Page 62 of Protect Me
Every movement drew my attention closer to him. The way his hair shone, his lips twitched, a hint of stubble darkened his cheeks. With Vikram near, the enclosing panic ebbed away. I breathed easier, which I appreciated and hated at the same time. How could he affect me so deeply?
His luminous expression sobered.
“You all right, Kate?”
I forced a smile. “Yes, better now.”
My heart gave a little skip. Had that been too forward? Revealed too much? With a quick glance at the shop, he slipped around the counter and pulled me into his arms.
“You look like you could use a hug.”
I sighed, cheek pressed to his chest. His touchy nature and instinctive compassion worked against me. I had no reason to assume Vikram meant anything but support from the gesture, but I wanted it to be so different.
“Thanks.”
He pulled away. His fingers lingered for a second on my side, then disappeared. I longed to pull them back, then ask if I could stay forever.
“Just wanted to stop by after my first shift,” he said. Amusement quirked his lips a little higher at the edges, as if he saw something funny. “I have physical therapy and needed to burn some time before it starts.”
“I’m glad you did. How was the first day?”
He shrugged. “Uneventful. Difficult to hold myself back from buying gear. Daniel makes it easy and I’ve run a register before. Shouldn’t be a problem. It’s nice to be back in the world again.” A shudder slipped through him. “I was starting to hate my couch.”
I laughed, grateful for the reprieve from my own mind. “Green tea?”
“Please.”
The bell rang, indicating a drive-through order. With a look, I commanded him not to move and back-stepped away. He held up both hands in promise and leaned against the counter to wait.
By the time I finished scurrying around for croissants, cake pops, a macchiato, and a cappuccino to go, Vik had turned around. His arms braced against the countertop. My heart did a double-slam in my chest. Vik stared down at the folder from Kinoshi’s, my name scrawled across the top.
Propelled by white-hot terror, I slipped to his side, grabbed his shoulder, and whirled him around. He spun right into my arms and our lips met in a kiss.
I melted.
Then I panicked.
Before I could pull away, his shock had already faded. He reached up, put a hand on my cheek, and pulled me closer. Any thoughts of departure fled—he held me too tight. His sturdy palm against the hollow of my cheek melted me. I leaned into him, limp. My heart turned into a storm. My breath dropped out the bottom. All I knew was his beckoning siren call.
The languid pull of his body against mine.
Vik warmed into the kiss in a hot second, intensifying it moments later. He razed my soul. Plundered years of adoration with a single kiss. All fears fractured and all thoughts fled except for one.
Kissing.
Vikram.
He pulled away just a breath, but didn’t release me. Our lips could graze each other, a thin layer from returning.
My body stiffened as I waited for judgment or comment or . . .
The drive-though bell pealed through the air.
Awkward now, I cleared my throat. When I took a step back, the room spun. I reached for the counter to stabilize. He lowered his hands to my shoulders. He held me firm. Immovable. An unreadable expression filled his face when he murmured, “Kate?”
The low question brought me firmly back to reality. Was he asking what that meant? Did he have a question or was it all just hypothetical and surreal at this point as well?
My voice squeaked when I cried, “Gotta get that!”
