Chapter 6. #3
“You put them here.” Her smile is a sweet implication but when my gaze cuts to Christian's energy, all I see is the flicker of relief.
… You’re joking.
“I think I can handle it from here, Julia.” I step between the two of them seamlessly with an easy smile, but I can tell from the way she scurries back that I might’ve failed to bring that socialite gleam to my eyes. Honestly, I'm still considering if to break her wrist.
Her eyes are wide as she stutters, before gathering herself quickly, “You know what measurements to take?”
“I've seen you do it enough times.” I manage to make my eyes a little gentler as I take the measuring tape from her and she relaxes visibly, hiding her confusion behind a sheepish smile, “I'll go see if the others are getting through then.”
She escapes hurriedly and when I turn to look at Christian, his energy visibly relaxes. I think I may even see it in the way he releases his shoulders.
I'm quiet for a moment as I take his measurements, trying to settle the urge to grab him by the throat and demand he never pull that shit ever again.
By some miracle, I decide to be civil instead.
“A single-breasted suit only has one column of buttons,” I explain and Christian's head snaps towards me.
But I keep my eyes focused on measuring his arms and wrists.
“A double-breasted has two columns. The double is for extremely formal occasions, like weddings or business events.
They're not my taste but I know Tobias especially likes them.”
Christian's energy is both grateful and anxious as I continue, “The lapel is the collar of the coat. A notch is shaped like this,” I draw the shape beneath his collar and down his chest. “The peak is like this,” I can feel the air entering and leaving his lungs as I draw it against his body.
“And the shawl is like this,” I trace the shape from his neck a bit more slowly.
I hate that being this close to him is devastating me.
I refuse to meet his eyes as I nudge him to hold the tape against his hip before measuring the length of his legs, the size of his thighs and the space around his ankle that'll leave just enough room for the pants to breathe.
“The three-piece suit comes with a vest and the two-piece comes without. If I ever see you without a vest,” my eyes narrow as they meet his, “I will shoot you on sight.”
A few moments of silence pass by as we stare at each other.
His measurements are just slightly smaller than mine, so it’ll be easy to recall them for Julia.
But even though I still have the itch to grab him by the throat, there’s a shiver of dread that’s creeping into his energy that extinguishes my irritation.
I sigh, “If there's something you don't understand Christian, just tell me.” Instead of flirting with staff right in front my eyes.
The shivers of dread intensify. “Sorry.”
“Not sorry,” I wait for him to correct it and he looks away from me to shuffle his weight from foot to foot. “Christian, I'm not going to bite you if there’s something you don’t know.”
He squints his eyes with obvious distrust and I can’t even begin to wrap my head around it.
But somehow I really want to.
Before I know it, I'm hooking my fingers around his chin and pulling his face to me again so I can see his expression, “If it means that much to you, then I’ll explain everything you don’t understand.”
Christian pulls his face away from me to put distance between us.
A gesture I truly dislike.
“I don’t need you to do that,” he says.
My gaze sharpens, “What do you plan to do then? It doesn’t look to me like you can figure out these kinds of things on your own.”
He scowls, “I got through just fine.”
No, because I almost broke the poor lady’s wrist.
“If you’re going to whisper into everyone’s ears to hide your confusion,” I can feel the energy inside me dancing chaotically when I smile, “I’m going to put a bullet between their eyes, not yours.”
Christian’s eyes widen.
“You might not have heard, but people find me charming mostly because of how unreasonable I am.” It’s true really.
“If I see you flirting with staff again, you can bet I’m going to shoot them.
So to save them all that trouble,” I step into his space again, his face barely a few inches away from mine, “I’ll explain everything you don’t understand. ”
If his eyes could spew fire, I think I’d be melted by now, “If you treat me like a freak, I’ll hit you.”
Are you threatening me with a good time, estrellito?
“I’ll allow that.” I step out of his space, more than happy to have reached a consensus, but he’s still glaring at me.
“… And you promise you'll explain anything I don't understand? Without being an asshole?”
“Yes, yes. I won’t be an asshole.” Anything that prevents that shit from happening in front of me again. For a moment I really thought I’d pull my gun in public.
I can tell he doesn’t believe me at all, but he’s watching me with a new question in his eyes, “How did you know I was confused?”
I hum, “You're a much easier read than you think, estrellito.” On the contrary, he's damn good. But it's a different feeling knowing that I can see the parts of him others can't.
He looks troubled by my response, but there’s something else that’s been gnawing at me too, and I can’t help but grin, “You don't know who Jake Gyllenhaal is?”
Christian's energy burns pink with new embarrassment as he shoots me a devastating glare, and I have to stifle the laugh burning in my throat.
“You just said you wouldn't—”
“No assholery here I swear,” I raise my hands in surrender as I walk away, unable to peel the smile off my face.
Because Christian Adler is having a really strange effect on me.
And it really does seem to be getting worse by the day.