Page 33 of The Reaper's Vice

“Pah.” I turn and pour myself a heaping cup of the dark brown sludge.Coffee shouldn't have this texture. I’m not even sure it’s physically possible.

Not thinking about it, I suck down a mouthful and promptly pass away from the foul taste that infiltrates every one of my senses.

“Ma… Maggie,” I croak, reaching out for her as tears crowd my vision and pour down my face. “It… it hurts Maggie.”

Howling giggles pierce the air, the sound accompanied by several short snorts as Maggie loses her ever-loving shit. “I… can’t believe you… actually drank… it.” She throws her head back, nearly falling from the barstool. “Too stubborn… for… your own good…”

For some reason, a sharp pain echoes in my chest at her words, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why. “I don’t need this abuse. I’m going to the coffee shop.”

I grab my keys from the counter, fighting a smile as Maggie’s laughter fills the room. “I’ll be back soon!” I call, locking the door tight behind me.

The chilly morning air bites at my exposed skin as soon as I step outside, and I regret not changing out of my pajamas. My bunny slippers scuff the sidewalk as I take off down the street, practically sprinting around the corner as the cold burrows down to the marrow of my bones.

My cheeks are flushed as I push open the door to the coffee shop. Warmth envelops me, and I stand there for a few moments basking in the scent of freshly brewed coffee while my skin thaws. There’s only one person in line—a tall, well-dressed man—and I happily scuffle to the space a few feet behind him, my eyes perusing the wall of flavors and concoctions while the man prattles off his order.

There’s something familiar about the low timbre of his voice—something that has my thighs clenching as it pours over me like hot honey—warming my bones and sending a shock of electricity pulsing toward my center. I stare at his broad shoulders, a memory pricking the back of my mind as a dark, beautiful aura infects the air around him.

And then it hits me.The man from the bar.

Sensing my eyes, the man turns on his heels, all at once capturing me in an extraordinary blue gaze. A smirk tugs at his sinful mouth as he drags his eyes down my frame, taking in my baggy pajamas, bunny slippers, and all.

“Brandy… are you stalking me?”

The question catches me off guard. I stand there like a blubbering fish, lost for words as his smile widens, revealing a set of perfectly straight white teeth.

“I’m flattered. But there’s truly no need.”

A frown pinches my brows. “And why’s that.”

“Because…” He takes a step forward until we’re inches from each other. My pulse spikes as he leans low, his lips a breath from my ear as he growls out, “Because…I’mstalkingyou.”

I reel back, my eyes wide as I search his face for sincerity. He laughs like he just told the funniest joke in the world, turning back to the barista without so much as another glance.

Okay… what the fuck?

I’m about to voice this thought when he steps to the side, not even looking back as he walks toward the pick-up counter. The barista gives me a sugary smile, clearly unaware of the war waging in my mind.

My knees wobble as I step up to the counter, my mind so frazzled I end up ordering the first thing on the menu. The girl smiles politely as she takes down my name, but she holds up a hand when I reach for my card.

“Your order’s been paid for.”

“Oh… thank you.”

“No need.” She leans in and gives me a conspiratorial look. “Hepaid for it.”

I swallow hard, fighting the urge to look in Orion’s direction. “How sweet.”

“Oh my gosh, I know right.” She grins, shooting a look toward the burly man. “You should totally try to get his number.”

I smile, though it tugs painfully at my cheeks. “I totally will,” I say, knowing it’s a lie. “Thanks again.”

She waves with a girlish giggle, and I trudge to the pickup counter, my heart hammering against my rib cage with each step I take closer to Orion Adair. I stop a few feet from him, our shoulders level, eyes staring straight ahead at nothing as I wait for my coffee. The seconds tick by like eons, each moment that passes more uncomfortable than the next, until finally, I can’t take the stifling silence any longer.

“Thank you.” I grit teeth. “For the coffee.”

Orion makes a sound low in his throat, that infuriating smirk never wavering. “My pleasure,Brandy.”

I clear my throat, then busy myself picking at a hangnail when he says nothing more. “So you’re stalking me?” The question pops from my mouth before I have the chance to stop it, though it has the intended effect.

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