"So, how about it, Matriarch? Want me to massage you?"
Artis asked with a cocky grin, trying to sound confident while silently praying she didn't slap him into next week.
The Matriarch was still mid-laugh when his words registered, and her laughter slowly died down. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at him, her lips curling into a sly smile.
"Have you tried it on someone before?"
She straightened her back, and Artis nearly whimpered as the heavenly view of her cleavage disappeared behind the cursed fabric of her robe. It was like watching the sun set—beautiful but also tragic.
"Uh, yeah," he said, trying to recover. "I practiced on my mom and sister, and they really loved it."
Her eyebrows raised, and for a second, he swore she was holding back another laugh.
"Well, I suppose I could give it a shot," she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Since nothing else has worked. But…"
