hair is loose,” Jasmine observed from
where she sagged against the wall.
He gave her a rakish smile and ran both his
hands through it, smoothing it back. “So is yours.”
“Yeah, but mine started out that way.” A
corner of her mouth tugged up, and she looked down shyly, uneasy
with this thing between them. Somehow, with their second kiss, a
wall had shivered and collapsed, and she was afraid to look beyond
the swirling dust to see what the darkness might conceal.
Jayems and his lady walked around the corner.
Jayems’ eyebrow shot up as he surveyed the pair; Keilor with a
gleam in his eye and reeking of possessive dominance, Jasmine
leaning against the wall as if afraid her knees would fail her. It
didn’t take much imagination to figure out what had been going on.
“Should we expect you at dinner?” He addressed the comment to this
cousin with some amusement.
Rihlia jabbed him in the ribs and scowled at
Keilor as she looped her arm protectively through Jasmine’s. “She’s
coming to dinner, and I’m escorting her.” She shot Keilor a look of
disgust. “At least that way I’ll know she’ll get there.”
Lady Rhapsody smiled when they entered the
room. Her eyes rested first, as always, on her daughter, and then
settled on Jasmine with kindness. Taking her hands, she asked with
concern, “You must be in better spirits to be joining us this
night, Jasmine. I am glad to see it.” Her eyes rested with love on
Rihlia. “My daughter’s face casts a shadow whenever you aren’t
near.”
Jasmine smiled wryly. “Thank you. I’ll try to
behave myself this evening.”
Lady Portae huffed and waved a perfumed hand.
Jasmine tried not to stare at the soft flesh that oozed around her
many rings. “I certainly hope not, my dear. You livened things up
the other night. I can see why our Rihlia adores you.”
As they moved towards the table to begin the
blessing, Jasmine was a little surprised when Fallon moved to stand
behind her.
He gave her a charming smile, lifting her
hand for a gallant kiss. “I was unaware of your unique...gift last
evening, dear lady, but I’m quite certain I would have been equally
devastated without it. May I have the pleasure of sharing this
blessing with you?” He took her smile for assent and placed his
strong hands on her shoulders while Jayems blessed the meal.
She did her best to ignore Keilor as he stood
across the table, sheltering Urseya.
“You can do better, you know.”
Mildly startled, Keilor dragged his eyes back
to his dinner companion, who was frowning at the remaining curry on
her plate, absently poking it with her chopsticks. He didn’t
pretend not to know what Urseya was talking about. This was the
third time he’d lost the thread of her bright chatter and let his
eyes rove across the table. “Could I?” No one was listening to
them—all were caught up in a boyhood anecdote Fallon was
sharing.
Urseya set down her chopsticks, laying them
across her plate to signal that she was finished. A servant
immediately collected her plate, and Urseya waited until she was
done to continue. “The charmers I have heard tales of are not known
for their fidelity. Why take only one lover when one can have the
adoration of hundreds...as well as the gifts.”
He answered carefully, being certain to keep
his voice low. Jasmine would certainly never hear it. “And you fear
she would betray me?”
She shrugged. “One cannot say. Frankly, I’m a
little surprised at our cousin allowing the charmer around Jayems.
I’m not certain I would trust her around my man.”
Keilor felt a stab of impatience at her
thinly veiled jealousy, and was about to reply when Rihlia suddenly
said, “Hey, Jasmine—you never did tell me what happened on your
date with Chris. How did it go?” When Jasmine just blinked at her
in confusion, Rihlia prompted teasingly, “You know, the hot date
you had Friday night. I wasn’t there to hear a report, and in the
confusion, I forgot to ask.
Rebecca Brooke
Samantha Whiskey
Erin Nicholas
David Lee
Cecily Anne Paterson
Margo Maguire
Amber Morgan
Irish Winters
Lizzie Lynn Lee
Welcome Cole