Page 22 of Lunar Diamonds (Celestial Magic #1)

DRAKE

I never expected to be helping The Moon bake chocolate chip cookies at two in the morning, yet here we were, deep in cookie land.

They smelled wonderful. Riley made the cookie dough from scratch since the mansion was well stocked in just about everything.

Impressive.

“My mum’s recipe,” he said.

“Do you bake a lot?”

“Only cookies, and only chocolate chip. I have no aspirations to be a baker.”

“I can barely fry an egg.”

He giggled, the sound an audible balm.

I really enjoyed his company, his energy bright and soothing, leaving my troubles at the door. He seemed to turn the darkness down.

Riley pulled the first batch out of the oven. “Want to try?”

“I’ll never turn down sugar.”

“A man after my own heart.” His cheeks were flushed from the heat from the oven.

Adorable.

I bit into a warm cookie. Soft yet crispy, the chocolate nice and gooey. Pure heaven.

“Are they okay?” he wondered, chewing his lip.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the happiness on my tastebuds, considering my good luck. Riley didn’t hate me, and I saw a real chance to prove myself to him and this house.

Thank Hecate for Riley’s kindness. Most people would hate me, refuse to engage, reject me. And I’d take it. A lifetime of being unwanted steeled you against disappointment.

You are unworthy of his kindness, trash.

“They’re really good,” I said, opening my eyes.

His friendliness reached my core as a warm caress. “Phew. Right, I’ll let these cool.”

He made a second batch, talking about his job. I laughed at the funny stories, frowned at the difficult customer tales, reveling in every second of it.

An interesting development. My walls down, rules broken—or at least cracked. The deeper I went, the more complicated things would become, leaving me vulnerable.

But that didn’t have to happen. Listening to these stories didn’t mean anything.

The fluttering in my chest meant nothing. Thinking how his lips might taste didn’t, either.

He is incandescent…

Shit.

“Mrs. Langdon is the sweetest customer,” Riley continued. “Adores romance books, borrows ten a week and asks me to hunt down any new ones she might like. I could spend all day with her.”

“I like that.”

He groaned. “Man, I’m waffling too much.”

“No, you’re fine.”

“What about you? Any hobbies? What did you do before, well, you know?”

“Before Rhianna?”

He winced. “Sorry.”

“For what? You’re allowed to say her name.”

“Okay.”

“Freelance work,” I answered. “Hired to find things and people. Nothing special, really. My life was boring. I work, I sleep, I work some more.”

“Ah, but did you find anything super special?” he asked, shaking chocolate chips into the mixing bowl.

This kitchen smelled heavenly.

“No rare treasures so far,” I answered. “Although the lunar diamonds will count as special.”

It wouldn’t be long before we ventured into the catacombs. My insides warped at the thought, but I couldn’t let Riley see my fear. I wanted to help, to prove to him that I was on his side.

“Yeah,” he said. “They left those out of the history books.”

Because I’d found them by mistake. I made contact with a few shimmer witches versed in the history of celestial power. Dr. Philips, a brilliant professor at the Bath University of Magical Studies showed me a document about the diamonds—a document she shouldn’t own. She’d been a friend of Janet Aurora, The Star.

I told Riley this.

“Wow…” he breathed.

Lunar Diamonds. Solar Diamonds. Starlight Diamonds. The Aurora’s most important tools, passed down from the first triplets to now.

He brushed his forehead with his arm, leaving a line of flour across his skin. I wasn’t sure how it got there, seeing as only his hands were caked in baking residue, but I couldn’t help the chuckle.

“What is it?”

I closed the gap between us, reaching for the white smear. When I made contact, a spark kissed my fingertips.

Shit. I pulled back, snared in his radiant blue gaze, that same spark fizzing through the rest of me.

I could drown in those eyes, those rich, wondrous lakes. Study his face, maybe the rest of him, bask in his moonlight forever.

He stared back at me, the two of us locked in silence. My heartbeat quickened, a pleasant heat rising. I longed to close in further, to cup his face in my hands, to press my lips to his.

His mouth parted slightly, drawing my attention, turning up the heat of my inner fires.

Not good to be so drawn to him.

Not good to be so hard.

But those lips, so moist and glossy, designed to be kissed, devoured, treasured, were unraveling me.

Shit. My cracks were much wider than I thought, this man sliding in.

Before I gave in to lustful notions, especially with the way the blue of his eyes swirled with dreamy abandon, I stepped back. Cooled the fires, suppressed the desire to ask him for a kiss.

Why would he want to kiss me?

He deserves so much better than you.

Riley cleared his throat, getting back to his cookie dough. “Want something to drink? I could go for a tea right now.”

You’re the only drink I need to quench this thirst. “I’ll make it.”

“You—”

I cut him off. “You’ve been working hard. I’ll make it.”

Plus, it stopped me staring at his lovely face.

“Thanks.”

Flicking on the kettle, I dove into a new subject. “Are you into comic books or graphic novels?”

He smiled, making my balls quiver. “I’m a huge fan of a Boys’ Love manga series called Cherry Magic . The Japanese and Thai TV adaptations as well. So heartwarming.”

“I’ll have to give it a go.”

“What about you?” he asked.

The white smear was still on his forehead, forgotten. My fingers still itched to wipe it. “I love comic books. Have a huge collection back at my flat.”

“In Norwich?”

“Yes.”

I became more animated, waxing lyrical over classic DC and Marvel , as well as Dragon Ball Z . I shared my dreams of drawing my own comic series one day, if I ever found the time.

“You can do it,” he responded encouragingly.

“Thanks.”

After two cups of tea, and three batches of cookies, and my tongue being ridiculously loose, Riley yawned.

“Is this boring?” I questioned.

He shook his head. “I’m just exhausted. And grimy.”

We found some Tupperware, boxed up the cookies, and said goodnight outside his bedroom door.

“That was nice,” he said. “A better ending to the night than me weeping on the bathroom floor.”

I rolled my shoulders. “We should do it again.”

“I’d love that.” He yawned again. “Dammit.”

“Goodnight, Riley.”

“Goodnight, Drake.” He disappeared into his room, closing the door softly.

I’d miss him over the next hours. I never wanted the baking to end, or the talking. That’d been the longest conversation I’d had in a while, and the most details I’d shared about myself.

He doesn’t care…

Trust me to deflate my sails. I skulked over to the bed, throwing myself onto it.

He really doesn’t care…

I tried ignoring my inner voice, laying with my hands behind my head, a million miles from sleep. Another walk might help, especially outside. The cold sea air would do me good.

The catacombs map. Yes. Aaron had given me a sketchpad and pens earlier to make one for Erin.

I went to the desk by the window, settling in to draw. The rain hit the glass harder, the wind a keening howl.

A knock on my door interrupted me before I could get started.

The nib of my pen paused at the end of my first line. “Yes?”

“It’s me.”

“Riley?” I jumped up, darting for the door and flung it open.

He jumped at my “what,” hiccuping.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He wore a white bathrobe and a pair of white slippers, matching the pair in my wardrobe. He nibbled his bottom lip, his hair damp from a shower.

“Can’t sleep,” he said. “Can I hang around here? Unless I woke you up.” He sighed. “Sorry. I’ll leave you alone.”

“No. It’s fine. Come in.”

“Really?”

I stood aside to let him in.

“Thanks.”

“I’m drawing the map for Erin,” I said. “But we can talk.”

“Thanks. I didn’t want to be alone.” He released a massive yawn.

“Use the bed. Rest.”

“What about you?” Another yawn.

“Lay down. Rest.”

I expected a back and forth about it being my bed and he should take the sofa. However, Riley shuffled toward it, climbed on, and curled himself into a ball.

Minutes later, he slept soundly. No snoring, just slow and gentle breaths befitting him. Although I’d known him less than a day, I’d witnessed his kindness, seen the light he shone on the world.

You’ll be a great sacred witch, I thought at him.

I threw myself into the map drawing, doing my best to ignore the longing in my chest.

I’d like to curl up there with you…

He’d hate that.

Anyone in their right mind would hate sharing space with the likes of me…