If we did fool around, he’d have to understand it wasn’t ever going to lead to anything. Obviously he had no idea I was disappearing from his life in a few days. But I knew, and I didn’t want to pretend things were more than they were. He’d be confused when I vanished, but odds were everything would be chaotic when Charles disappeared too. I’d be lost in the shuffle, and he’d get over me fast.
I closed my eyes, a tiny thrill shooting through me at what tomorrow might bring. I’d drop hints to Dylan, and if he picked them up, I’d let him lead. I wasn’t forcing anything on him. I only wanted him if he truly wanted me. I smiled and rolled over onto my side. By this time tomorrow, if all went well, I’d have had a taste of Dylan. I couldn’t think of anything I’d wanted that bad in decades.
Chapter Seventeen
Dylan
Something was different about Lex when he came into the kitchen the next morning. Something seemed to buzz beneath the surface, and he watched me more. I could feel his eyes on me as I put dishes in the dishwasher.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, glancing up to meet his intent gaze.
“Way better.” He smiled and then looked away.
I closed the door of the machine. “Can I make you something to eat?”
“I’m fine with cereal.”
I frowned. “Cereal? You should have something more substantial than that.”
“Why? I don’t plan on doing anything taxing today.” He laughed.
“But you’re just getting over being sick. You need protein and fat.” I opened the fridge. “Let me make you some eggs.”
“I thought you didn’t cook?”
“I don’t.” I grinned, grabbing eggs and butter. “But I can try.”
He chuckled and came closer. When he took the eggs from me, our fingers brushed. He didn’t seem to notice, but I sure did. A spark worked its way through my hand and up my arm. I did my best not to react, but it wasn’t easy. The effect he had on me was startling sometimes. I couldn’t remember an alpha giving me goose bumps before, not like he did. Sometimes when our eyes met, my mouth went dry. Usually I could hide my reactions easier because he kept his distance, but today he was definitely more in my personal space.
“Do you want anything,” he asked softly.
I swallowed. “Wh-what?”
A slow smile spread across his face. “To eat.”
“Oh.” I laughed a bit too loudly. “No. I already ate.” I grabbed a saute pan for him from the cupboard.
He took it and moved to the stove. Once he had butter melting, he cracked three eggs, and they dropped into the pan, sizzling loudly.
“Would you like some bacon?”
“Nah.”
“Toast?”
He smiled. “Sure.”
I grabbed a bag of sourdough bread I had on the counter. “One slice or two?”
“One, please.” He flipped the eggs as he spoke.
I dropped the bread in the toaster and leaned against the counter to watch him work. My gaze ran down his long, lean legs, and my pulse picked up when he glanced at me over his shoulder. Our eyes met, and I’d have sworn I saw arousal in the blue depths of his eyes. “It’s nice to see you feeling good again.”
“I’m back to my old self.”
“You probably can’t wait to get home,” I said.
“Uh… yeah. Of course, I still need Charles to give me the all clear.”