Page 75 of Heir to a Curse

Xiang bowed slightly over theguzheng. “Thank you. I am well.”

“I will be back with your pillow,” Mr. Yamamoto told me.

“Thanks,” I said. He walked away with the empty dinner tray. He’d been masked and gloved when he came up, so I knew they were all being cautious, but prayed Xiang was safe.

I looked back at Xiang. A small smile tugged the corners of his lips and he made his way slowly to the door, pausing a few feet inside to stare down at me. I wanted to touch his face, trace the worry that crinkled his forehead, and kiss him until the world ended.

“Okay?” I asked.

“I wish I could touch you,” he said.

“Me too. That’s why I’m staying over here. Like a big lump.”

His smile grew wide and he crouched down to carefully tug the tea set close. “I am not a fan of social distance in this moment. Though I have practiced much in my life.”

“Me either,” I breathed as a sliver of his hair fell in his face. I loved to brush it back, wrap my hands in those silken locks.

“We can sit and have tea together?” He offered, then glanced at the pot and frowned. “Perhaps you should have your own pot.”

“Sure. I know there are more in the house. You can show me how to make tea again.”

“I would be honored.” Xiang bowed again. Then he retrieved a small tea table I recalled Addy picking to add to most of the rooms, and set it a few feet back into his room and left the door wide. Then he placed the tea set on it. I called Mr. Yamamoto for another set, and for the first time in almost a month, felt like I’d come up for air.