Chapter Ten #2
She sighed. “I keep thinking how he’s the last boyfriend I’ll ever have who knew my father. Like, really knew him. Is that a strange thing to be sad about?”
“Not at all.” Brayden’s fathomless brown eyes were full of sorrow.
She cleared her throat, trying to refocus on the task at hand. “None of that’s going in this letter, of course.”
He searched her face, but all he said was “Good.”
She penned a few lines to Alastair explaining the same things she’d mentioned to Elestine.
She apologized for missing him when he stopped by after her father’s funeral.
The letter read awkwardly when she skimmed over it, but she couldn’t be bothered to try again.
Scarlett set it on top of the letter to Elestine.
“Where do I take these to be mailed?”
“I’ll take them after morning drills. The mail goes to Soleil on the afternoon train.”
“Thank you.”
She leaned back in Lachlan’s chair. “I suppose I should write to the Sigur Vieur ambassador to apologize for not turning up for my visit.”
Brayden shook his head. “I think you’ve officially reached the non-urgent portion of your to-do list. Why don’t we go do something relaxing, or fun, to take your mind off things?”
She put down her pen. What she really longed for was the before times. “I have a weird request.”
He looked at her curiously. “Anything for you.”
“Can we pretend my dad didn’t die and I’m here just to visit?”
He stilled at first, his eyes flickering with sadness or pity, but then he grinned and pushed his hair out of his face. “That, I can do.” He patted the couch beside him.
She plopped down next to him. Brayden stretched out his long legs, while her feet barely reached the floor. He took her hand in his and rubbed her wrist, sending jolts of pleasure down Scarlett’s arm.
“Tell me about the energy healing with Dr. Bowen.”
Her body relaxed into the sensation of his fingers kneading into her. She’d never known how tactile he was, and it was making it hard to remember he was just her friend.
“It was good but weird. I had a lot of memories come up.”
“Uh-oh,” he said.
“Not that memory, thankfully.” She couldn’t have handled reliving her dad’s death. “Only my breakup with Alastair.”
Brayden groaned. “It’s everywhere we turn.”
“I know, right? I can’t wait for it to be further behind me.”
His expression lightened. “Me too. I was trying to be neutral when you first told me, in case you did get back together, but I’m a huge fan of you ending it with him. I’m selfishly excited to say whatever I like again without worrying about what Alastair will think.”
“What kinds of stuff have you been holding back?”
“Stuff like… someone told me yesterday doing it doggy-style is banned in Soleil. Is that true?” His grin was wicked.
She frowned in confusion. “What? Where did you hear that?”
“Well, I assumed it’s not allowed since it’s totally magic.” His expression was comically earnest. “And, you know, magic is banned where you’re from. So sad for you.”
She stared at him for a beat and then shook with silent laughter. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it.”
She did. Scarlett stared wordlessly at his hands as he worked the rough pads of his fingers over her skin. His muscular arms flexed as he shifted to grab her other hand, which was bad enough, but when he dropped her right hand, it landed on his thigh. And she left it there.
And so did he.
When he kneaded the muscle below her thumb, she groaned with pleasure, the fingers of her other hand pressing into his leg. “Are you doing this because you’re so happy to see me? Or do you do this for all the girls?”
He smirked at her, a twinkle in his eyes. “What do you think?”
That old delicious tension she remembered so well from their talks through the mirror was back like it had never left.
“I don’t know,” she mumbled, not wanting to guess. “James and your dad are the only other people here that I know.”
Brayden squeezed her hand. “Oh, I meant to ask—did you get your phone working?”
She pulled it out, grateful he’d asked. “Not yet. Manon said she’d fix it, but we both fell asleep before she had a chance.”
“Give it here.” Brayden held Scarlett’s phone in his open palm. She watched wide-eyed as his palm and the phone glowed with a white light.
Scarlett leaned closer and touched his glowing hand. Her fingertips tingled. “That is fucking freaky. What’s making it glow?”
Brayden chuckled. “Magic, baby.”
“What happens when the phone dies?”
He looked at her like she was being thick. “You charge it again.”
“And you never run out of soul-light juice?”
Brayden raised one eyebrow. “You won’t run out of juice doing normal things like charging a phone as long as you’re taking care of yourself. Only sick people can’t use their soul light connection. Or the very drunk.”
He gave her back the phone.
“Thank you,” she said, pressing the power button. Her phone was lightweight, with a touch screen bigger than her hand.
“That thing is slick.” He eyed it as it lit up. “Show me how it works. I want to put my number in it so you can reach me now that you’re outside the Soleil firewall.”
She pulled up the screen for entering in a new contact, and Brayden typed out his number. Taking the phone back, she sent him a quick text.
“There—now you have mine.” She smiled at him.
“Let’s see… What else can I show you? I’m not totally sure what will work without being on the Soleil network, but I can at least show you what I’ve got downloaded.
” She opened up a movie. Then she pulled up a hologram of her favorite singer in 3D.
The pop star stood like a live doll on-screen as she belted out a song.
“Incredible.” Brayden stuck his fingers in the hologram, laughing. He was in awe of her phone the way she was in awe of his magic.
“What does yours look like?” she asked.
He held out his phone.
Scarlett took it, examining the clunky thing. “A black-and-white screen?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, no color. No video. But it calls people.”
Scarlett shook her head. “The rest of the world needs our tech.”
“Yes, please. I want a cool phone.”
Her heart lifted—that was something she could give him. “I’ll get you one for winter solstice. I’ll sneak it into the country for you.”
Brayden laughed. “Don’t break any rules for me. You wanting to come back is enough of a gift. It’s nice to know you don’t feel the same as the rest of Soleil seems to. Most of your friends probably think we’re a bunch of nasty magic worshippers.”
“Not everyone thinks that. I certainly don’t. After the energy healing I received today, I’ll go back to Soleil and campaign hard to legalize magic. Half my family is from Clair de Lune, and you make life here sound so fun.”
“It is fun here. So fun.” He released her hand. “Speaking of fun—what else should we do tonight?”
Scarlett stared at him. She knew what she wanted to do. What would he do if I reached up and…?
He continued. “We could watch a movie if you want?”
Fuck it.
“You know what I want?” Her heart rate sped up as she got on her knees so her face was on the same level as his. “Kiss me.” So much for not rocking the boat while she was here. But seriously, fuck it.
You only live once, right?
Brayden’s face was unreadable as his gaze dipped to her mouth.
Was that a green light? She moved closer, desperately hoping he’d reach for her and pull her onto his lap.
She put her hand on the nape of his neck, threading her fingers into his hair so she could pull him closer.
But before she could press her lips to his, he put his hand up.
“Wait.”
Wait?
Wait?
She fell back on her heels, and her heart dropped. “I’m sorry.”
“Scarlett,” he whispered, reaching for her, but she pulled away.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. It took all her willpower not to cry.
“I want you, but you’re grieving, and I don’t want to be your rebound. You mean more to me than that.”
She forced a smile. “Sure. Of course.”
He frowned at her short answer and her obvious hurt. “I just want you to wait until you’re running toward me, not away from something else.”
“I get it.” She stood. “I’m going back to my room.”
He grabbed her hand, unwilling to let her go so easily. “Are we okay?”
“Of course.” Why did I do this to us? She smiled as tears hit her cheeks. “I’m fine.” She pulled her hand out of his and hurried out of the study, but instead of heading toward her room, she made her way downstairs.
Scarlett prayed to not run into anyone, but luck wasn’t on her side. James was lingering in the foyer by the door to the courtyard, dressed like he was going out.
“Hey—” Concern etched across his features when he saw her expression. “Are you all right?”
“Hey,” she said with false brightness. “Don’t worry—I’m just sad about my dad. I’m going out for some air.”
“Don’t go into the woods. You know it’s dangerous, right?” he called out after her.
“I won’t,” she replied, striding off into the dark Clair de Lune night.