Chapter 10
EAVESDROPPING IS RUDE
RAYA
Our first morning of meetings and presentations goes about as well as I expect it to, given the challenges of this trip so far.
Thankfully no major mishaps, but certainly some close calls with the untimely shifting.
I’m currently hiding at a little cafe down the street during our lunch break, hoping some extra caffeine and time away from work—and Asher—will settle my nerves.
I didn’t take the CBD oil last night that my parents insisted I bring with me.
I honestly forgot, what with all the only-one-bed confusion muddling me up all night.
The morning was as awkward as I imagined it would be as we pretended a weird mix of politeness and ignoring each other while getting ready.
On top of the lack of sleep, I definitely feel the moon’s pull today, and I know it will only continue to get stronger for the next three days. It’s not until our last day here that it might start to ease up a bit as the full moon passes and begins to wane.
Heaving a sigh, I finish off my lunch and walk back out into the unrelenting heat and sun.
My flowy top is sticking to my sweaty back as I walk into the clients’ headquarters and aim for the elevators, relishing the chill of the air conditioning on my skin.
Asher is already in the conference room when I arrive, and I stumble a step when I see him in sharp profile against the windows overlooking the harbor.
His looks are striking, and I’m noticing it far more than is safe.
He turns when he hears me enter, offering what I think is supposed to be a tight smile but looks more like a grimace.
Then his gaze darts to my bare legs below my skirt, before quickly refocusing on the table in front of me.
I almost think I imagined his attention, until I notice his hands fisted at his sides as he clears his throat.
Twice.
I tip my head to the side, taking in his stiff posture and closed off body language.
I don’t understand what it is about me that makes him so uncomfortable.
Deciding to ignore whatever he has going on for now, I pull out a chair and sit, tugging at my fitted, forest green skirt as I cross my legs.
I keep my eyes laser focused on Asher as he joins me, rounding the table and pausing before choosing the seat directly to my right.
I quirk an eyebrow, though he doesn’t see it as he’s now refusing to acknowledge me—and not being subtle about it at all.
Interesting seat choice for someone who scowls at me multiple times a day.
Asher
Those legs will be the death of me. All smooth, creamy skin.
Not to mention the way that high waisted skirt makes it seem like they go on for miles.
It’s all I can do to keep my thoughts under control as my mind attempts to drag me into the gutter.
I glue my gaze to the laptop screen in front of me as Raya completes her presentation and strides back to her seat.
Why did I sit next to her?
Being so close I can inhale her warm coconut scent, just a hint of fresh strawberries, and sense the blood rushing through her veins is sweet torture.
I take a hard gulp from my water bottle, wishing it was something stronger than water and hoping the rest of todays meetings go by quick and easy.
I need a cold shower to wash away the intoxicating effect of the woman sitting next to me, but I have to endure this torture for at least another few hours.
This afternoon is all about coordinating the rest of the week and making sure everyone is on the same page.
All I have to do is sit back and confirm I’m ready to do my part.
Unfortunately, this leaves plenty of time for my brain to wander. It’s impossible not to breathe her in, not to close my eyes and imagine what her soft skin might feel like under my fingers, under my tongue, under my teeth as I bite into her neck.
Wait.
My eyes snap open.
I can’t want that, for far too many reasons, but the most important of which is that she seems to despise me and would never agree to it.
I have no idea how much she knows about vampires or what she thinks about us, but I wouldn’t blame her if she was disgusted by my kind.
Many of us are the worst this world has to offer, and I will not subject her to the monster my family tried to make me into.
There’s no way she would consent to me drinking from her, even if she knew how pleasurable I could make it.
Never say never. My horny brain is not helping the situation, and I startle when Raya pushes her chair back, uncrossing those devilish legs as she stands and excuses herself to the restroom. Again. For the fifth time in fewer hours.
I narrow my eyes at her back as she leaves, then notice other confused and concerned looks when I glance around the conference room. That’s all I need to spur me into action; I announce I’m going to check if she’s okay, then stride out the door after her.
Spying a glimpse of her honey-gold hair whipping around a corner down the hall, I jog that direction, but don’t catch up before Raya slips into the restroom and locks the door behind her.
I lean against the wall a few feet down the hallway, determined to wait and ensure she’s alright, while trying my very best to convince myself I’d do the same for any other coworker.
If I thought Raya was actually going to use the toilet, I wouldn’t have loitered, but my gut says there’s something else going on.
Sure enough, I hear harsh breathing as the water turns on for a moment.
There’s some faint splashing and then the water turns off, followed by muttering coming from behind the door when I move closer.
Without my enhanced vampiric senses, I wouldn’t have been able to hear her, but as it is, I’m able to make out a few words that don’t do anything to help me better understand the situation.
“…wrong with me... stars … need … a grip.”
I glance up and down the sparse hallway to ensure I’m alone, then take the final step forward so I’m right outside the door and angle my head so my ear is closer, tuning out any other ambient sounds as much as I can.
“…ridiculous, Raya. Come on, just turn back.” Her voice is full of frustration and something else I can’t quite decipher.
At that point, she must turn the sink on again because I can’t decipher her words underneath the sound of running water.
I swipe a hand down my face to reset it, then pace a few steps up and down the austere hallway as I decide what to do.
There isn’t a great option here, but I don’t want to leave her to deal with this alone.
I cross my arms and lean against the wall opposite from the restroom as I settle in to wait for her.
Raya jumps about a foot in the air when she sees me, slapping a hand to her pounding chest and instantly gaining a cute little rabbit nose. I try to hold in my grin, I know this isn’t the time for amusement, but it’s hard to contain.
“Stars above, you scared me!” Raya whisper-shouts, as if that doesn’t make the whole scene even cuter, until her fingertips find the bunny nose twitching on her face. “Freaking, fudging, dang it! What is wrong with you,” Raya shrieks, whipping back into the restroom and slamming the door.
I blink at the empty hallway, realizing I hadn’t moved a single muscle during that one-sided exchange and mentally punching myself in the face. I followed her to help, not to make it worse.
I step forward and gently knock on the door.
“Go away,” Raya says, and I’m unsure what emotions her words are laden with, but they sound heavy.
“Are you okay? You keep leaving, and I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help," I reply, keeping my voice slow and calm.
“Great. Just great. Not only do I look like a freak, but now people probably think I have a UTI or bowel issues or something.” Her grumble is adorable.
I bite my lip to hold in the laugh that wants to break free. It’s such a strange sensation, wanting to laugh. I can’t remember the last time I felt this way, if ever. I suspect Raya didn’t intend for me to hear that though, so I don’t answer.
When she emerges again a couple minutes later, sans bunny nose, her eyes are blazing and her lips are pinched together. My heart stutters at the sight, wondering anew how I can get her to stop hating me.
“Are you okay?” I ask again.
Raya pins me with a fierce look, one I assume is supposed to be a glare, then shakes her head as she pushes past me and heads back toward the meeting room.
“Raya,” I say, reaching my hand out, aching to touch her but stopping before I make contact. Raya pauses to look sideways at me.
“It’s your shifting, isn’t it?” I say, still trying to keep my voice quiet and calm, then continue when her only response is to bite the inside of her cheek. “Look, maybe I can help.”
I run a hand through my hair before I can think to stop the nervous habit, and Raya’s distrustful eyes track the movement. I get lost for a moment tracing the freckles across her nose.
“How?”
“How?” I parrot back to her, unsure what she’s asking.
“You said maybe you can help.” Her voice and posture are both stiff, sharp and unyielding. “How?”
“Right, yeah. I mean, I had to learn to control my emotions and urges in order to not be a completely unhinged, blood sucking vampire at all times of the day and night, and I was thinking maybe some of those lessons could help you, too.”
Raya scrunches up one side of her nose and blinks at me, her face a mask of confusion, but before either of us can speak another word, a voice interrupts from down the hall.
“Hey, you two good? We’ve got a schedule to keep.”
“Yep, be right there!” Raya’s bright voice chirps back at him and she turns away from me. Her sweet strawberry and coconut scent swirls around me as she looks my way once more, a lingering, searching look that I’m too pessimistic to hope might be intrigue, before striding back to the meeting.