8. Chapter 8 Kyvian
Chapter 8: Kyvian
Lorenzo examines his tiny hand nestled in mine, as though it contains the world’s secrets. Some kind of physical spark zings between us, causing me to gasp. It’s only then I realize I’m still holding his hand.
As an incubus, I’m accustomed to flustering people. It’s unavoidable. Lust is literally part of my pheromones. So, I’m not shocked by his response to me. What does shock me, however, is my reaction to Lorenzo.
I let go of him slowly, not quite ready to pull away.
There’s something about this human.
Lorenzo is dressed in navy dress pants, smart business shoes, and a crisp white button-up shirt. The outline of his muscular arms looks damn good in that shirt. Lorenzo Walker is handsome in a charming, boyish way. He sports a trendy look with shaved sides and a mess of sandy-blond curls on top. It’s a style that I’ve seen models try to imitate. But he does it flawlessly.
Bending down, I pick up the grocery bag I set by my feet. The moment I saw someone peering through my windows, my cautious nature made me want my hands free, just in case. My shop isn’t open for a few more hours and considering everything that happened with the break-in and my missing Jewlta last night, I’m still on edge. When I realized it had to be Lorenzo, I immediately calmed down.
“Sorry about that. I was hoping to get back before you arrived.” I lift my bag higher so he can see. “I had an unexpected guest last night, and I just wanted to buy some supplies.”
Lorenzo visibly stiffens, and suddenly the air between us sours. “Am I interrupting something?” His face turns an adorable shade of pink.
Is he… jealous? For some reason, my inner beast preens at that thought. Which is beyond strange since I don’t even know the guy.
I step forward and pull my keys out of my pocket to unlock the front door. I brush past him, but to my shock, he doesn’t get out of the way. It’s almost as if he’s upset and holding his ground. I arch a brow. “You’re not interrupting a thing. But even if you were, didn’t Dani send you to investigate my missing Jewlta?”
I’m not sure why, but it makes him turn even redder. I push the door open and wave a hand in front of me. He steps into my shop.
“Let me just put this away really quick. In the meantime, did you need something to drink?”
He’s still flustered, and I feel kind of bad. “No, thank you. I’m fine. Do you have a restroom I can use?”
I lead him into the employee section as I put my bags on the counter and point him in the right direction. Lorenzo hurries past the restroom door. Almost instantly, I hear the echoing sound of the water as he turns on the sink.
Worried, I lean against the wall by the restroom, just in case. “Get yourself together, Enzo,” he murmurs to himself. “This is a job. Not a first date with a drop-dead gorgeous incubus.”
My lips twitch. Oh, goddess. He has no idea that incubi have great hearing. My tail swishes on its own accord, and my inner beast is excited by his word choice.
First date.
Drop-dead gorgeous.
Most humans tend to objectify me and immediately think about what it would be like to have sex with an incubus. But this handsome man is in there worried he’s acting like he would on a first date. Why is that so damn flattering?
I freeze. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m over here daydreaming about potential first dates with a stranger who’s just trying to do his job.
The splashing of water can be heard from here. He starts murmuring again, and now that I know he’s okay, I don’t want to invade his privacy. I prop a hip against the opposite wall and pull out my phone. I eye my profile on the Monster Match App, feeling a little defeated.
I originally selected looking for friendship, but only because that’s what I want, first and foremost. Yes, I still want to find a partner and eventually a mate. But I want that relationship to be based on friendship. I want to be best friends with my mate.
So far, I’ve only had one match for a friend, and they aren’t even in this town. Maybe I need to make things clear. Currently, my profile picture is a photo of my favorite tea from The Daily Grind. I don’t feel like taking the typical scandalous selfie, but one shirtless image can’t hurt. Right?
Flipping through the photos I took the other day, I find one I like and change the image to black and white before cropping out my face. Thanks to my previous modeling career with Monster Match and now my recurring feedings at the kink club, I tend to have some fans who just want one thing.
Don’t get me wrong, I love sex and need arousal to survive, but for once, it would be nice to get to know someone rather than just be used. I change the wording on my profile, selecting both options—for friendship and romance.
Right as I hit submit, the restroom door opens, and Lorenzo… no, Enzo walks out. I didn’t miss the way he called himself Enzo. Even though he said I could use either name, he was clearly flustered. And I just want him to be comfortable.
“I’m so sorry about that. I think I’m still half asleep. I just needed to splash some water on my face.”
“No problem. Better?”
It’s obvious by his slightly flushed appearance that he’s still embarrassed, and it’s my fault. So, I try my hardest to turn off the seductive undertones and send calming tendrils of magic into the air.
Rather than get absorbed or inhaled, the magic bounces off Enzo.
I blink and try again.
Once again, the calming magic just bounces right off him, as if he’s wearing some kind of shield. My mouth falls open. The magic I expel isn’t anything nefarious that will change a person’s mind or thought process. But it has similar effects to a human using lavender oils to calm someone, only more effective.
Baffled, I try one more time, only to get the same result. Apparently, my magic doesn’t work on this handsome human.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, his forehead scrunched in confusion.
A playful, flirtatious smile curves my lips as I gaze into his emerald eyes. “There’s something about you, Enzo. I just know it.”