“It was all Daria,” Lissa replied, rinsing off the pungent, antiseptic soap.“Her and Jason had a thing a while back, so she put in a call.I’m pretty sure she has a magic vagina the way she can call up any ex-lover and they’ll crawl through fire to make her happy.”
“Wow,” Ria said, grabbing a blue rag off a hook and drying her hands.“Must be nice.I don’t think my lady bits have that kind of power.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Lissa commented, then snapped her mouth shut.So much for playing it cool.
Ria gave a small smile and handed over the rag for Lissa to use while she pulled a brown apron over her head.“Listen, about that.I wanted to talk to you about something.I really appreciate your efforts at friendship, and today has been wonderful hanging out with you, but I think we both know we’ll never be friends, Lissa.This”—she gestured around her—“is not something you do for a friend.”
“Daria made it happen,” Lissa protested, tossing the rag into what looked like a dirty laundry bin and reaching for her own hideous apron.
“Stop,” Ria said, stepping closer.“Don’t pretend like you weren’t a part of this because I never told Daria I loved sea lions.”
Lissa grinned and tied the apron strings behind her back.“It’s just a good thing you’re not a fan of sharks.I don’t think she’s hooked up with anyone in that department.”Lissa paused, then added.“Yet.”
They both laughed, and Ria closed the gap even more.“I’m serious, Lissa.This means so much to me, and I need you to know that, but I can’t fully enjoy it because I know it’s the spell making you want to please me.”
For the first time, Lissa was actually prepared to combat Ria’s magic fixation.“About that… Daria told me you think you put a love spell on me.And before you argue, let me say this.There are some things I need to tell you, and after you hear them, I will do whatever it takes to convince you there is no spell on me.”
“But there is a spell,” Ria argued.“I know you don’t believe in magic, but it’s real.Why do you think every time we get close something happens?The vomiting?The wave?I messed with your free will, and Hecate is making me pay for it.”
“I don’t believe that,” Lissa replied, brushing a stray curl off Ria’s face.“I’ll kiss you right now and prove to you nothing is going to happen.Would that be enough to convince you?”
Ria chewed on her lower lip.“Maybe.But it’s not enough.I did have another idea though.Would you be willing to—”
The steel door popped open, and Jason waved at them.“Come on, ladies.It’s dinner time.”
“Tell me later,” Lissa insisted, gently nudging Ria toward the door.
A blast of warm air hit them as they stepped out into the sea lion enclosure, making sure to hang back on the small, grated platform above the pool.
“Here you go,” Jason said, handing them each a small fish.“Lob it up high, and they’ll catch it.”
Lissa glanced down at the four sea lions staring intently at her and tossed her fish into the middle of the cluster.The largest one caught it and let out a deep honking chuff.
“Oh, I love their barks,” Ria gushed, her eyes lighting up with joy.“They’re like sea puppies.”
“Hungry sea puppies,” Jason reminded her.
“Right,” Ria said, her eyes darting between the four jet black sets of eyes staring longingly at the fish in her hand before she tossed the morsel to the smallest one off to the side.All four made a leap for it, but the fish went straight into the mouth of the tiny one.
Ria started to squeal, then pressed the back of her wrist over her mouth, looking chagrined.“Sorry,” she whispered to Jason, who just laughed and picked up the bucket to start tossing fish toward the sea lions.
“This is so fun,” Ria whispered to Lissa between their tosses, her eyes fixated on the animals as they rolled and dove for the fish, putting on a show for the watching crowd.
“I’m glad you like it,” Lissa replied, sliding her hand around Ria’s waist.“It was worth it to see the smile on your face.”
Ria turned to her, the smile fading slightly as her eyes landed on Lissa’s lips.Placing a hand on Lissa’s chest, Ria leaned in.“That you did this for me, means everything.Spell or no spell.”
Lissa cupped Ria’s face in her hand, her thumb nuzzling the witch’s cheek.“I just wish I could prove to you it’s all real.The only magic here is the light in your eyes.I care about you, Ria.If your spell is real, then all it did was amplify what was already there.The truth is—”
Before Lissa could get the first sentence of her confession out, Ria silenced her words by pressing her lips to Lissa’s.
Caught off guard, Lissa froze for half a heartbeat before sinking into the kiss, content to forget everything but that moment.There was no raucous crowd.No barking sea lions.No fishy odor.There was only Ria and the taste of her as Lissa’s tongue begged entrance to Ria’s mouth, the urge to consume her overwhelming.
Ria surrendered, allowing Lissa to take control, and that small act ignited a fire inside her.Lissa’s tongue swept into Ria’s mouth, and her arms gripped tightly around Ria’s waist, deepening the kiss.
After a long blissful second, Lissa pulled back just enough to look into the witch’s eyes.“I told you nothing was working against us.”
Ria grinned.“I guess you were—”
