Page 22 of Aftershock
My hands are just as stubborn. On its own, one of them threatens to rise. My fingertips twitch with the desire to stroke her cheek. Trace the little bump on her nose.
I want—no,need—to reveal all her secrets.
Then what? Taint her with yours?
A sour taste floods my mouth. I swallow. Nod. “Just coffee.”
“Alrighty then.”
Another tap on the screen, then the terminal lights up in front of me.
“Oh.” Her eyebrows pinch after I pay with my phone. Color blooms over her cheeks, and I decide I like it on her. “That’s, um…that’s a really big tip.”
Yes, I know. Five hundred dollars for a cup of coffee is over the top.
But she has no idea how much I’m holding back. We’ve just met, and I already want to give her so much more. Gifts. Money. Dates at fancy restaurants.
I would let her have everything.
The problem is, I would become part of her life.
So, for her sake, I leave it at the tip.
“It’s nothing.”
“Thank you anyway, mister…” She dips her chin, waiting for me to fill in.
“Alaric.” I don’t addDoctor. Don’t feel like my title belongs here. With her, I’m simply me. “And you’re welcome, Lilith.”
“You—” Her face blanches, but she doesn’t finish the sentence. She lets out a light chuckle, her delicate fingers flying to her name tag. “Right. Of course.”
Trying not to embarrass her further, I offer a polite smile and shut the hell up.
Lilith, however, as flushed as she is, doesn’t turn away or busy herself with anything but…
Me.
And I, a sick motherfucker, can’t help but wonder… Would she look at me like that if I told her to kneel? Would tears line those beautiful blues when I used that pretty mouth?
Can’t happen. Ever.
I can’t even think these things, can’t get hard in the cafeteria, in plain sight.
Cursing, I cut my gaze away from her and look at the younger woman on the other side of the counter. A blonde who pours scorching coffee into a small takeaway cup.
At that, a pang of disappointment jabs my chest.
Lilith won’t be the one handing me my order.
Ridiculous. I shouldn’t wish for that.
I shouldn’t touch her.
“Lil.” The blonde—Hope, according to her name tag—nudges Lilith’s shoulder. “His coffee’s ready.”
“Thank you.” Lilith turns to grab it, then holds it out for me.
It doesn’t go unnoticed that Hope avoids any kind of interaction with me. For a beat, I wonder if I did something wrong.
