Page 116 of The Courting of Bristol Keats
Hollis made a place beside her for Bristol, and she joined them on the blanket, surveying the food laid out in the center. One thing the fae always had in abundance was food, at least as long as the Cauldron of Plenty remained in safe hands.
“I think their repast is just frustration eating after us whooping their asses today,” Sashka hooted, still exhilarated by their triumph over the officers in drills.
Across the meadow, Melizan and Cosette paused from their repast and turned their heads toward Sashka. Even from thirty yards away, their stares were numbing.
“Oh shit,” Sashka mumbled, and glued her gaze to her lap like she wished she had already mastered the art of disappearing.
The others broke into muffled fits of laughter.
“I don’t think they heard you,” Hollis said unconvincingly, which made them laugh more, but they all took note and were careful to keep their voices low as they continued their chatter.
“They are quite the item, aren’t they?” Avery said.
“A powerhouse,” Bristol agreed.
Hollis frowned. “I wish I was somebody’s item. What about Quin?” She fanned her hand in front of her like just the mention of his name seared her skin. “I love that he’s shorter than me and I can kiss the top of his sexy head. I mean, I could, if we were an item. But he’s twenty-six. Do you think he’s too young for me?”
A discussion of their four-year age gap ensued, and everyone agreed that four years was a trifle.
“My mother was five years older than my father,” Bristol added. “And it worked out for them.” But then remembering their last fateful argument, she added, “Mostly.”
“Well, speaking of items . . .” Sashka said. They all looked at Bristol in unison, like they had planned for this conversation to land on her.
“Me?” Bristol answered innocently.
“Yes, you,” Rose said. They inched closer to block out Melizan’s and Cosette’s sensitive ears. “You can’t evade us any longer! We want details!”
“Juicy details!” Avery added.
Sashka’s brows shot up. “Is he a good kisser?”
“Do you love him?” Avery asked. “Have you told him? Has he told you?”
“No. I haven’t—We—”
“You don’t love him?” Hollis gasped. “Then he must be one helluva kisser.”
“Is he?” Sashka asked again. “A good kisser? What is it like?”
Bristol swallowed a groan. Madame Chastain had given them all a lecture about keeping their heads about them during Beltane. Julia had said it was similar to spring fever in the mortal world, but here the pull was much stronger and could overtake your good sense.Just keep your head about you, and you’ll be fine, she told them. But the season crept into everyone’s bones just the same, even Julia’s, who danced continuously with Lord Fently last night until they both disappeared into the shadows. She arrived at drills late, her hair disheveled, but with a smile on her face.
Sashka drew in an eager breath. “And what about his—”
“Holy hell, Sashka! Yes, he’s a good kisser,” Bristol said, wanting to avoid the rest of her question. “And no, I haven’t told him I love him.”
“But do you?” Rose asked again.
Bristol exhaled a long breath. Rose always asked everything so innocently, like there were simple yes or no answers.
Julia eyed Bristol, waiting, too, but her expression was filled more with concern than curiosity.
She wanted to reply but wasn’t sure how.Lovewas a strange word. Bristol didn’t quite trust it. It was used every day to place value on the simplest, most trivial things, from pizza toppings to overpriced party dresses to well-worn sneakers. Her mother had claimed Bristol’s father was the love of her life, and yet she had left him—and left him broken. What kind of love was that?
Bristol knew she loved being with Tyghan. She soaked in every minute they were together, and when they were apart, she couldn’t wait to be with him again. His gaze was fire inside her. His kiss. Just thinking about it made her blood race. She would never tire of his lips on hers, or his hands exploring her body. Or the way he studied her like he had found some fascinating treasure. And there was no denying, their lovemaking was great and getting better by the day. She was learning things. So was he, both of them eager to please the other.
But it was their small moments together that whittled to her core: the crook of his little finger hooked with her own as they walked to drills, his laugh that came more often now, the way he would notice a wayward strand of her hair and tuck it behind her ear, the sound of his breaths beside her as he slept peacefully, his hand gently sponging her back as they bathed, his caress, slow and tender, the way they talked in the middle of the night, wanting more of each other than they wanted sleep—all these moments, they filled an emptiness that had lurked inside her for too long.
Whatever she and Tyghan had, she liked it a lot, and she didn’t want to muck it up with a confusing word that came with expectations. She just wanted to watch what they had change from one wondrous thing into something even better.When this is all over.All she knew was that being with him made everything inside her feel warm and right, and—she hated to admit—slightly giddy. A burning anticipation ran through her every time he walked into a room, every time he glanced her way with some silent message simmering in his eyes. A wordless message meant just for her.
