As I got lost in wondering about the meaning behind the small curve in his lip, the kettle started whistling. Dakota got up when he saw I wasn’t moving. He turned it off and removed the pot from the burner. Now he was close enough for me to feel. All I felt was the pull to step even closer.
“Are you okay?” he asked when I stared at him for a second too long.
I blinked. “Of course. Why?”
“You look like you’re a million miles away.”
“I’m right here,” I lied, hurrying over to pick out our mugs. The dragon one was always perfect for me, and I chose a cat one for Dakota because I was silly enough to want to see a big guy like him hold it. Thankfully, he didn’t protest like Kai did when I handed him the mug. Dakota’s large fingers wrapped around the glass, making the cat look tinier than ever.
“We could talk about it if you want,” he offered in a low voice as I poured our water into the cups. “I know we haven’t known each other for long but… I’d like to be there for you.”
“Seems like you’re there for a lot of people.” My words were a simple observation that came out with a little more judgment than I meant.
“Is that a bad thing?” Dakota didn’t shy away from trying to make eye contact.
I proved to be the wimp on that front, choosing to hunt through the cabinet for tonight’s tea of choice with my back turned towards him. I settled on vanilla chai and stayed silent as I poured in the sugar.
“Appears so,” Dakota decided in a voice so low I almost didn’t hear it.
“Not at all,” I finally spoke up as I stirred my tea. “There’s nothing wrong with being helpful.”
“But…” he prompted.
I shrugged and taste-tested the tea. Like most times, I went too quick, taking a larger gulp than necessary. My nose wrinkled at my burning taste buds. I stuck out my tongue in defeat as a few drops of tea ran down my chin.
“Slow down,” Dakota murmured, looking a little amused at my hurrying. “You’ll hurt yourself.”
He tore off a napkin, which I thought he’d hand to me. Instead, he pressed it to my chin. I froze under his careful touch. The moment lasted in a blink of an eye. There was nothing to get excited over and yet, blood rushed to my cheeks.
Dakota bit on his bottom lip as he cleaned me up. He looked like he was concentrating hard on mending my careless mistake.
“You’re all good,” he said once he was done.
I murmured my thanks as he tossed the napkin into the trash. “I didn’t mean to insinuate your helping people was a bad thing. It’s the opposite really. The world could use more people like you.”
He took a more careful sip of his cup, avoiding the burning like a pro. “Sounds like another ‘but’ incoming.”
I smiled. “Maybe.”
“Go on then. I can take it,” he promised while resting a hand on the counter beside us.
My gaze flickered to the way his veins were visible under his skin. When he leaned back on the table, his muscles flexed and showed off his tattoo sleeve like a perfect highlighter. I set my mug down and crossed my arms so he wouldn’t see my nipples hardening through my dress. Yes, one look at his biceps made me fold like the loser I’d become when it came to sexual thoughts about him.
“I know people like you.”
“You’re everywhere, and give everything,” I told him. “Seems tiring and sometimes like, you don’t want to step back. Isn’t it draining, not having time to yourself?”
He was quiet for a moment, eyes never leaving mine. “It is.”
I pressed my lips together, surprised he admitted it.
“I like to spread myself thin, though,” Dakota confessed. He leaned his hip on the counter more, crossing his arms over his chest too. “Not moving scares me.”
“Not moving is healthy sometimes. At least, from what I learned from my year of slowing down.”
“In the spirit of being honest.” Dakota broke eye contact for a moment before asking, “Does that annoy you?”
“What?”
