As in, her grandmotherand her.
Okay, clearly she’s choosing every single word with care right now. I already sensed this was important, but I sit up and give Lor more attention and focus than I’ve given anything in my life. I don’t want to miss a word, and I don’t want to break the tentative trust she’s placing in me.
“Okay, so…” I lean sideways to eye the bag she sat next to her. “That means in the bag is…”
After a moment, Lor slowly nods.
“It’s stardust,” she confirms.
“And… your grandmother’s journal?”
“She wrote about it. Her life as a star-chaser. What little of it she had, anyway.”
Lor’s body starts to close in on itself, deflating, and alarm prickles along the back of my neck. Maybe this is too much for her? It’s clear she wasn’t sure about talking about it in the first place, and I kind of forced her hand with my snooping.
I mentally kick myself, then fidget with her bracelet under the leather cuff I’m wearing to hide it. My fingers are begging for a flame, but now is not the time, and I won’t risk burning any of Lor’s few possessions.
“We don’t have to talk about it any more if you don’t want to.”
“You can’t tell anyone.” Her voice is hard and I hold in a flinch of surprise.
I lean closer and reach out, pulling one of her hands into mine. Her fidgeting stills as she looks between our hands and my eyes. To my surprise, it also soothes my itch to play with fire.
“I won’t, Lor. I won’t speak a word of it.”
After another eternity of willing her to believe me, she sucks in a breath and nods. The tension drains from her body and mine loosens with relief. She almost looks like she’s going to laugh for a second until her eyes snag on my lip ring and she stills for a long moment, then launches herself into my arms.
17
SNEAKY DEMON
Ro
Lor allowed me to sleep at her place after we “got it out of our systems for good this time” last night. I snort at the memory of her insisting this would be it. Neither of us believed it, but I didn’t argue. I want more than just her body, so I can be patient for her. I roll over in the scratchy sheets, wondering how she sleeps on these every night, then haul myself out of bed.
She’s puttering around in the kitchen, and the sound of the the coffee maker spluttering is so domestic I want to do a little happy dance. Smiling already, I wander into the hallway in time to overhear Lor talking to the cat she refuses to claim, but is totally hers.
“Kahlo, how many times do I have to tell you?” Lor hisses in a whisper. “Get off the counter.”
Kahlo hisses back, then there’s a muffled crash.
“Oh my god, you’re so dramatic,” Lor whisper-yells.
I’d bet all my savings Kahlo just pushed something off the counter in retaliation for Lor’s scolding. I fake a yawn, covering my mouth to hide my grin as I round the corner into the kitchen.
“Mornin!”
Lor jumps, turning her scathing glare on me from where she’s crouched on the floor wiping up coffee grounds. I pretend it’s a smile; someday we’ll get there. She’s only just learning how to, so I can’t expect her to be smiling at me all the time yet.
“You’re a morning person, aren’t you?” Lor says as though it’s an accusation.
I shrug, tipping my nose into the air as the coffee starts filling the pot. “Mmm, that smells amazing. Did you make enough for me?”
Lor stands, tosses out the paper towels she was using, then turns back to me. I rub my hand over my bare chest, noting how her gaze follows the movement. Her eyes snag on my nipple rings, then dart up to my lip ring. Girl loves some piercings, lucky for me.
My grin widens. How can I not feel smug when she’s devouring me with those stunning grey eyes?
Unfortunately, she doesn’t follow through on whatever tempting thoughts she’s having.
