Page 17 of Mortala
I didn’t know he smoked.
A slow smirk spreads across his face the second our eyes meet. Shoving his phone in his pocket, he takes one last drag of his cigarette before tossing it on the ground and makes his way across the street. Holding the door open for someone leaving the coffee shop, he steps inside.
Kaitlin appears behind me with two iced coffees in her hands and slides one over to me just as Miles reaches us.
“Oh hey, Miles! What’re you doing here?” she asks.
Miles plans both hands on the table, leaning in towards me. The faint scent of cedar mixed with cigarette smoke fills the space between us as I watch the pale blue of his eyes darken.
“I was just in the neighborhood when I saw Maddie sitting here through the window,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “Thought I’d stop by and say hello.”
Miles has this overwhelming presence about him. He doesn’t have to raise his voice or demand attention. Somehow, he commands the entire room without even trying.
“Well, Maddie, I got you a coffee, and it’s on me. I have to head out anyway, so you two lovebirds have fun. I’ll text you later.”
She gives me a knowing wink before gathering her things and disappearing out the door. Miles is still leaning against the table, his eyes still fixed on mine.
“Thought you could stay away from me, Princess?”
He quirks a brow, waiting for an answer. I look around the room and notice several people staring at us. I mean, how could they not? A giant six-foot-something guy dressed head to toe in black is towering over our tiny table, completely focused on little ol’ me. I’d be staring, too.
“Eyes on me.”
His fingers lightly cradle my jaw, guiding my attention back to him. I swallow, the small act sending shivers down my spine and warmth pooling low in my stomach.
Fuck,that was so hot.
“I-I’m sorry. I just thought it would be better?—”
“Better for who?” he cuts in. “Better for you? Because it’s certainly not for me.”
He reaches for my untouched iced coffee and starts to head towards the front. “C’mon, let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” I call out for him, maybe a little louder than I intended. The moment I notice several heads turning in my direction, I instinctively shrink into myself.
Miles only answers with that devious grin of his. He reaches back, takes my hand, and leads me out the door.
And I don’t know why, but I let him.
8.Madelyn
I’m notsure what I was expecting when I walked outside, but Miles driving a big ass matte black Jeep Wrangler wasn't it. The front of it kind of looks angry, which I guess fits his whole vibe, but for some reason, I thought he would drive a classic car. He just gives off James Dean energy with his perfect face and tousled hair.
He's just so…dreamy.
Miles catches me staring and smiles, but I can't look away from his piercing blue eyes.
“Well, are you going to get in, or are you just going to stand there and look pretty?”
Goosebumps litter my body at his words, and I get the sudden urge to be defensive so he doesn't know how much his simple words so easily affect me.
“How do I know you're not going to try to kidnap and kill me?” I cross my arms and stand taller, popping my hip out just to show him how unaffected I truly am.
Right, Maddie, keep telling yourself that.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work, because he just smiles deviously at me and starts stalking toward me. My arms drop to my sides, the veil of attitude I so pathetically tried to holdup falls, and I'm left unprotected and thoroughly at his mercy. I swallow as he grabs my chin and tilts my head up towards him until my eyes meet his icy blue pools.
“Baby girl, if I was going to kidnap you, you would enjoy every single minute of it.”
