Page 113 of His Ruthless Match

Jareth took the pack from my hand, inspecting it with exaggerated seriousness. “Rebellious little Eva Delgado, huh? Shocking. Truly.”

I laughed, grabbing a bag of gummies and tossing it onto my growing pile. “You have no idea, Jareth. I was a rebel, even as a child.”

Jareth shook his head, bemused, and started browsing. He picked out a small box of chocolate-covered espresso beans and held it up. “At least this has caffeine. You’re just going straight for the sugar high.”

“No judgment,” I said, sticking my tongue out at him before moving down the aisle. My fingers skimmed over the packages, pausing on a striped candy cane. I picked it up. “These remind me of Christmas when I was little. My mom would always sneak a handful into my stocking. It was cheap enough for her to afford.”

Jareth leaned against the end of the aisle, watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “It sounds like your mom really tried to give you a happy childhood.”

I shrugged, my voice light but tinged with wistfulness. “Life was simpler back then. A little sugar was all it took to make me happy.”

At the counter, I dumped my selections onto the counter, earning an amused glance from the cashier. Jareth added his. “You’re going to regret this sugar binge later,” he teased.

“Maybe,” I replied, pulling out my wallet. “But right now, I’m all about instant gratification.”

Back on the sidewalk, I tore open the pack of candy cigarettes and popped one into my mouth, holding it like a real cigarette. “See? Don’t I look cool?”

Jareth laughed, shaking his head. “Actually, you look fucking ridiculous.”

“That’s the point,” I said with a grin, pretending to take a puff. The sugar hit my tongue, and I felt a small spark of energy start to build, melting away the exhaustion that had weighed me down all day.

As we walked, I alternated between the candy cigarettes and the bag of gummies. The sugar rush was almost immediate, and I found myself bouncing slightly on my toes.

“I’m not going to lie,” I said, glancing at Jareth. “This was a great idea.”

“You’re like a kid on Halloween right now,” he said, popping one of his espresso beans into his mouth.

“Jealous?” I quipped, flashing him a grin.

“It’s not my fault I have refined tastes,” Jareth said, feigning indignation.

“Refined? You’re eating chocolate-covered beans.”

By the time we reached my apartment building, the telltale signs of a sugar crash were beginning to creep in. My earlier energy had started to wane, leaving me feeling sluggish and slightly regretful.

“Okay, I’m officially regretting this,” I admitted, leaning slightly against Jareth as we walked out of the elevator.

“Told you,” Jareth said smugly, holding the door open for me. “But it was worth it for the entertainment.”

“Glad I could amuse you.”

Once inside, I flopped onto the couch, tossing the now-empty bag of gummies onto the coffee table. “Next time, remind me not to eat half the store.”

Jareth settled into the armchair across from me. “Noted. But I’ll probably just let you do it again. It was worth it to see you act like a normal human for once.”

I stuck my tongue out at him as I leaned back, letting myself relax for the first time all day.

32

JARETH

“Ifeel like I’m going to combust, Grelth,” I said as I watched him clean the espresso machine until the chrome gleamed.

Grelth didn’t even look up. He continued polishing the machine with a maddening calm. “Master Jareth, you are always on the brink of combustion. What’s new this time?”

A short laugh escaped me, more bitter than amused. “It’s Eva.”

“Of course, it is,” Grelth replied flatly, though there was a hint of understanding in his tone.