“Keep reading!” Madame Leticia says hungrily. “Tell me what it says about learning future events.”
“Okay, but if you’re going to work me like a donkey, I at least need a glass of water,” I say.
Fiona laughs and runs off to get me water.
I keep reading and Madame Leticia eats up my words with her eyes.
Chapter Fifteen
Violet
I have decided, this is it. It’s time to make my move on Alex. He is in his room. Irene learned too late that all of the gargoyles had their own rooms, after she had already gone through them, repainted, and moved things around. I guess spending eternity with each other makes it so you need your own space. All of the gargoyles have been slowly finding all of their personal belongings that Irene had moved throughout the house and putting them back where they belong. Since Irene found out about the gargoyles, she had stopped the work on the estate. The house is mostly done, but she feels self-conscious having a bunch of people here. We now understand all too well why none of my Kai ancestors has ever let anyone up here.
His door is open. I still knock on the doorway. He lifts his head from the book he was reading; as soon as his eyes find me, a cacophony of emotions cross his face. He smirks.
“Come on in.”
“What’s that look for?” I ask.
“I like your nails.” He smiles.
Zemira, Zaphyra, and I had taken Irene’s car down river to the mall and had gotten our nails done earlier. I got white pointed claws with palm trees painted on my accent fingers. I miss palm trees. We had also done some shopping. Zemira bought a red leather jacket. She tried to get me to buy one too, but I refused. Zaphyra had gotten new earrings; she said her favorite pair had tarnished in her sleep. I did get a new pair of running shoes; during the slug fiasco, I got demon goo on my old pair and it wasn’t coming out. I have a feeling I’m going to go through lots and lots of shoes.
“Yeah? I think they’re fun. Now when a demon comes at me, I can scratch their eyes out with tiny palm trees.”
“Only you.” He shakes his head.
“Have you found all of your stuff yet?” I ask pointing at the pile of boxes that weren’t in here a few days ago.
“That aunt of yours has an unholy knack at hiding things.”
“Ah, you must be still missing your RC car; boys get so territorial over their cars.” I stand awkwardly in the middle of his room.
“Nah, Phelix and I found those first. We’ve been having races down the hallways that Percy says he can hear from the first-floor library.”
“You’ll have to tell Aaiden about those races. I’m sure he’d like to get in on that.”
“Noted,” he gives me a shrewd glare, “Did you come here to talk about racecars?” He stands up.
I chew my lip. “That depends, do you need a flag girl to start your next race? I could wear a neck scarf and everything.” I pose with one arm in the air.
“Please do that, it will totally distract Phelix and he will lose.”
“I doubt it.” I laugh
“You can be very distracting,” he says taking a step closer to me.
“For you or Phelix?” I ask looking up at him.
“The whole world is doomed to be distracted whenever you walk into a room.”
I cock my head. “Is that a fat joke? Because I’ll have you know, I come by my big butt honestly and I wear it with pride.”
He shakes his head. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” I grin at him knowing full well what he means. I’ve been annoying Irene and Ezra for years with my mouth.
“Always know when and how to say the one thing I never expect in a conversation.”
I shrug. “Eh, it’s a gift.”
He steps closer to me. “Why are you here, Violet?”
I cluck my tongue. “I’m here to do something crazy and I’m working up the nerve.”
His eyes scan my face. I feel my cheeks heating up the longer he looks at me. It’s so embarrassing the effect his stares have on me. This is what I’m here for though, to see what it is Alex and I are feeling. I take the final step closing the space between us, and I meet his stare.
“I see,” he says.
“You do?”
“I’m going to kiss you now, Violet Kai. This means you’ll have to stop talking long enough for me to do so.”
“Hey—” I want to argue, but Alex swoops in and kisses me. Electricity surges through my body. His human lips are soft and inviting. He wraps his arms around my hips.
I kiss him back. I pull him as close as I can. Our kiss deepens, heightening in intensity. All I can think, smell, or feel is Alex. My heart races. His hands slide up my sides causing me to shiver. I grab his jaw in my hand. We start moving, I’m being shoved backwards towards the door. I can’t stop kissing him. My blood is raging with electric fire. I feel his arm shoot out and shut the door. Now it makes sense why we were moving. He shoves me up against the now closed door. Our lips never break. His hands explore over me until he grabs my sides; I’m lifted up. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist. We taste and explore each other.
“Violet,” he whispers against my mouth.
No, talking is bad. He was right, I don’t like talking anymore. I only like kissing. I pull him tighter to me.
“We should stop,” he says in between kisses.
“Worst idea you’ve ever had,” I respond.
He laughs deep. His kisses move down my jaw and to my neck. An entire new flurry of emotions settles in my stomach. I close my eyes and just feel.
“You’re making this very difficult,” he says into my neck.
“Everything about me is difficult, you’ll get used to it.” I grab his face and kiss him again.
“I have to be careful in these situations,” he warns.
I pause. “How so?”
“I’m supposed to be trying to be good, and you’re making me think very bad thoughts.” He smiles at me.
“Or very good thoughts, if they’re anything like mine.” I smile back.
“So, this is what you came for tonight? To sleep with me?” he asks smirking.
I almost choke. “No! I...I came to see if you feel the same way I do about you.” The burning fire of embarrassment floods my face.
“Did you get an answer yet?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” My arms are still wrapped around him and so are my legs. None of this tells me how he’s feeling about this.
“What do you want to know?” He cocks his head.
“Do you gift all your zoanas with your amazing lips? Or am I special?” I run my thumb over his bottom lip. That I really do want to know. Is dating zoanas off limits? Does he even want to date me? I don’t say it all though. One thing at a time.
The expression on his face is incredulous. “This is the first time I think anything like this has ever happened with any zoana. I can hardly believe that you...that we just kissed...again.” He shakes his head.
“Hmm...” Now I’m back to worrying if this is even allowed. Will my ancestors jump out of my book and punish me?
“I do want to tell you some things though. I think it will clear things up for you. I hope it will.” He searches my face.