Chapter 18: Chapter Seventeen

Louis

My empty water bottle clinked as I sat it down on the desk with a bored sigh. What was she doing right now? Had I crossed her mind, had Marcus?

I wondered if I could use this as an excuse to go to the break room. With the hope that I would run Amelia. I’d enjoyed the brief time I’d spent with her yesterday. Longing to be near her filled me as my dragon huffed at the thought.

The beast wanted to go to her.

Moving in front of my desk, I paced forward, trying to keep from going to the elevator and heading up to the top office to see what she was doing. My steps measured and even as I looked down at the well-worn tile, looping around into the familiar pattern that was worn from many days of my pacing.

I knew that Marcus had a meeting with Maxwell. I hoped they didn’t scare away Amelia, I’d met him before. Maxwell could be a bit much for a submissive. His words holding that current that let you know he could pull you under. Make you feel things that would leave you craving his touch.

I wished to be a fly on the wall. To see how that interaction was going. The brief flash of anger moved over me as if it were my own, my hands clenched at my sides as I moved back to my desk.

My dragon snarled.

With my mind made up, I snagged my water bottle off of my desk and jogged to the elevator. I’d go fill up my water. Maybe Marcus had already sent her for coffee and I could run into her?

I pressed the button for the elevator, bouncing on the balls of my feet as I waited. The doors chimed open and I walked inside. The doors closing behind me as I turned to the panel and pressed the button for the lobby. 

The ride up was short, the doors opened up. Making me squint at the sunlight that streamed through the windows and off the gleaming polished surfaces.

The soft scent of apples hit me and I realized that Amelia was leaving the building. I walked over to the exit, bursting through the doors. My eyes scanning the sidewalk as I caught sight of her auburn hair. The sun made it look like trapped fire.

She moved forward, weaving through the crowded sidewalk. Her pace was quick, even in her heels. 

I could smell her scent on the gentle breeze. I could feel my dragon coiled beneath my skin, watching her. 

She turned, heading into a coffee shop. Biting back a smile before jogging forward. I gripped the curving metal door handle.  “Let me.”

Turning, her face tilted up towards mine. Her cheeks had the barest hints of color from the brisk walk over. 

Raising an eyebrow, she smiled up at me.. My name slipping from her lips made the butterflies flare to life in my stomach.

“Louis, how are you?” 

“Good, just coming to get my coffee fix. You?”

“Marcus sent me for drinks.” She pressed her lips together before looking away. I wished I could tell her that she could tell me what ever she was thinking. But, we didn’t know each other well enough for me to say something like that.

“Want me to order?” I asked, as we moved to get into line.

“Do you know what Mr. Blackwell would like?” She asked, tilting her head to look up at the menu. She crossed her arms, bringing up a finger to rest on her chin as she studied the menu. 

She was cute when she focused like this. You wouldn’t have thought it was over something as small as coffee. Her brows knit together as she worried her lower lip. 

“I have an idea about it.”

“Then yes, please. Because, I have no idea what any of them would like.” She said, not looking away from the menu. “What kind of coffee do you like?”

“Already planning for our mornings?” I asked as I moved closer to her, resting my hand on her lower back. My heart did a funny little jump at the thought that she might want to know more about me and the things that I liked. The idea of having coffee with her first thing in the morning made my dragon feel warm. 

“You’re my only friend at work.” She said as she looked away from the menu.

I brought my hand to my chest, biting my lower lip as our gaze met. “Here I thought you were planning to woo me.”

“Louis,” She laughed, rolling her eyes, before she turned back to the board. “I think I’ll get a mocha.”

I wanted to hear more of that laughter, it made me feel tingly in the best way possible. “Mmm, sounds good.”

Her eyes flicked back over to mine, “So I was wondering, if you weren’t busy Fri-”

“Yes.” 

“You didn’t let me finish.” She said with a pout.

“Whatever it is, as long as it’s with you. I’d love to.”

“So movie night?” She asked as we stepped closer to the counter. 

“The lower the budget, the better.” 

Her smile grew as she looked away from me, towards the counter as the person in front of us finished their order. Stepping up to the register, I ordered for us.  

We stepped to the side, I could feel her eyes on me. Straightening my shoulders, I looked over at her, licking my bottom lip and giving her my best come hither look. 

She bumped her shoulder against mine, a slight blush staining the tops of her cheeks. “So how was your evening?”

The tops of my ears burned as I thought about how I should answer her question. Worried that the truth would scare her off. “I, I um.”

“A hot date, maybe?” She asked, her lips quirking up into a crooked half smile. 

“Something like that.” Marcus was my hot date, that was close to the truth. I couldn’t tell her that he’d strapped me down to our bed and paddled my ass until I came thinking about her. 

About hunting her.

About taking her. 

“Oh, you’ll have to tell me about them Friday.” She said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. 

“Amelia-” 

Our order was called, stopping from telling her that it wasn’t anything like what she thought.