Eleven
Arien
I messed up. He looked at me with wanting eyes and lust was floating off his body. I was suffocating in it. One thing led to another and next I knew, I was spreading my legs. His arousal increased and I lifted my skirt, locking my hands around the material to stop from touching myself. His body had become so heated he woke up, and then I got to witness what he looked like after he came.
He was beautiful and sexy all at once. I had to press my feet harder to the tile to prevent myself from moving too close. To keep myself from seeing if he tastes as sweet in other places as he does on his lips. His skin glistened from sweat and his release, making my mouth go dry.
Lying in bed, I lift my phone above my face and pull up the Monster Match app. I scroll and scroll, no one catching my eye. No one looking the way I need them to. No one looking back at me through a mirror, with glossed-over eyes and a dreamy look after getting off to all the things he wants to do to me. Having my magic stronger than ever, I’m able to view thoughts again. It’s how I usually find out all the answers to the questions I’ve been asking him.
I’m going to miss our guessing games. Maybe we can still have them, and I can play dumb, acting like I didn’t hear the answers in his head. I asked if I could touch him, and I don’t know why I did that. My stomach stiffens with nerves the more I think about it. What will he answer with? He should say no. That’s what I need him to say, but I hope he won’t. I don’t only want to touch him; I want him to touch me too. But I’ve run out of sleep dust, and his dreams are the only way he can move enough to slide his hand up my skirt.
I could always try to see him after work, but he’d have to stay awake long enough, and his sleep schedule isn’t very consistent. He’s been working on getting it that way, though, and he’s been better at sticking to a set schedule the last two days. His emotions and feelings have been all over the place too, but I get to see him more when they are, so I don’t mind.
Sighing in frustration, I put the phone down and bury my face in the pillow, wishing we’d met in a different way . . . but then I wouldn’t have gotten to know him like I have. We wouldn’t have created this little serenity between us or shared so many intimate moments that have drawn us closer together. There are little magnets that have developed between us, and I can’t fight their pull anymore. It feels so fast but also like it’s been forever with how many visits I’ve made over such a short time. I’ve spent more time with him than with men I’d dated for months. Not that we’re dating or anything.
Why would someone like him, who was once with an elegant, good-looking guy like Brody, want me?
Sitting up, I check out the guys I’ve matched with on my phone again. but as I begin to respond to one, an ugly sensation crawls through me. When I get pulled to where Elias is again and read the note he left me on the coffee table, I’m glad I didn’t go through with showing interest in someone else. As I read over his words again, my heart is beating so fast I can hear it pouring in my ears.
Touch me all you want. Whenever and wherever you want.
Skin heating everywhere, I turn to the half-awake man on the couch and his eyes are wide open. Light trickles in through the windows, and I don’t take my eyes off the closed bedroom door as I curl up beside him. Only partially giving in to his words, I slide my hand up his shirt and run my fingers up and down his happy trail.
My nose finds a soft spot in his neck and I breath him in, sliding my hand beneath the elastic band of his pants, holding it still above his pubic area. It’s hard to stop but I’d rather wait until I don’t have to worry about his sister walking in on us. I’d rather wait until I can lose myself completely in his body.
***
Elias is handing a drink to a customer when I enter the coffee shop, and I hang off to the side, leaning against the counter in the skirt I had on last night. “Morning,” I say, smiling.
“Morning.” He tugs on his shirt collar, his eyes not fully meeting mine. “You on your way home?”
“Yeah. Thought I’d grab a green tea to go first.”
“Sure.” He sets a small paper bag beside me, calling out a name. “Anything else?”
“Not unless you got cotton candy back there.”
His eyes lift. “I’ll do you one better. Wait right here. I think you’ll like this way better than some boring green tea.”
I people-watch for a bit, reverting my gaze to him when he returns with a very vibrant pink drink with fruit floating at the top.
“What’s that?” I lick my lips, leaning closer to his hand.
“My very first cotton-candy refresher. I got some cotton-candy drink mix yesterday and figured this is the perfect opportunity to test it out.”
I perk up, reaching for the cup. “How much?”
“On the house.” He winks.
“You think your regular customers will care that you’re giving me special treatment?”
One side of his lips tilt a little. “I see it as having someone test the drink before I know if it’s good enough to put up for sale.”
I slowly bring the cup to my mouth. “So, what you’re saying is, I’m not special.”
He slides his fingers over my arm. “I never said that at all. Now go ahead and take a sip.” His hand pulls away and I already miss the warmth.
Wrapping my lips around the spout, I wet my tongue with the tiniest amount of liquid before drinking back more. It’s delicious. So sweet and doing wonderful things for my taste buds.
“I love it.”
“I’ll say,” he looks at the empty cup in my hand, making a sound that almost resembles a laugh. So dang close.
“Want some more? See, regular testers get one small sample, while the special ones get as much as they want.” A glint shines in his eyes, and he takes my cup to the back, returning minutes later with it full of more pretty pink liquid.
I’m still stunned into silence, my head swimming from what he said. I’m special to him. He said it out loud and I didn’t have to listen closely to hear him think it. His words were loud enough for the guy standing behind me to hear.
He helps the customers after me and then joins me at the table I’m sitting at, gesturing for one of his employees to take over.
“How much time do we have?”
“Not long.” I frown. A buzzing sensation crawls up my skin as he holds my hands in his.
His face matches the way I feel, and he squeezes my fingers. “How do I get you to stay longer?”
I suck my teeth, pressing my hands more into his and loving how big they are in comparison. “Depends on how long you’re awake during my working hours and if you invite me to come by for a regular visit.”
His head lowers and he searches around. “Come over and watch a movie with me tomorrow while we’re both able to move and talk.”
My heart races, breath sticking to the back of my throat, and I nod. “Did your sister leave already or will she be joining us?”
“She left early this morning. It’s why my nap was so short. We grabbed breakfast before her ride showed up to take her to the airport.” He scoots closer to the table, locking my feet between his.
“Yeah, okay. I can do that. I’ll have to come through the portal since I have to be present at the office during the time I’m clocked in.”
“That’s fine. It was weird seeing you at my door anyway.” Humor laces in his tone and we both jump when a car honks outside.
“I have to go.”
A long breath escapes his lips, and he drops my hands to get out of his chair. “I’ll walk you out then.”
Nodding, I get to my feet and follow him to the front entrance, walking out first when he holds the door open for me. He tugs on the bottom of my skirt as we step closer to the car. “As much as I like you in my hoodie, I like you in this too.”
My stomach does a funny swooping motion. “I’ll wear another one like it tomorrow then.”
He presses a kiss to my cheek, sliding his lips to my ear. “I can’t wait.”
My head spins and I squeal on the inside as I slide into the car. He waits for us to turn off the street before going inside, and I have to stop myself from bouncing excitedly in my seat.
“Seatbelt,” the driver says, and that’s when I finally decide I’m tired of referring to him as the driver all the time.
“Sorry.” I buckle up, placing my drink between my knees. “What’s your name by the way?”
“Why?” he scoffs.
“You know mine, so I only think it’s only fair I know yours. It’s also really weird not to know it when I get in a car with you every day.”
Huffing out a breath, he keeps his eyes pointed at the road. “Sal.”
“Thanks for the ride home, Sal.”
“All part of the job.”
Everything I did at first was all part of mine too, and some of it still is, but once I’m alone with Elias in his living room or bedroom again, I know I’ll be doing things that are nowhere in my job description, and I’ll probably be too wrapped up in the feeling of him to regret a single one.