LAILAH #3
I found documentation of major events during the time Renaissance art was on the rise, medieval universities were being founded, and the Knights Templar were founded.
I continued to pick randomly from the section, since so many fascinating things happened during this time in history.
Then I picked up a book on the Knights Templar and their history.
As I was flipping through, I stumbled upon the first mention of the Elementi I’d seen.
The passage briefly mentioned that it was a branch of the Templars after the Battle of Hattin, during the decline of the Knights.
I googled the date of the battle and scanned the books to find something closer to that time.
I pulled a few books that looked promising, but they were much older than what I’d been reading before and were hard to read in the soft lighting.
I looked at the lower floor and found a couch with a lamp next to it.
I noticed it was darker in the lower section as I hurried down the steps and over to the couch.
I set the stack of books gently on the coffee table and grabbed the top one to start on first. I was so excited, I flopped onto the couch, and instead of landing on the couch cushion, I landed on a person.
Before I could stand up, I was already in motion toward the floor.
“What the fuck? Don’t you look before you decide to sit on someone?” a male voice said as he pushed me off him.
Unable to think fast enough, I thumped to the floor in a heap, slapping myself in the face with the book. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was in here!” I looked up, rubbing my nose to find angry sapphire eyes glaring at me.
“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?” he barked.
I looked at him wide-eyed, shocked by the angry words directed at me.
His long dark brown hair was all mussed from laying on the couch, making it stand up in all different directions.
He was handsome to be sure, even with the scowl scrunching up his face.
His deep-blue eyes seemed to sear right into me as he waited for my answer.
The contrast of his overbearing demeanor to his wild hairstyle struck something inside me, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
That reaction caught him off guard. He frowned deeper at me, swinging his feet off the couch so he was sitting directly in front of me and leaning close enough I could feel his warm breath on my skin.
“What the hell are you laughing at? Do you have any idea what deep shit you’re in right now?” he demanded, trying to intimidate me. “How the hell did you even get into this room?”
“I’m sorry, I truly am. I didn’t mean to laugh, it’s just this whole situation caught me off guard, and to see you so angry, and your hair,” I said, gesturing to his head.
“It just struck me as funny, and I couldn’t help myself,” I said, wiping my eyes with my sleeve. I laughed so hard I had teared up.
“Are you mental?” he asked, combing his fingers through his hair and trapping it away in a man bun.
“I don’t think so,” I said, still unsure how to handle this whole situation. “Wait! How long have you been in this room? The man who let me in here didn’t tell me that anyone else was here,” I challenged.
“It doesn’t matter how I got in. Why are you here?” he asked, waving off my question.
“I got permission from one of my teachers to be here. I’m going to assume that you didn’t, or why else would you be hiding on the couch?” I said, pointing a finger in his face.
“I wasn’t hiding, I was napping. There’s a difference. Whatever. I don’t need to justify myself to you or anyone else. Just make sure you look before you sit on someone else.” He knocked my hand out of his way as he stood up. “What an idiot.”
“What did you call me?” I snapped, clambering to my feet. “Why am I an idiot for sitting on a couch in a dark room, when you’re the one sleeping in the middle of the library!”
“Who jumps on a couch like a little kid? Only an idiot wouldn’t turn the light on in a room this dark to make sure they didn’t sit on something. It’s only logical,” he said, glaring at me before he turned and started walking away again.
Normally, things like this wouldn’t bother me.
I always let stuff like this roll off, not wanting conflict.
Yet, for some reason, there was something about this guy that set my emotions on overdrive.
It was as if he’d shocked me into action, and I could feel emotions building up inside me.
How dare he treat me like I’m some bug on his shoe!
I apologized for sitting on him, he doesn't have to be a dick about it.
I watched him walk across the room to a door I hadn’t seen before.
While I was glaring at him, I felt my anger slowly fade as my brain absorbed the drool-worthy body he had.
I’d never been one to check out a dude, but I think it’s because I hadn’t seen anyone with such a great ass before.
Letting my gaze wander up past his muscular ass, I noticed the snug T-shirt that showed off his toned back.
My hands clenched with a desire to run them across his skin to make sure what I saw was real.
My train of thought came to a screeching halt when I realized he’d stopped and looked back at me from the door, catching me checking him out.
His face grimaced at me as if my appreciation of him was unwelcome.
Saying nothing, he pulled open the door and left, heading outside.
“Well, that couldn’t have been any worse,” I muttered to the empty room.