Page 15 of Magic & Mochas
“Those are Rasmus’ parents ahead of us in line,” I whispered so quietly my lips barely moved.For a fleeting moment, I seriously considered beating a hasty retreat.
“Do you want to leave?”There wasn’t so much as a hint of judgment or censure in his tone.
I was tempted.But wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of my arrangement with Thorne?“No.”
Thorne’s eyes lit with wicked amusement, and he leaned down to whisper against my ear, “Then how about we put on a little show for them?”
I almost protested.Almost.But then I remembered their disapproving stares at every dinner I’d had the misfortune of sitting through at their table.“Let’s make it good.”
To my surprise, Thorne then tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me flush against him, and delicately grasped my chin.His violet eyes dropped to my lips a moment before he claimed my mouth with his.
At first, his lips were gentle, searching.He teased my mouth with caresses while his thumb stroked slow circles on my lower back.But then, his kisses became more urgent, more demanding.The scent of cinnamon mixed with his own scent of pine in a heady combination that wreathed my senses.
I practically swooned.
My eyelids fluttered shut as he caressed my lips, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his dark hair.I was enjoying myself so much that I didn’t even want to come up for air.
But when I heard an odd, strangled noise next to us, my eyes snapped open.Thorne gave me a lazy grin that set butterflies loose in my stomach.
“Clove?!”gasped my former mother-in-law to be.“What on earth are you doing?You’re engaged to my son!”
It would seem Rasmus hadn’t even told his parents yet.Wasthatwhy he had come all the way to Willowmere?To win me back before they found out what he’d done?
I smiled.That option was now off the table for Rasmus.Hopefully, that meant he would leave me alone now.
“Didn’t you hear, Bellatrix?The wedding’s off.”I was proud of how steady my voice was.
“What?When?Why?!”Her face pinched in confusion and outrage.
“Ask your liar of a son,” I said, before turning to Thorne.“Let’s get out of here.Something smells sour.”
I turned on my heel and left, hand-in-hand with Thorne, leaving Bellatrix to sputter indignantly behind us.
Chapter seven
Lattes & Longing
Thorne
Wow.
Just wow.
At first, I had only intended to humor Clove’s request, and to get myself a few more months of peace before moving on to the next magical town.But that kiss was just…
Wow.
Sure, I had dated occasionally before, but I had never felt such immediate chemistry with anyone.And I had never had anyone react tomelike that, either.
And here I was worried that I’d gotten rusty.
My lips curved up in a smile, and I had to resist the urge to touch them.I lay back on my bed, my gaze automatically finding the window and the stars that glittered in the night.I could hardly remember the last time I had smiled this much.Or the last time walking around town in broad daylight had felt so…comfortable.
When I was alone, it always felt like I was being glared at by the townsfolk.It made me feel vulnerable, being out in the open with no one to guard my back.But when I went out with Clove, the glances that came my way weren’t hostile at all.
Except, of course, for the parents of her ex-boyfriend.I could hardly even picture their faces; I had been far too focused on Clove to pay them much attention.But I was glad she had seemed so satisfied with the looks on their faces.
It was inspiring to see her confront her own fears like that.Unlike me, she refused to run from her problems; she faced them head on.
