27. Lilith
LILITH
“I’m gonna run to the bathroom real quick.” Hope tugs at the knot of her apron behind her neck, then pauses. “Unless you need me to stay?”
My eyes skim over the crime scene that is the cafeteria.
Coffee and milk stain the counter by the coffee machine. A few napkins are scattered on the floor. The salad station is a mess. The sandwich and pastry display is empty. And the tables…yikes.
Usually, I like it when it’s busy, but wow.
What was in the water today? The lunch crowd was brutal.
So brutal that Delany, our boss, had to jump in and help because the line for the cafeteria never seemed to end.
She stayed with us until we handed the last customer his order, then slipped away to make some phone calls, leaving just Hope and me at the front.
So, yeah, of course I need her.
But cleaning up can wait. Plus, I’ve been dying to have a few minutes to myself for a couple of reasons.
One, I’m pretty sure I have an unread text from Alaric, since I haven’t seen him around today.
Two, there’s a picture of a certain anonymous man I need to identify.
“Hey.” After placing her apron under the counter, she rubs my shoulder. “You know what? I don’t have to go that bad. You look like you could use a break. Go, I’ll wait.”
Her words cut through my scheming thoughts and send warmth through my body.
She’s always been a sweetheart, but working here has only made her even more considerate.
I’m so impressed and proud, especially since she’s running on fumes.
Spending her nights either writing down business ideas or experimenting with new recipes and perfecting older ones must be exhausting. Still, she doesn’t let it show.
“No, no.” I pat her hand, blinking furiously so I don’t start crying like an idiot. “I’m good. You go first.”
“Lil…” Genuine concern clouds her features. “Are you like this because Alaric hasn’t stopped by today?”
“No.” Well, maybe a tiny bit. But even if he had come to say hello, I wouldn’t have been able to spare him a minute. “It’s because I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“I’m just doing my job.” Hope’s cheeks flush, and she shifts on her feet. “Same as everyone else.”
“You’re not just anything.” My eyes heat. “You’re responsible, hardworking—”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Her cheeks burn brighter than before. Then she steals one look at the nonexistent line behind her and says, “Anyway, be right back.”
“Okay” barely leaves my mouth before she takes off.
As soon as she’s gone, I blink away the tears and snatch the phone out of my pocket.
The first five notifications are emails from the realtor about Hope’s bakery.
They matter, though they don’t get my blood pumping like Alaric’s texts do.
Alaric: Tell me one good thing about your day.
Alaric: I’d ask in person, but we’re backed up.
Me: Nothing special. Today was busy but fine. Are you eating? Drinking?
His answer comes in within seconds.
Alaric: I will later. Tell me more.
My lips tug into a frown.
Me: I won’t. See, I’m worried my doctor is texting instead of feeding all those sexy muscles I’m growing attached to.
Minutes pass in silence as I mop the counters and pick up trash from the floor.
I’m so focused on my tasks that I yelp when my phone buzzes.
Alaric: Don’t be. I’m still full from biting, licking, and sucking on every delicious inch of my favorite patient’s body this morning. It made skipping lunch easy.
Flames climb up my neck. My breath hitches. This man is on a mission to drive me insane. It’s hard to think, let alone function, when he talks to me like that.
Me: You’re the worst. Go eat!
Alaric: If by eating you mean spreading your legs and burying my face in your cunt, then fine. I’ll take a break.
Me: Really?
Alaric: I fucking wish. Later, though, I promise.
A tap on my shoulder. “I see all’s well in Alaric-land.”
“Hope!” I hug my phone to my chest, gasping when I find her standing beside me with her apron already on.
“You two are adorable.” A laugh tumbles out of her as she grabs a disinfectant and a rag from behind the counter. “I didn’t even see what he was writing, so don’t freak out. But you had that look—”
“The Alaric look.” Delany comes from behind me, her tone warm. As she heads to the kitchen, she adds, “Go on. Take a break. It’s an order.”
Being cared for might be nothing special to other people. Not me. After years of being judged and hated by Mom, I treasure moments like this one.
“I’ll be back soon,” I say, heading to trauma.
Since he’s busy, I won’t ask him to meet me outside. However, there’s no harm in stalking him and hoping for a glimpse of his gorgeous face.
On my way there, I text him back. Just so he won’t think I’m ignoring him.
Me: It’s okay, I can wait. Promise me you’ll at least eat the bar I gave you this morning.
Alaric: I’d rather wait to have your pussy later.
Me: Alaric! Get off your phone and eat.
Alaric: Patients rolling in. Later. Love you.
“Hey, Lilith, right?” I hear a woman, then see her and a taller man beside her wearing teal scrubs. “I’m Samantha, and this is Becket. So nice to finally meet you. Officially, that is.”
So that’s the Samantha whose name I heard on my first day here. And I recognize Becket. Over the past few days, Alaric never introduced me to the nurses or anyone, really. With so little time together, he preferred we spend it alone, and I wholeheartedly agreed with him on that one.
“Oh, hey.” I give the blonde woman and the bald guy a nervous wave. “I hear trauma is busy today.”
“Yup.” Becket steals a glance toward the corridor to his right. “They called us in early.”
“We do have a minute, though.” Samantha is all warmth. “To say that we’re happy. Truly happy about you and Lockwood.”
My cheeks heat. “Uh, thanks?”
“Samantha, you’re making the poor girl nervous.” Becket’s eyes dart over to the corridor again.
While no one calls for them, he still looks antsy. He must love his job or the adrenaline, or both.
“I’m not.” She sounds conspiratorial, as if she wants me and her to pair up against Becket. Funny lady. I like her even more now. “Aren’t I?”
“Not at all,” I agree.
“I apologize, anyway.” A smile plays on her lips. “The thing is, he’s one of the best doctors we’ve ever worked with. I mean, yeah, sure, he’s this broody giant man who can take care of himself.”
When she pinches her lips together and pulls her eyebrows down, mimicking him, I can’t help but laugh.
“Did I get it right?”
“Yes, but also,” I add, still laughing, “Alaric does it better.”
“He does. Jokes aside.” Her warmer tone even gets Becket to stop peeking down the corridor and look at her. “Other than being surly, he’s a good man. Someone like him deserves to be loved, to have that person who makes him smile, who adores him for who he is. Like you.”
Hope and Alaric love me. The Griggs have always been good to me and promised that we’d stay in touch even after Hope and I moved out. Delany is satisfied with my work. I haven’t had anyone call me a disappointment or an embarrassment since Mom disappeared.
Nevertheless, it’s incredibly hard to take a compliment. A true challenge.
“I—um.” I rub the back of my neck.
Both their pagers chime simultaneously as I fumble for words.
“Got to go.” Samantha switches into work mode, her expression transforming right before my eyes. The smile lines are gone. Her jaw is pulled tight. I guess I won’t be able to steal so much as a glimpse of Alaric today. “It was great talking to you. Seriously.”
They’re already gone by the time I murmur, “You too.”
Me: I’m heading out. Can I see you before I go?
My phone stays quiet as Hope and I pull on our hoodies.
I’m still staring at the screen when she whispers, “Watch your head,” then slides the strap of my bag onto my shoulder.
“Thanks.” I do my best not to let sadness take over.
I know better than to mope about Alaric working overtime. Seven years ago, when I needed him, he was fully present. As he should be now.
But I’ve been missing him more than usual since my short break earlier. Enough that I’ve buried myself in work rather than leaving space for my mind to wander. Which means digging into facial recognition apps to figure out who the man in Alaric’s storage unit is will have to wait.
“Come on, come on. Let’s go hooome.” The excitement in Hope’s voice and the way she bounces on the balls of her feet snap me out of it. “I need to tighten up my business plan. And the recipes. I’ve been thinking about them all day. I have so many ideas I’m dying to try.”
Other than the dark circles under her eyes, she’s never looked more alive.
“Okay, okay.” Not wanting her to worry, I force a smile, take one last glance at my phone, and pocket it. “We’re leaving. We have the realtor emails to go over too.”
“Yes, exactly.” Hope’s eyes glimmer. “I have such a good feeling about this, Lil. The best.”
“Me too.”
I don’t finish the sentence before another feeling creeps up my spine.
“Lilith.”
My heart slams to a stop as I hear him. That low, deep voice that reverberates through my body. The one that fills my head with the most obscene images.
I turn around, expecting to find him by the doorway to the cafeteria, since he sounded a little far away.
Of course, Alaric isn’t one to waste time. Not even a second.
A little breathless and yet oh-so-hot, he’s right here, less than a foot away.
His scruff has thickened slightly throughout the day. The stethoscope around his neck looks sinister after this morning. The blood on his scrubs—I hope it means he saved a lot of people.
That last thought is a fleeting one, because then my focus lands on his mouth.
These gorgeous full lips.
“Hey.” His hands claim my cheeks as he tips my head up and leans in. Anyone watching would think his hands are loving and possessive. Only I know they’re a killer’s hands. A vigilante’s hands. “I had another doctor step in for a few minutes. Couldn’t wait until later tonight to see you.”
“You do realize…” I’m heady from the soft brush of his lips over mine. I’m equally committed to teasing him. It’s our thing. And he loves it. “You could’ve just asked for a selfie.”
“Brat.” The spark in his eyes tells me that, yes, he’s into our games. No, he’s more than into it. I think after the day he must’ve had, he needs it. “I’ve missed you, and you’re talking to me about selfies?”
“With the right lighting, it could look very”—my throat locks when he kisses the corner of my mouth—“um…very…”
“Yes?” His tongue swipes slowly, sensually along my bottom lip.
“Very real.” I cling to his neck before my traitorous knees give out on me. “Very real.”
“Fuck selfies, I want the real thing,” he growls, then takes my mouth in a brutal, ravenous kiss.
The fact that we’re in the middle of the cafeteria means nothing to him. He threads his fingers into my hair, messing it up as he licks and tastes every inch of my mouth. When that’s not enough, he pulls me as close as he can without having me touch his blood-soaked scrubs.
Somehow, after the long day he’s had, he still smells so good. Like mint. Like his cologne. Like him.
Everything about him is intoxicating, addictive. And that includes his touch.
The rough yet smooth strokes of his thumbs over my cheeks remind me of the way he rubs my clit. His tongue in my mouth carries the same feral hunger as when he eats me out.
But I need to wait.
He has to go back to work first, then deal with the man in his basement.
I have to give him the space to do both.
“Alaric.” I pull away. “Wait.”
“What?” His hungry glare searches mine. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Unable to help myself, I drag a finger over his wet bottom lip. That low grumble coming from him makes my thighs clench. “It’s just, we’re not alone.”
“Hi, hello.” Hope appears right on time in my periphery, waving.
A laugh tumbles out of me, then from the evening shift guys. Alaric flashes me one of his rare smiles that warms me all over.
“Hi, Hope.” He arranges us so my body is in front of his. Guessing what he’s trying to hide, I have to bite back a smile. “How are you?”
“If Lilith is happy, I’m happy.” She winks at me. “How are you, Alaric?”
“Great, thank you. If I can steal Lilith for a second.” He doesn’t wait before turning me to face him, hands on either side of my neck. “I’ll be late today, but I’ll come over once I’m done.”
A quick look into the deepest, most gorgeous blue eyes that have ever existed, and I can tell I was right.
The predatory gleam in them makes it obvious he’s going to his storage unit tonight.
“That’s okay.” As long as you fuck that abuser up, I’m good. “I’ll be waiting.”
One last kiss, and he disappears down the hall. As I watch him leave, the heavy feeling from earlier fades.
Now, I can finally focus on digging into the facial recognition apps and figuring out who the man in Alaric’s storage unit is.
Can’t wait.