Page 20 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
“It still is.” I split the pastry and hand him half. “I never want to get to the point where I waste food so flippantly.”
“Indeed,” he replies.
“So, any other memories today?”
“No.” He chews on the pastry, and my heart sinks. I would love for him to be a permanent fixture at Boysen House, but I also want him to remember his past life.
“Maybe tomorrow you’ll read something that will trigger another flashback.”
“Perhaps.” He focuses on the croissant and flicks his tongue around his lips. I track the way he licks crumbs into his mouth, and I feel my heart rate pick up. I wonder what his mouth tastes like?His neck and jawline are testaments to masculinity.
Cauldrons, why does he have to be so tempting? Here in the dark coffee shop, all alone, it’s almost too romantic. So, I dart up and toss the rest of the croissant into my mouth. “Um, I’m gonna go throw out the trash,” I say with a full mouth. “Be back real quick.”
I power walk out of there before Kai can stop me. I need to be away from this Chinese hunk’s presence. Garbage bags in hand, I stride through the kitchen out the back door. The alleyway is dark and smelly, a perfect place for me to cool my hormones.
When I toss the trash into the huge metal receptacle, the back door closes, and I startle. Looking around, I spot a person in the dark alley with his hand on the door.
“Kevin?”
My ex approaches me with his signature cocky grin, but his eyes gleam with a more sinister expression.
“Hey, my sweet baby.”
I roll my eyes, then stand up straight when I recall that we’re alone. There are no coworkers or customers to get in his way. It’s just him, me, and a dumpster in an alleyway. Apparently, he’s been waiting for me.
“What do you want?”
“I just wanna chat.” When he gets close, I step to the side. “Where you going?” He swerves to my right, cutting me off.
I ought to push forward with my grimy, trashy hands on his expensive blazer. But I’m not a violent person. I step to the other side, and he blocks me again. “I have work,” I mutter.
“No, you don’t. It’s just you and me. Like old times, my sweet baby.”
When I quickly dart to the side again, I feel pressure on my arm. The next moment, I’m twirled around and pushed against the wall of the coffee shop. Then, Kevin’s face is all I can see.
This asshole has me pinned in place. My pulse begins to race as I realize I’m trapped with his arms on both sides of me. WhenI try to move underneath one arm to get some space, he grabs my shoulders.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Let go of me, asshat!” I mutter through gritted teeth.
“No one walks away from my love,” he says in a gravelly voice. I know a threatening tone when I hear one. Before I can pull away, he squeezes my shoulder and, with one hand, reaches down to my front. He pulls on the button of my trousers, and panic rises in my throat.
Kevin is trying to assault me? He’s not even that much bigger than me.
Wait, that’s true, he’s not much taller or stronger than me. So, before he can pull my zipper down, I thrust my knee into his groin.
“Oof!” He doubles over, and I pull out of his grip. I try to open the door, but it’s locked. By the time I decide to run down the alley, he catches up to me and spins me around again.
“I do love a good chase. Because deep down you want me, Seb.” He’s out of his mind. I stare in horror at his wild eyes as he grips my shoulders again.
“Why the hell do you keep harassing me?” I shout as I attempt to push him off.
“Because no one walks away from a man like me. You should just give in.” He reaches for my trousers again. “Let me just show you what I can…”
His words stop mid-sentence, and I notice the low light of the alleyway dims on his face. Kevin stares up behind me, and I feel a presence at my back. When I turn around, the faraway streetlights are blocked by the silhouette inches in front of me.
A massive beast man stands, cloaked in darkness. I can barely see his face, but his wild mane, with green and black streaks, is unmistakable. Kai is here, in his lion form, breathingheavily before me. When he utters a small growl, fear crawls up my spine.
