Azalea
“Thisisaterribleidea,” I groan the next day, as Rhoden, and I stare into the pot we just took off the coals. The thick, syrupy liquid inside continues to bubble even after it’s been pulled from the heat.
“It’s a great idea, you hush.” Rhoden swats at me.
“What if he knows I put something into his drink?” I look back down at the practically black liquid, knowing it will be painfully obviously to spot in a drink.
“It cools into a clear color.” Rhoden stirs the mixture before looking down to read the instructions from the book we pulled from the library.
When it comes to making tonics, if you have a magical background, it can boost the effects of whatever concoction you’re brewing. However, not all potions need magic in order to work, which is very lucky for the two of us, seeing as neither of us has a magical bone in our bodies.
Rhoden’s brilliant idea includes me inviting Braxton to have a drink in his study after dinner tonight. Then, when he isn’t looking, I’m supposed to slip this little concoction into his drink.When he begins to get drowsy, it means the elixir is taking effect, and I can help him to his room, giving me ample opportunity to snoop both in his room and his study.
While I do feel guilty about more or less drugging Braxton, Rhoden’s already assured me it wouldn’t be necessary if not for his fastidious need to lock both his study and room whenever he’s not occupying them.
“What if he sees me slip it into his drink?” My eyes widen as I watch Rhoden give the mixture another stir and see some of the black fading into a soft gray hue.
“That’s why you have to have some finesse with it.”
“Finesse?” I sit back, my knees beginning to ache from kneeling over the bowl.
We figured hiding ourselves behind the counters in the kitchen would buy us at least a little bit of time if anyone came in and found us, but neither of us factored in that this would leave us kneeling on the stone floor for an extended period of time.
“Finesse,” Rhoden shimmies her shoulders softly this time when she says it.
I keep my perplexed expression firmly in place.
“Use your boobs is what I’m saying,” she clarifies with an eye roll.
I gape at her before covering my chest by crossing my arms over it.
“Rhoden!” I gasp.
“Oh, don’t be so modest. If I had ones like yours, I’d happily show them off every chance I got.”
I slowly blink, at a complete loss for words.
“You don’t have to do anything. Believe me. As long as you let him know they exist, he’ll be distracted. And don’t even pretend like I didn’t catch you in those couple of bustier dresses when we first started this plan. I help you get dressed, remember.”
“Fair.” I shrug, knowing she’s right. “But what if he does try to do something?”
I’m far from being a virgin, but thinking back on the couple of times I’ve let Braxton get too close has my stomach flipping. I know I would never let him go that far, but that does leave me with the question of how far I would let him go. I shake the thoughts from my head and think about Phillip, who is waiting for me at home, and I can practically feel my guilt branding me across my skin.
I should be disgusted at the thought of Braxton touching me, and a part of me is. But that part is not nearly as loud as my relentlessly budding curiosity. Try as I might, I can’t deny that there is something that sparks to life inside me whenever I feel Braxton’s fingers brush my skin.
This is ludicrous. I force myself to remember the feel of Phillip. I’m only thinking any of these thoughts about Braxton because I’m locked away with him, but this won’t be forever. I will get myself back home.
I force myself to remember how good Phillip’s hands felt when they would roam my body. How it felt to have him fill and stretch me to my fullest. My traitorous mind flashes to Braxton pushing his hard length against me last night. Even through his clothes and the countless layers of my dress, I could tell that he had nothing to be shy about.
My memories with Phillip are filled with worshipping kisses and gentle caresses, mixed with a medley of stolen glances. Our love is young, brilliant, and beautiful, but something about it feels so out of reach for me now. Instead, my mind takes an involuntary step further into imagining what it would be like to bed Braxton. It’s a twisted thought, but one I can’t stop myself from pondering.
Something tells me he wouldn’t be a gentle lover, and that thought sends a thrill shooting to my core. While I can imaginehim worshipping every inch of me with his kisses, much like Phillip has, it would be fervent, desperate even. His fingers would dig into my flesh as a tormented longing took hold of the two of us. My cheeks heat at my body’s reaction to my fantasy, and I can’t help but wonder who this castle is turning me into.Why would I ever want something so gnarled and twisted over the love that I have?I wouldn’t, yet somehow I feel my thighs growing slick from these thoughts alone.
“Look!” Rhoden’s whispered exclamation pulls me from my thoughts, and I eagerly let it.
Looking down into the pot, I see the liquid has gone completely clear.
“The vile, the vile!” Rhoden slaps at my arm in excitement before holding her hand out, palm up, for me to put the vial for the potion into.
