Page 54 of Fanged Desire
“Absolutely,” I muttered, still shaking my head. "And she’s never gonna let it go.”
“Well.” Addison brushed herself off as her eyes narrowed in my direction. “That was... something.”
I slumped back in my chair, letting out a long breath as I stared up at the ceiling.
After a few tense minutes of morbid spiraling on my part, Addison lifted her damning coffee mug and brought it to her lips, taking a long, slow sip as she surveyed me.
“So…” she asked, brow raised with casual curiosity, “did you hide me because I didn’t sign the register, or am I just your dirty little secret?”
I avoided her gaze for a moment, unwilling to admit that I didn’t really have a good answer for her. Sure, I was partially concerned about Jordan discovering my antics at Micere. But more than that, some clinical part of my consciousness understood that I was afraid.
Connecting Addison to the people I was closest to felt like crossing some forbidden line, acknowledging that she was so much more than just a passing interest.
When the silence dragged on, I risked a glance in her direction. I expected her to look hurt, disappointed maybe. Hell, I’d kissed her and then never brought it up again, buried it like it had never happened. Then I shoved her under my desk like a stowaway when my friends showed up. From Addison’s perspective, I must have looked like a walking red flag.
But when I caught her eye she only smiled – a small, smug smile that was somehow even worse. She saw right through me. Which meant she also understood the power she had over me.
Addison dropped her gaze for a beat, swirling her coffee before asking, “Are those women elves too?”
I laughed, maybe a little too quickly. “Definitely not.”
When it was clear she was expecting more, I scratched the back of my neck, avoiding eye contact as I mumbled under my breath. “They’re actually, uh… they’re just like me.”
Thank God none of them had dropped any hints about their actual “drink” plans. There were only so many subtle ways to explain the intricate complexities of vampire nightlife without horrifying someone.
Addison tilted her head, eyes narrowing as though she could pry open my thoughts if she only looked hard enough. “And what exactly is that? What are you?”
“Good question.” I tried to keep my tone nonchalant and forced a smile. I could feel her getting closer and I knew I should deflect, but there was something about her scrutiny that was both unnerving and magnetic.
“Fine, leave me in the dark.” Addison scoffed before her voice dropped an octave. “Then tell me this; how dangerous are the elves, really?”
When I raised a brow in question she rolled her eyes, settling against the edge of the desk and folding her arms. “I mean, it’s obvious they’re trouble, but every time I ask, you seem… less than worried.”
My pulse hitched when I realized just how close she was, standing squarely between my parted knees. I could feel her presence, electric and steady like she’d carved a space in my orbit just for her.
A smirk tugged at my lips, a thread of confidence slipping into my words as I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
“The elves?” I shook my head slowly. “They’re not as dangerous as I am.”
Addison held my gaze, her expression unreadable for a second before a small smile played at the corners of her mouth. The glint in her eyes told me that instead of deterring her, my words had only drawn her in further.
The space between us seemed to shrink, the air thickening with tension. Her eyes darkened and she edged closer, then glanced down at her feet like she hadn’t given them permission to move.
“That should probably scare me,” she murmured.
“Does it?”
Without really thinking, I lifted a hand, letting my fingers brush the curve of her jaw, pulled in by some unseen leash she had fastened around my neck. I had never planned for this, had never let anyone get this close to my heart – not since… well,since I learned better. But with Addison, it felt like throwing all that caution to the wind was the only option.
“No.” She whispered the confession, leaning into my touch. “It doesn’t.”
I wasn’t sure it was a good idea – hell, I was pretty sure it wasn’t – but in that moment, I couldn’t have cared less. I stood slowly, closing the gap between us, and Addison pressed a hand to my chest – whether to steady herself or push me away, I couldn’t know for sure.
But then she looked up at me, lips parted as her next words died on her tongue. That same hand fisted the fabric of my shirt, tugging me closer as she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek to my palm. I tilted her head, felt the brush of her breath against my face, taking in every inch of her features from the slope of her nose to the length of her lashes.
When she opened her eyes again, I saw my own simmering desire reflected back at me.
The kiss was slow at first, tentative, like we were testing the waters after our last entanglement to see if anything had changed. But it deepened quickly, the world outside the small, illuminated office space falling away as we lost ourselves to each other.
