Chapter 67 - Exciting and preferably spicy
EMMA
My heart is pounding in my chest and my hands are sweaty as I walk into the kitchen. I pace along the length of the room, then turn back around to repeat the round.
“Will you stop it already?” Cecile complaints. She’s standing behind the counter and dusts off her hands. Flour rises in a cloud around her and coats the surface white. “You’re going to give my wolf a whiplash.”
I don’t listen to her and pace another round. I fidget with the charm of my necklace and move it side to side over the chain. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Do what?” She cleans her hand on a cloth she has hanging on her shoulder.
I turn to her and bite my lip. “I don’t know what to get Hadrian for his birthday.”
His birthday is today and he only informed me last night. I cannot face him tonight and be empty-handed. Hadrian said that he didn’t want anything, only me. *What am I supposed to do with that?*
Cecile leans her elbow on the counter and rests her head in her palm. “Spice finally told you.”
I freeze mid-step. “You knew?” I take in the kitchen for the first time. The servants around me are all busy preparing a ridiculous amount of food. In the middle of the kitchen stands a three-tier cake. *The cake.*
My shoulders deflate. “Of course, you knew. Everybody knew.” I turn back to the chef, who I thought was my friend. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Cecile smirks and shrugs her shoulders. “Because observing your life is just pure entertainment.”
I groan and lean against the counter opposite her. “Why do I even hang out with you?”
She chuckles. “Because I’m the only one who is not kissing your butt.”
Cecile is right. She is honest and isn’t afraid to give some tough love. But she fails to mention that she’s also caring and supportive. Even if she doesn’t like to admit it. She brings me out of my comfort zone in her own compassionate way. And I know she’ll always have my back when I really need it.
I place my head on the cold granite. The stone cools down my feverish skin. “Will you help me already?”
Cecile exhales and straightens. “All right, what were you thinking of?”
I’ve been thinking of several things, some even more ridiculous than the others. My heart picks up a racketing pace and pumps my blood around at a record speed. My whole body flushes when I think of the most ludicrous of them all.
“Shortcake, you better spill the beans now,” Cecile says with a wide grin.
I lift my head and close my eyes. “I was thinking of telling him that I love him?” I mutter. I've known for a few days now, but haven't found the courage to tell him yet.
Cecile is silent and I open my eyes. Her grin is gone and is replaced by a grimace. She shrugs her shoulders. “Boring, but okay.”
My flush starts to itch at my arms. “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
Am I missing something obvious here? Are things different for werewolves? What if Hadrian just finds me ridiculous when I tell him?
She leans her head back in her hand and yawns. “Sure, it’s a good idea. I think Spice will like it.”
Her posture screams boredom. She clearly doesn’t think it’s a good idea.
“But?”
Cecile shrugs her shoulders again. “This is just sappy, you can tell him on any other day. A present should be exciting and preferably spicy.”
“Like what?”
She taps her chin as if deep in thought and then snaps her fingers. “Handcuffs.”
“Cecile!” I clamor and look around if anyone has heard. They probably all did, but no one seems shocked like me. Am I the only one who thinks this is a big deal?
“Okay, how about showing off a new set of lingerie?” Cecile gestures with a hand as if she’s handing me an olive branch.
I shrink in on myself. “I don’t know.” The idea of parading in just lingerie for Hadrian seems daunting. It all seems daunting when I’m not clouded by lust and on a quest to a high.
Cecile slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Come on, I’ll take you shopping.”
———————
The fitting room is littered with an obscene amount of lace and leather. All of it makes my ears blush. The lace is revealing and the colors are bold.
Cecile has brought me to one of the high-end shops in the middle ring. The attendants wasted no time with everything I needed and more. The words ‘princess’ and ‘Your Highness’ have been spewed more times than I can count.
Cecile was quick to pick out the most daring pieces that the store offered. How she is able to do that is still a mystery to me.
The piece I’m currently wearing has cut-outs and red leather lining. I can’t help covering my visible nipples with my arm.
“Red isn’t your color, it brings out your awkwardness,” Cecile calls from behind the curtain.
“You don’t know what it looks like.” I counter. Not that she’s wrong, but I won’t admit that she’s right all the time. She doesn’t need the ego boost.
She chuckles. “And even I can see your awkwardness, that’s saying something.”
“Try this.” Cecile sticks a hanger with another set of lingerie through the curtains.
The pieces are forest green. It’s still lace, but way more modest. There are no strange cut-outs in this one.
“Green?” I question. The color reminds me of the pine trees in the dark forest.
I change into the other piece. The fabric hugs me in the right places for my body type and accentuates my soft curves. The color compliments my skin tone. The lace is subtly see-through without showing everything. I would almost dare to say it looks good.
“That’s the one,” Cecile calls in approval.
When I get out of the dressing room in my own clothes, I find Cecile sprawled out on a velvet sofa while sipping red sparkling wine. Cecile certainly has no problem with the whole Royal treatment.
One of the girls in the store is quick to take the garments from me and offer me a glass of the same bubbly drink.
“Have you heard that Parsnip is back in town?” Cecile asks when I take a seat next to her.
I take a sip and the sweet burn flows through my throat. “Who?”
“Gaia.”
I grimace. The idea of having to see Gaia turns the wine sour in my stomach. The girl brings out the worst in me. “Maybe I should skip the gala if I want to stay alive.”
Cecile lifts her glass my way. “Honestly, I’m surprised that you’re still alive anyway.”
“Very comforting Cecile.”
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