Page 56 of Potions & Prejudice
Just enough light shone through the crevices of the door to dimly light the space.
That’s when I realized we were standing in a closet, both of us shoved together. I tried to back up, but my foot banged against a bucket. A mop fell sideways, thwacking Draven in the head.
I should’ve cared that I’d just yanked Draven into a closet, but I was so livid all I could think about were his accusations.
“Excuse me,” he said, face full of rage, trying to push past me.
“Excuse me!” I yelled back, not budging as I stood in front of the door. My chest was heaving. “How dare you imply that I want you for your wealth. You know nothing about me. You know nothing of my life, my struggles, my family. I actually thought we might find common ground. Not be friends but not be enemies either. I was clearly wrong on all accounts.”
His jaw ticked, and he jabbed a finger at me. “You are the one whobarged into my tavern, sticking your nose where it didn’t belong. You’ve been nothing but a pain since I met you. And you’re the one who suddenly wanted to dance with me tonight. What was I supposed to think?”
I let out a laugh of disbelief. “Maybe that I was being nice? Trying to make amends? Trying to quell the gossip spreading about us?” I stepped forward. “Maybe that not everyone is out to get you all the time.”
His mouth fell open, and he stared at me in silence, having no response to that.
Just then, the door burst open, and I saw a flash of that familiar glittering white dress and blonde hair. Adelaide. I didn’t think. I didn’t pause. I just surged forward and pressed my mouth to Draven’s.
Twenty-Four
DRAVEN
Elspeth’s mouth crashed into mine. My first instinct was to pull away, but as soon as I got a taste of her lips, I was done for. I couldn’t have pulled away even if she was on fire and threatening to burn me alive. Her lips were soft and warm, her body fitting so perfectly into mine as I wrapped my arms around her and got lost in that kiss.
She twined her hands around my neck, and I grabbed fistfuls of her silky green dress. I’d meant to compliment her on it, on how good it looked on her slim frame. I would. I would do exactly that as soon as we stopped kissing. Which, if I had my way, wouldn’t be any time soon.
“What in the fuck?” a voice said, jolting me back to reality. I jumped away from Elspeth, wiping my mouth as she stared at me with wide, horrified eyes.
We both looked at Adelaide and Elm standing in the doorway. Adelaide’s mouth was twisted in confusion, while Elm just smirked at us with his arms crossed.
“I was not expecting this.” Elm ran his fingers through his curly hair.
“What’s going on?” Adelaide asked, gaze shifting between me and her sister.
I stepped forward, about to explain that it was nothing. A mistake that would not happen again.
Before I could, Elspeth shoved in front of me. “I told you we got along.” She raised her chin in that stubborn way I was starting to recognize.
“Really well from the looks of it,” Elm said, and Adelaide elbowed him, still looking perplexed.
Adelaide glanced between us. “I swore I saw you two arguing on the dance floor.”
“That’s what we do.” Elspeth shrugged. “We argue and then we kiss and make up.” She paused. “Look, this surprised us as much as it’s probably surprised you.”
What in the fuck was she going on about? I was as confused as Adelaide right now. None of this made sense.
“Okay.” Elm grabbed Adelaide’s arm, drawing her back out of the doorway. “I think maybe we should give them some privacy. Let them finish what they started. Closet, eh?” He shot a wink at me. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Draven.” And with that, he closed the door before Adelaide could protest.
Elspeth whirled around. “Don’t get any ideas.” She shook a finger at me.
“Me get any ideas?” I pressed my hands to my chest. “Why in the hellfire did you kiss me?”
She groaned and rubbed her face, her fingers brushing against her lips. Lips that had just been on mine. Damnit, I wanted them on mine again. Wanted to feel her green silky dress bunched up in my hands. Wanted to trail my lips across her collarbone, over her bare shoulders and down her arms.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked with a shaky voice.
I shook my head. “You answer my question first.”
“Fine.” She crossed her arms. “I don’t want people seeing us fight.” She wouldn’t meet my gaze. “We’re new to town, and we have goods to sell. We don’t want to cause any trouble or get unwanted attention. So when someone burst in the door, my first instinct was to...”
