Page 37 of Magic's Rise

He drops his head to the floor. “There’s no right way to respond to that one.”

“Correct, there is not.” I lean over him and waggle the box. “Kiss the queen.”

Tris reaches up to sweep it aside and pulls me down, the gap between us shrinking.

His gaze flickers to my mouth, and my pulse quickens. “If you’re waiting for me to close my eyes again, I’m not falling for that twice?—”

My words cut off as he tugs me down those last inches, his hand hot on the back of my neck as our lips come together. Breath catching, my lashes flutter down, and I sink into the sensation of his mouth brushing against mine, soft and warm and achingly gentle compared to our playful toy war.

Blue sparks rise from where we touch, proof of our bond as witches, and Tris draws the sides of my hood down to block our faces from any passersby.

Time stands still as we melt together, the world fading away until only we remain, lost in each other.

Arms wrap around me, pulling me closer, no space between us. My fingers tangle in his hair as my lips part, and I deepen the kiss, losing myself in the feel of him.

“What the hell are you two doing?” roars an angry voice.

I flinch upright, wide eyes landing on a furious Haut at the end of the aisle, Levi and Aspen standing behind him, carrying shopping bags.

Haut’s moss-green gaze takes in the fallen foam darts, the broken package Tris pulled the Nerf gun from, and the crushed doll box.

At last, his focus settles on us, and he growls, a low vibration that rattles in my bones. “You will pick up this mess and pay for the toys, and then you will hustle your asses back to the van, and I don’t want to hear a peep from you until we reach the next rest stop.”

Tris shivers beneath me, and I lift my hands to my chest, my fingers curling with the effort to resist.

Haut scowls. “Don’t you dare.”

“Peep.” The sound escapes a second behind Tris’s high-pitched, “Peep.”

A snarl rips from Haut as he storms toward us.

“Peep!” I scramble off of Tris.

He bounces to his feet, and I grab the leash still attached to his collar, tugging him after me as we race from the toy section, scattering foam darts in our escape from the big bad wolf.

MATCHING CHERRIES

The rumble of the engine cutting off rouses me from sleep, and I lift my head, my neck protesting from being slumped over for too long.

With a groan, I stretch my stiff legs, pressing my toes against the driver’s seat. At our last stop, Aspen took over the driving, shuffling me to one of the middle bucket seats so Haut could stay up front where there’s more room.

Darkness surrounds the brightly lit hotel, and I reach over and shake Tris awake.

We’ve finally arrived after an eternity on the road. My ass aches from sitting for so many hours. With all the stops along the way, the promised twelve-hour drive ended up being more like fourteen, and I can’t wait to escape the van.

I grab the handle and roll the door open to step out into the cool night air, my breath forming white clouds.

“No running off,” Haut warns.

Tris hops out, stretching his arms above his head with a satisfied groan. “The only running we’re doing is to a soft bed, right sparky?”

Haut emerges from the front passenger seat. “We’re sharing a room, so no getting frisky.”

Tris and I gape at him. “But… We have sex all the time around each other.”

“Not around me, you don’t.” Aspen rounds the nose of the van. “And I’d appreciate it if it stayed that way.”

“Spoilsport,” I say while Tris gives him two thumbs down.

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