Oh no.
I need to keep focused, but the way he says friend, like it’s the dirtiest word I’ve ever heard, has my full attention.
Until the fifth, and final coffee—my coffee—is plopped down.
“Thanks,” I turn to say, tugging my hand out of Sai’s grip.
Sai shoots a glare so vicious the poor barista almost knocks it over, then he stumbles straight into the wall before finding the door and vanishes.
I’m slotting the last drink into a cardboard carrier, when I feel him behind me.
“How long, Red?” he murmurs, breath ghosting the side of my throat. “How long are you gonna draw this out? Huh?”
His chest is inches from my back, almost touching, and I force myself to become a statue.
“I’m so fucking desperate for you, baby.” His nose skims my jaw, the weak glow of his markings still heating my skin. “I’ll beg. I’ll get on my hands and knees, right now. Just tell me when you’ll put me out of my misery.”
We don’t have time for this. I need to move, I need to get these drinks to themnow.
“Soon,” I whisper, but it catches in my throat, because I’m desperate to feel more, but I need this to end. “We’ll talk tonight.”
His chest brushes my shoulders, lips lowering to my ear. “Promise?”
Then his tongue traces the shell of it, and I have to grip the counter. I nod quickly. I can’t handle words, and his soft chuckle says he knows it.
With one hand on my waist, the other grabs the carrier, and he flits us.
Kane is at Ezekial’s desk, in his chair, but rises as we arrive.
Now this is the tricky bit.
I grab Kane’s coffee and hold it out with a soft smile. He takes it, like always, but I can’t let him drink it yet. Not until the others have.
“You need to take these before the whipped cream melts,” I tell Sai with utter urgency, while trying to ignore how his markings flare atwhipped.
When he lingers, I widen my eyes, willing him to understand how serious I am about this, even if it sounds ridiculous.
“And make sure you and Zeek both drink it. I can feel how tired you all are.”
Not a lie, but it definitely helps with my plan. I just have to hope Sai gives it to Ezekial straight away.
Kane must also say something privately to Sai, because one small smirk is all I get before he leaves.
I just pray the timing will be right.
I suck in a big, deep breath before turning back to face Kane. This is where it can all go terribly wrong and it hollows my stomach.
I have to shut down all my expressions. All my emotions. Every flicker of guilt, every twitch of fear, and pull on the calm he always carries.
“Try it, before it melts.” I nod at the drink in his hand with another small smile.
I know he’ll drink it, but I need him to drink itnow.
He studies me, those dark eyes made even darker by the shadows clinging to his skin. But I don’t just see the impact from their time in the Pit—I feel it. The cold, cloying weight wrapped tight around him.
He sips.
A soft breath slips through my lips. I nod quickly, encouraging him to drink more.
