Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
She’s talking too fast, as if she can outrun my statement. Maybe I should allow her to divert me, but I am who I am. “Weren’t you the one who told me intentions matter less than the result?”
“Not me. Azazel.” She shakes her head. “It was very reasonable thing to say, and I am not reasonable.”
“You’re very smart, Lina.” I move a pawn, testing if I can draw her queen out. “You’re kind and funny.” I watch her consider her next move and can’t help adding, “You’re also so sexy, it takes my breath away.”
She pauses, her hand hovering again. “You just said that to distract me from kicking your ass at this game.”
“That doesn’t make it less true.” I find myself smiling. The expression feels strange on my face. “Did it work as far as distraction goes?”
“No,” she says primly. She moves to a different piece and shifts it on the board. “Checkmate.”
“What?” I jerk forward and stare at the board. Oh, the clever little brat. “You set me up.”
“Did I?” Catalina bats her eyes at me, but she can’t stop the broad grin from pulling at her lips. “I think it was an accident. Maybe we should play again to make sure.”
This is . . . fun. I start putting the pieces back to rights. “Yes, let’s.”
We play long enough that the food arrives. Della delivers it herself, and I make sure to thank her profusely. It’s not quite an apology for how things have gone between us in the past few weeks, but it’s the first step. I’ll talk to her tomorrow and ensure we’re on the same page.
It’s only when she leaves through the side door tucked into the wall that Catalina leans forward and inhales deeply. She goes still. “Not fish?”
“I was informed that you’re getting a bit tired of the options, so I thought to try something else.” I have the absurd need to fidget as Catalina pokes at the food on the plate. I find myself almost babbling. “I am on serviceable terms with Bram of the gargoyles, and so I arranged for an import of things I thought you might like.”
“You did this for me?” She picks up a thick slice of bread with melted butter and some spices on it. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” Not because of guilt . . . or at least not solely out of guilt. I didn’t mean to mistreat Catalina, and I can’t go back and change those first few weeks, but I can ensure she is well treated going forward. If she would like to eat something besides fish, that’s the least I can do. “If you want something different, all you have to do is ask.”
“Surely it’s not that easy.” She takes a bite of the bread, and her eyes practically roll back in her head. “Whatever your reasons, thank you. This is marvelous.”
My chest warms and feels strangely light. The sensation only gets more pronounced as the afternoon progresses into evening. We play a few more games, and while Catalina doesn’t manage to beat me again, she’s playing well enough that I have to focus in order to stay ahead of her.
But eventually she’s slumping and my eyes are burning from exhaustion. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but I’m willing to press the issue to give us both what we need: her in my bed. “Catalina.”
She holds out a hand, expression mutinous. “I will come to bed with you on one condition—you don’t say a single word about how fickle I am in changing my mind about this.”
“You’re not fickle.” That, I’m sure of. She knows what she wants, but she’s afraid to reach for it, even as she pretends she’s not. I understand in a strange sort of way. Catalina presents a front of being as changeable as the wind, but I’m beginning to see the heart of her.
I hold out a hand. “Will you come to bed with me?”
For a moment, it seems like she might argue, but she finally slips her hand into mine and lets me pull her into my arms. “Only because you asked so nicely.”
“Of course.”
“No other reason. I’m just being agreeable since you fed me bread.”
I hide my smile in her hair as I lift her into my arms. “I’ll feed you bread every day if this is the result.”
“Stop that.” She snuggles closer as I ease into the bed. It’s made for my people, the sides curved and the space filled with large pillows that we can burrow our tentacles around for suitable support. The result is that Catalina ends up tucked against my side, her head on my chest. She sighs. Her voice already slurs a bit with exhaustion. “If you keep doing nice things for me, I’m going to think you really like me.”