Page 53 of Trick Me
“Elders too. They’re thrilled. Already planning the ceremony.”
“Ceremony?”
“A Beta was picking out decorations. I didn’t agree to that part.”
My jaw drops. “Ash.”
He shrugs, smiling like I’m the only thing worth looking at in the entire city. “I told them to calm down. First, I came to get you. But there’s no rush.”
“We barely know each other, though.”
“Exactly,” he says and steps back just enough to keep his hands cradling my face. “Which is why I’m taking you on a proper date tonight. After work. Dinner. Conversation. All the boring, beautiful things people do when they’re not breaking curses and running for their lives.”
I blink at him. “You want to go slow?”
“I want to do this right. We deserve that, don’t you think? A chance to fall in love without magical interference.”
My heart makes an odd, fluttery lurch in mychest. It feels like it’s not just mine anymore. Like something in me recognizes something in him.
Then he’s kissing me.
It’s not like last night.
Not rushed. Not frantic. Not painted in fire and fear and hunger.
This kiss is warmth. It’s steady hands and steady hearts. The way his lips move slowly against mine, like we have time. Like we’re choosing this.
His hands tangle in my hair, pulling me closer, and I melt into him, completely and absolutely, until I feel that strange tether in my chest pulse, like it’s content now. Like it’s where I belong.
“I fell for you hard last night,” he murmurs against my lips. “Half a day, and I missed you like a limb.”
I smirk. “That’s very codependent of you.”
“We literally merged parts of our souls. I think codependency is implied.”
He kisses me again, deeper this time, and I’m just sinking into the taste of him when giggling from outside the room breaks the moment.
I freeze.
So does he.
I turn slowly toward the door. Narrow my eyes. Then march across the room and fling it open.
Sera and three other colleagues all stumble backward, clearly guilty.
“Seriously?” I snap.
Sera straightens and tosses her hair. “We wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“You wanted gossip.”
“That too,” she says brightly. “Also, I might have already ordered celebratory pastries.”
I giggle, my cheeks already burning up.
Ash chuckles behind me, clearly enjoying this far too much.
“I hate all of you,” I mutter.
