He glanced down at me with his mouth open to say something…and did a double-take, his eyes perusing my face quickly, before he stopped in his tracks so quickly I almost banged into him. Silver eyes stared down into mine and he lifted his free hand, the one that hadn’t easily slid to my hip. He caressed the backs of his fingers over my cheek, making my skin tingle, before he gently brushed a strand of my white hair off my forehead. “You’re acting surprised someone bought you something.” His head cocked, his eyes darting between mine. Half his hair was pulled back today, showing his tanned, harsh features exotically under the sun. “Surely someone’s bought you gifts other than Sin. Birthdays or Christmas, perhaps?”
My lips lifted cynically. “No. My childhood wasn’t exactly what you would call traditional. Sin and I were bounced around between foster homes, normally each worse than the previous until a specific asshole took us in—which I don’t care to speak of—and then it was even worse. Gifts are not something I’m used to. Nor money. Your mother had the right of it. Right now I am broke except for the credit card I’m allowed to use as pay for my training as a Prodigy until I’m Queen, and then I get paid a regular wage. So yes, your kindness in buying the bracelet for me is surprising.” I smiled, a real one, even as he gazed at me with a clenched jaw, the muscles working on either side—apparently he hadn’t known that about my past. “Really, thank you, Leric.” I held up a finger. “But don’t think I’m a charity case. I don’t accept assistance from anyone, not even Sin. I work for my living. I’m not helpless.”
His nostrils flared and his jaw ticked for an extended amount of time. He was obviously thinking about everything I had said, his mind really working behind his now hooded gaze. “Who was the asshole who took you both in?”
My lips curved cruelly. “Someone who’s not worth mentioning.” I tilted my head in the direction our group had disappeared. “We should probably catch up.”
Again his jaw ticked. “I haven’t trespassed on your memories and I still won’t, but I would love to know if the fucker should be dead.”
I patted his clenched pec. “Someone will kill him one day, that much I promise you. A man that criminal, and with that many enemies, doesn’t stay alive forever.”
Dry words. “I did have to ask, didn’t I?”
“He’ll be dead eventually.” I tapped my temple. “You don’t need to regret saying you won’t trespass.”
His lips curled as he bent to stare directly into my eyes. “I never said for how long.”
My eyebrows lifted and I spoke wryly, “You’re feeling extra sly today, aren’t you?” His lips only curved further while a definite ornery gleam illuminated his gaze, so I quickly grabbed his wrist near my hip, pulling him this time. I lifted my other wrist, shaking my bracelet. “You just generously bought me a gift, which I love, so don’t go trying any sneaky antics now.”
He let out an extremely quiet, slow chuckle as he let me pull him along. His voice purred very softly behind me. “Who’s to say I already haven’t?” I blinked, glancing back while walking, and saw one slashed white eyebrow arch while his silver eyes flicked to my wrist. “You are happily wearing something bought with someone else’s money and not your hard-earned cash.” His red, lush lips lifted a smidgen, a small smile.
My eyebrows raised even further, and I quickly pulled my gaze from his mouth, turning my attention back to where we were walking. I was just now appreciating the startling fact that it was very possible I was underestimating this man. That prospect was more than mind-boggling, since I already knew how devious and powerful he truly was.
“It’s about time you two caught up,” Mrs Damon clipped, glancing at us just as I tugged Leric the rest of the way to re-enter our group. She was holding in her hands a vendor’s merchandise, a white purse, but her eyes flicked down to where I was gripping her son’s wrist—I quickly released it—then her brown eyes flicked to my wrist. She stared at my bracelet. Her nose crinkled a bit. Her attention altered back to the purse she was holding, inspecting it. “I see you purchased the bracelet you were ogling.”
I cleared my throat and started perusing the other purses on display. “Leric was kind enough to buy it for me.”
She made a huffing noise, her regard flicking to her son who stood behind me while I examined the girlish goods. “At least it has some white on it.”
I heard Leric snort behind me, but he didn’t actually laugh.
I told his mom, “That’s what he said.”
She nodded curtly, lowering the purse to lift another white one for inspection. “I taught him well.” A finger flicked at my black purse while she held up the white one she had in her hand. “This one would be much better than that hideous accessory.”
Extremely humored, my lips twitched. I lifted a black purse with a hot pink jeweled skull on the side. “I was actually thinking about this one.”
Mr Damon came out of nowhere, chuckling quietly and placing his arms around Mrs Damon’s waist from behind. Her stunned, distasteful countenance instantly turned to prim happiness as she peered back at him over her shoulder. Mr Damon stated in his soothing tone, “Please, Ms Jules, you’ll make my Tavia faint if you keep talking like that.”
Now that, I wouldn’t mind seeing.
Clearing my throat against that entertaining visual, I muttered, “To avoid shocking the innocent, I’ll try to keep my purchases today hidden.” I wasn’t playing by anyone’s rules, much less theirs.
Mrs Damon blinked at me, a slow eyebrow rising.