the color of his ginger hair.
“Don’t you ever knock?!”As soon as the words left my lips, I grimaced.I was one to talk, considering how I had walked in on Thorne.
And by the look in Thorne’s eyes when he glanced at me, one scarred eyebrow raised, he was thinking the same thing.
