Page 50 of Wretched Soul
The gurney rattles as they wheel Connor towards the ambulance. I’m almost at a jog as I try to keep up.
“He has suspected broken bones,” the paramedic explains. “He’ll need to be treated in the hospital. Did you want to come?”
“No!” Connor shouts, his eyes wide as he comes out of his stupor. “Stay away from me, Lily!”
I almost trip over my feet. “Connor? What’s going on? What happened?”
His face twists in fear and something else. Disgust? “I don’t know what I ever saw in you. Just keep away. Tell the office I had a fall. Tell them whatever you want. I’m done,” he says. To the paramedic, he adds, “Keep her away from me. Please.”
I’m already stepping away, my hands lifted in surrender. “It’s OK, I’ll go.”
As I approach the diner, there are faces at the windows, and I’m grateful they were too far away to hear what Connor said. I’m as shocked by his behavior as I am from his injuries. I should let the office know, but my mind is still reeling. What did he mean I could tell them whatever I want?
Avoiding the curious stares, I keep my gaze down as I head back to my booth. If I don’t clear my head, there’s a real risk I could be here all weekend now that I’m working alone. Is it bad of me to feel a little relief that I won’t be fighting off Connor’s advances later?
I reach what I think is my booth, but someone’s sitting there with their back to me. My gaze flicks to my laptop and papers. They’re on the table where I left them. It’s definitely my booth. And then I clock who it is that’s waiting for me.
“Hello, Slayer.”
I almost choke on the gasp. “What are you doing here?”
Shade picks up one of my files. “I thought you might need some help.”
Before I can reply, the waitress arrives with two coffees and a side order of fries.
“Hungry?” Shade asks, nodding his thanks to the waitress before she leaves.
My legs have turned to Jell-O and I drop down into my seat so I’m facing Shade. He’s more casually dressed than usual, in a black button-down and dark jeans. I’m trying to figure out how I should react. I know I’ve given Shade permission to pursue me, but I’m on a business trip. I’m supposed to be working. And Connor has just been…
“What did you do?” I rasp.
Shade pushes the fries towards me. “I don’t know what you mean.”
My stomach growls, but that could be because my insides are tied in knots. I search Shade’s face, and find the faintest trace of what I think is amusement.
“Shade, my colleague has just been taken away in an ambulance,” I say. “And he practically screamed at me to keep away from him. Why would he do that?”
When Shade reaches for a fry, the skin on his knuckle looks red and slightly swollen. He notices me noticing, and shrugs. “It could be that I told him I’d kill him if he ever touched you again,” he replies. And then he stretches out his legs beneath the table. His feet bracket mine.
“And would you?”
“He touched you, Lily,” Shade replies. “He’s lucky he got a warning.”
“By breaking his arm?”
“Actually, it was both arms.”
My mouth gapes open until I’m able to form words. “I can’t believe you’d do that… I can’t believe I’m…” I don’t like where my mind’s going.
Shade tilts his head. He’s reading me quicker than I can read myself. “Can’t believe you’re what?” he asks. “Turned on?” His boot trails the outside of my calf. “I know you have a history with the guy, and I know he’s been poaching your clients. I also know he’s been trying to make a move on you, and unless I’m mistaken, his advances have made you uncomfortable. Have I got anything wrong so far?”
How does he do this to me? “No.”
Shade inserts a foot between my calves, quickly followed by the other. He spreads my legs. “I’d kill for you, Lily and that’s no idle promise,” he says. “Now tell me. Just how turned on are you right now?”
I tug at my sweater to stop the wool from sticking to my clammy skin. “This isn’t normal,” I try.
“Slayer, I never promised normal,” he says. “And unless you want me to fuck you on this table, I suggest we get out of here.”
