Page 151 of First Ritual
Her eyes rounded. “The sex is incredible. Incredible. I can see why everyone wants him.” She frowned after.
“Takes two, though, right? Sex is only incredible when both people are good.”
She looked at me.
“I’m willing to bet Sven has had a lot of average sex. I know I have. If you think it’s incredible, I’m certain he does too.”
Her color deepened. “He did seem happy when I suggested another round last night.”
I’m sure he was. Rooke must not see that Sven was smitten with her—and if I was correct, had been smitten with her for a long, long time. “How’s the fake relationship going? Mine and Wild’s is over.”
Her blue gaze settled on me. “I heard about that. We decided to keep ours going for a while longer to make the whole thing believable.”
Uh-huh. “Just to throw an idea out there… what if your relationship wasn’t fake? If there are feelings and the sex is incredible, then why not give things a real go?”
“There aren’t feelings on his end.”
My brows shot up. “Girl, you need to look again.”
Rooke focused on me. “What?”
I swallowed hard to force the nibble of bread down. My stomach threatened to revolt. I breathed thinly. “Look again. When no one else is around, there’s no need for him to pretend. What does he do in those times?”
She blurted, “You think he does want more?”
“Why not talk to him about it? If you feel something stronger, that is. Might be worthwhile taking a risk even with his history.”
“And mine,” Rooke murmured, picking at her food. “His family knows all about the drug thing.”
“His parents are here?”
“Yeah. His parents are both esteemed.”
Who knew. “They can’t be unaware of Sven’s romantic escapades to this point. They’re probably ready to kiss your feet for slowing him down.”
She shook her head. “Wouldn’t say so. I told you stuff like that sticks in a coven. How are you and Wild anyway? After your fake break up.”
It hadn’t felt fake. “I’ve asked Wild to keep his distance. He’s struggling to separate the feelings from the ritual with what he really feels. Things were getting cloudy. I’ve told him I’m done with all the research stuff.”
Rooke nodded sympathetically. “It’s a lot. Want my thoughts?”
“Can you hold them for another time? I’ve just come to a few realizations about everything, and I feel centered for the first time in a while. I’d like to hold onto that today.”
She smiled. “Of course. I’m here when and if you’re ready.”
Varden walked in across the chamber.
I held up a finger. “I see the person I was looking for.”
“What are you doing this weekend?” she asked as I banished my tray.
“Berry said something about a group heading to a sunflower field up in the mountains.”
Her gaze shuttered. “Oh. Have fun.”
“A bunch of people are going. Want to come?”
“Thanks, but I’ll stick around here. Got divination stuff I want to do.”