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"I had an idea," he replied, thrusting a container of something toward me as well as a curved tool.
I tilted my head to the side, brow furrowed as I tried to figure out what it was.
"It's a new flavor. I think this one will work."
I shook my head, pushing the container away. "No, Brody. You don't want to rush this. If you fail, then you'll only have one more chance." My gut ached, churning with nerves. It was too soon, and he had failed so spectacularly for the first time.
But there was a twinkle in his eyes, and I knew he was going to insist.
"I'm sure, Selene, and if this doesn't work, I'll find something that will. Do you trust me?"
I pressed my lips together.
I did trust him, but if he got this wrong, we would both suffer.
After taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Yes, I trust you." At least, I trusted he believed he was right. It was the best I could do under the circumstances.
He smiled, the expression making him even more handsome. How was I going to keep my distance from him? Taking my hand in his, he placed the container into it. It was cold, and I shrank away, letting it drop to the floor between us.
"It won't hurt you, I promise," he said gently, scooping it back up. He kept hold of it, though, peeling back a skin on top to reveal something creamy inside. "And it's meant to be cold. This is called ice cream."
"Ice cream," I repeated, testing the name out. It sounded strange in my mouth and I could only hope it didn't taste strange as well.
"This is Berry Ripple," he said, grinning at me. "Because you like berries."
I raised an eyebrow, still uncertain.
He put the utensil into the container and scooped some of the substance up. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before and I could feel my tongue tingle as though I was already tasting it. Not all tingles were good, though; maybe it was dangerous.
Maybe he had figured out that my mother would ensure his death and he had decided to get in first.
No.
I couldn't believe it. Not when he was looking at me with such kind, caring eyes.
He held the morsel out to me, but I shook my head, pressing my lips together.
"You first. Show me how to eat it."
Brody laughed, a soft chuckle that warmed me from the inside. "It's easy," he said. "Like this." And with that he simply popped the tool into his mouth, closed his lips and slid it out again, clean as a leaf after rain.
My mouth dropped open and before I realized what I was doing, I reached out and put my finger between his soft, damp lips.
The substance was still cool, melting against his warm tongue, the combined sensation of it sending a shiver of pleasure through my body.
Brody looked at me with wide eyes, the whites of them gleaming in the moonlight. His tongue moved against my finger, gentle and probing. He realized what he was doing and opened his mouth. Awkwardly, I removed my finger and gnawed on my lip.
"Sorry. I just…" I shook my head, the feathers around my face ruffling. "I'm not sure what came over me."
He smiled, a soft expression that seemed to light up his face. "It's okay." He reached out and ran his thumb along my jawline.
His touch sent sparks through me, igniting something deep inside my heart that I had thought I might never experience.
Harpies always mated with humans, but the idea of killing him after—killing anyone—was repugnant to me. And yet he was here. Already bound to me by the geas. Already destined to die.
"What is this?" I asked, pointed to the utensil to try to change the topic. His gaze slid away from mine to see what I was referring to.
"It's a spoon," he said. "Do you not have them?"
