But I would give it all to her, happily.
I know she will not let me, but if I died feeding Iris, at least I would know my life was not wasted. For a man like me, cursed to a life alone, that is nothing short of a triumph.
I’ve begun to wonder if her father felt that way as his wife devoured him.
Had he given his life for love?
If I did the same, would that be proof enough?
She props herself up on her elbow, as if she’s heard my thoughts directly.
“How do you feel?” she asks.
“Fine.”
“I didn’t take too much?”
“There’s no such thing as too much,” I remind her.
“Yes, there is.”
“Not if you’re still hungry.”
Her long hair pools across the bed, curtaining her face as she diverts her gaze to the pillow.
“I’m not.”
I brush the stray strands from her face. I’m not done looking.
“Good.”
She cuddles closer, resting her cheek on my chest, and I close my eyes, trying to memorize the soft flutter of her lashes on my skin. But my efforts are interrupted as a familiar cedar scent sweeps through the room and a knock sounds on the door a second later.
The subtle echo dies, and I know Dame is standing on the other side, waiting, but neither of us moves.
Somewhere in the fog of confusion, we both know that once we leave this bed, the spell will be broken, and the lie will be revealed, leaving us to face the truth—that we are two people incapable of love, yet desperately trying to mimic it.
She looks at me, and I wait until she nods before untangling myself from the mess of our bed.
I press a kiss to her face because the moment feels too significant not to punctuate, and I hand her the shirt I’d discarded on the floor.
“One sec!” I call, pulling on a pair of shorts in no particular hurry.
Iris presses in at my side as I answer the door.
“What are you two doing?” Dame snaps before I can get the door open all the way. “I’ve called you both like five times.”
He pushes the door open wide, revealing Iris wearing nothing but another of my baggy t-shirts, but he doesn’t seem surprised to see her this time. Although Kitty, who is standing close beside him, blushes a little.
“Phone’s off,” I say, shrugging. “What’s up?”
“I think it’s time you tell me what’s going on,” Dame says, holding out a small vial. “Kitty found that in Deacon’s pocket last night. After you docked him.”
He drops the little glass tube in my palm, and I sniff it.
Lovelace and peppercorns. Someone has been playing quite the game right under our noses.
“Truth serum?” I say, passing the vial back.
