A'S

books we can fit up there?" gestur

l to one side of the shelf and weighing up how many more we could fit. Scrunching my brows to

f we have any," I replied, glancing back to the

es out onto the shop floor. "Can you find some at the back an

I paced hastily to the backroom where we kept all the books, discs, bric-à-brac, and the other miscellaneous pieces.

shed through my mind: two men towering over me, sinis

constantly reminded of that night. And in the end, those thoughts would always lead back to m

and I stood up on my tiptoes, reaching for the few that I could. With the books in hand, I examined the covers with interest while pacing back to

as doing an awkward, old-fashioned dance in the middle of the CDs section. But when I reached the bookshelf, I was free to

he

orking at the till, gesturing wi

in a cute sort of way. From my very first day, Judith and I had been working together,

er prime, Judith had a certain warmth about her which made her so approachable. It amazed me how easily s

e asked as I came up to the empty t

to put some bo

and on about Andrea. All the volunteers had a strong relationship with each other and it surprised me when I first

make way for me to fit. I thanked her and squeezed inside with her sitting down on the ch

Thea. He's not

't know what to think anymore. Perhaps my fear really was legitimate. Perhaps it was well founded. Taking a peek at Judith, I couldn't compr

"So how was your week?" I asked, resting my chin in my hand while staring at her in genuine interest. I loved Judith's ran

me and I nodded my head with wide eyes, taking a mental note of the idea. "My son is working today but I'm meeting up with my friends this evening. They said to me, 'Judy, have you made soup

sation I had with Judith while

t English tea that had been set to the side. "If you ev

you the entire time," she chortled, making me blu

at he wanted to buy. But there was nothing that he had put down. Tucking a strand of hair be

o could possibly embody dominan

pearing along the side of his neck as he gently tilted his head to the side. His skin was pale and smooth, diam

o heated fury being capable enough to thaw those glaciers. A pale, pale blue that reminded me of crystals fo

d my eyes flickered to his hands, only to find them inked with plenty of black too; I wondered if there was any inch of skin that had been left unmarked by the intricate patterns which adorn

ve burst out in laughter at the fact that my coworker was sipping tea so noisily at a moment like this, but I was too entranced by the man's eyes. They

r a girl who goes b

es

r a moment, I felt myself go lightheaded at the sound of that voice. Th

d and unclenched repeatedly and I felt it heave for air. His gaze flickered down at the movement of

ng right in

d to her. She was supposed to get me out of this, not dig me a deeper hole! "Thea, aren't you go

yn

idating move, having established his dominance through that action alone. My cheeks only grew hotter the longer he stared down at me. It was no mistake

tly, finding it hard to look him in the eye when

anted to

eapt into

n, no podía mant

son, I couldn

ling out from behind the till. I wanted to ask her not to leave or to tell her that I'd help Andrea instead - I'd do anything to escape the

nk you again for saving me. I really appreciat

come, baby. I al

gue, so close to being uttered. Alluring. Handsome. Completely irresistible. Any

, arching a thick

just so-

o my relief, I watched as the man name Synn bowed his head and held back a smile of his own. He looked deeply entertained by som

there is nothing small

ieve

tered uncertainly. "L-Like baby and babydoll and,

eyes only made him that much more desirable. I was mortified to even be thinking such things, let alone dwelling on them. And to answer h

pecial words that girlfriends and boyfriends would say to each other. And

blue eyes and he repeat

his tongue and I kn

ted cheerfully, giving Synn a glance as a polite request for him to move and give them space. He slowly pushed himself up from the counter and

deep in thought, a calculative, predat

through his pockets for some money and while I was waiting, I forbid myself to look back at Synn because I was afraid what he was thinking of me now. It did

but they di

he cash drawer, gathering his change. I gave them both another gentle smile while my abdomen spoke otherwise, tensing until I th

d someone

I was staring into smooth, rippling water. Wordlessly, I shook my head and stepped away from the till, resting my back

t when peopl

over the years that served as a barrier of protection for me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. It looked like he thought I was scared of all touch and not just men's,

ed you?" he asked, eyes fl

r most of it," I answered timidly, feeling

ainst my ear; it sung such a sweet song. I recalled the way his hands tightened around my hips as he gently adjusted my position, letting them trail to the space beneath my knees until

. he didn't hurt or sca

in my life, I felt.

he rumbled in a voice which made me want to apologise right away. "I want the

e ready to handle a puni

highs together. "And I am telling the truth. I-I am. I don't like you touching me

test me

g to meet his. My heart stammered, my mouth unable

you nuzzled into me? The way you mumbled in your sleep and buried your face in my chest? You didn't flinch, you didn't wince like

attooed man and my throat constricte

said, his voice both deepening and quieting to a low r

I'm sorry, I don't know what to say," I whispered, shrinking f

to a devastatingly alluring smile and his eye

ality, I was too flustered to meet his eyes. No man had ever tried to be my friend before. Despite of the boys wanting to play with me when

rm, ocean waters made me

by. Let's get