41
" Eat slowly," the blueblood said. "Don't cut your food with the fork. Cut it with the knife, and make the pieces small enough so you can answer a question without having to swallow first."
Why me? "Right. Any other tips?" Her sarcasm whistled right over his head.
"Yes. Look at me and not at your plate. If you have to look at your plate, glance at it occasionally."
Rose put down her fork. "Lord Submarine..."
"Camarine."
"Whatever."
"You can call me Declan." He said it as if granting her a knighthood. The nerve.
"Declan, then. How did you spend your day?"
He frowned.
"It's a simple question: How did you spend your day? What did you do prior to the fight and the pancake making?"
"I rested from my journey," he said with a sudden regal air.
"You took a nap"
"Possibly."
"I spent my day scrubbing, vacuuming and dusting ten offices in the Broken. I got there at seven thirty in the morning and left at six. My back hurts, I can still smell bleach on my fingers, and my feet feel as flat as these pancakes. Tomorrow, I have to go back to work, and I want to eat my food in peace and quiet. I have good table manners. They may not be good enough for you, but they're definitely good enough for the Edge, and they are the height of social graces in this house. So please keep your critique to yourself."
The look on his face was worth having him under her roof. As if he had gotten slapped.
She smiled at him. "Oh and thank you for the pancakes. They are delicious. "
― Ilona Andrews , On the Edge (The Edge, #1)
49
" I wish there were some way I could repay you,” she said, wiping her hands.
“There is.”
She looked up. “What can I do for you?”
“You could kiss me, Rose.”
She froze, the kitchen towel in her hands, sure she had misheard.
“Surely, I deserve one kiss for saving your brother.”
“Why would you want me to kiss you?”
“I want to know what you taste like.” A slow smile stretched his lips. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of it.”
She had thought of it, but she would die before admitting it. “Can’t say I have.”
“One kiss,” he said. “Or are you scared? "
― Ilona Andrews , On the Edge (The Edge, #1)
50
" What are you doing here?” she hissed.
“Perhaps I missed the sight of your lovely body,” he said.
“What?”
Declan leaned closer. “My promise not to ravish you doesn’t extend to this fine establishment, does it? As I recall, it’s only valid under your roof. How could I pass on such an opportunity?”
“If you touch me, I’ll hit you with this chair,” she ground out.
“I had no idea you enjoyed rough courtship,” he said with a straight face. “It was never my particular favorite, but I’ll do my best to play along, provided I’ll get you in the end.”
Rose opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Would you like me to be quiet?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“If you kiss me, I promise to be quiet for a very long time. "
― Ilona Andrews , On the Edge (The Edge, #1)
