Page 34 of Egotistical Jerk
"Two sugars, no milk." He winked and the butterflies in my stomach flipped out.
I reached out with both hands and pulled the cup toward me. Lifting the lid, I held the cup to my cheek. Sebastian was watching me so carefully, I knew the heat touching my skin had nothing to do with the temperature of my coffee.
"How did you know?" I asked after taking a small sip. It was perfect.
"I asked Bebe, she's pretty good with remembering what the regulars order." Cocking his head slightly, he jerked his chin in my direction. "Why do you hold the cup against your cheek before you drink?"
Dropping my eyes to the coffee cradled between my palms, I rolled my lip between my teeth. "I learned it from my dad. He always said if the steam coming from the cup doesn't hurt your skin then the liquid inside won't burn your tongue."
Strangely, the admission left me feeling vulnerable. I'd never told anyone that before. I'd always assumed people would think it was stupid or weird. When I dared to look up at the man sitting across from me, understanding burned bright in his eyes. "Sounds like your dad was a smart man."
"He was." Nodding, I touched the cup to my lips again. Sebastian's gaze was still trained on me; the intensity behind it had me fighting the urge to squirm in my seat. I'd been on the receiving end of that stare plenty of times before, but it'd never been this intense.
"I'm sorry."
What?Was he apologizing for the kiss? Here I was hoping it would happen again sometime soon, and he was apologizing. How embarrassing. Schooling my features, I met his gaze. "It's okay… I get it. It was a heat of the moment kind of thing."
Thin lines formed on his forehead. "Mia." His voice was low and raspy. "I'm not apologizing for kissing you." Those dark eyes of his bore into mine. "I'm not sorry. Are you?"
I swallowed hard. "No."
"I was apologizing for my behavior before that. In the hall. It was uncalled for."
I turned my attention to my finger lazily tracing the rim of the cup. "Why do you do it though?" Lifting my eyes, I met his gaze again. "This morning wasn't the first time."
A pained expression crossed his face. "I know, and I wish I had an answer for you that made sense."
Squeezing his lids together, Sebastian shook his head. When he opened his eyes again, whatever was burning in those irises stole the breath right out of my lungs.
"Shit, Mia, you do something to me… I can't explain it, but everything is out of whack whenever you're close. It's like my brain short-circuits and all I see is you."
Oh. My. Damn.
For the second time in less than a few hours, this man had left me speechless. But really, what the hell was I supposed to say to that? Luckily for me, a response wasn't needed because he kept on talking.
"I'm worried we don't have enough time to figure out what's going on with Cheryl. You care about her, and I'm afraid of how it will affect you when she—" his voice cracked slightly and he swiftly turned his attention to the window next to us. The sudden swell of emotion evident by his Adam's apple slowly bobbing up and down.
I couldn't help myself. Reaching across the table, I curled my fingers around his arm. "Sebastian." The intensity in his eyes when he flicked them my way nearly did me in. "I understand, I really do, but I can't not get involved. It's who I am."
"Death changes you."
"I know." I sucked in a long breath and decided to give him some of my truth. "Death and I are familiar with each other. I lost my mom when I was little and as you know my dad died a few years ago. I understand the devastation it leaves behind." Realizing I was still holding on to him, I quickly unwrapped my fingers but before I could slide my hand back to my side, Sebastian covered it with his.
It was soft and warm, I had this overwhelming urge to flip my hand and touch my palm to his. To trail my fingers up his arm and wrap them—
"Uhm, excuse me, Dr. Ryker?"
Both of us looked to the side to find a nurse standing beside our table. Her gaze flicked to our connected hands, and I immediately tried to tug mine away. Sebastian wasn't having it, curling his long fingers tighter around mine.
"Yes, Rose?"
"Dr. Sheppard is looking for you. She wants to see you in her office."
"Thanks, I'll be right there." He waited until she scurried away before he pinned me with a stare once more. "Have dinner with me?"
"Yes."
He smiled again; that pure male, pure masculine grin that sent heat rushing through my veins. Leaning forward, his voice dropped an octave or two. "Can I be selfish and ask that you come to my place? I'm not in a sharing mood."
