On the plus side, well, Raya.
She strolls into the office with a smile on her face, and the brief glimpse of her bouncing into the kitchen already lightens my mood. Suddenly, this issue no longer seems quite so pressing. I push back from my desk and quietly follow in Raya’s footsteps; I’m unable to hold myself back from her at this point. All I want to do is be near her and soak in her presence. Thankfully the meeting with HR went well, so we don’t have to worry about hiding our relationship. I stop in the kitchendoorway, leaning against the wall where I can see Raya’s profile facing our coworker.
“What’s got you even more cheerful than normal today?” Alex stirs a pound of sugar into their coffee as they lean against the counter next to Raya.
“Oh, nothing. I’m just looking forward to the weekend," she replies, the smile on her face stretching her cheeks, and I can’t help but hope it’s because of our date tonight.
I told her I wanted to surprise her, and the way her eyes lit up made me want to drop to my knees in worship. Knowing she likes surprises is another tidbit I’ve tucked close to my chest. I hoard information about her like a dragon guarding its treasure. Confounding as it is, I’ve decided not to question my reactions to this sunny shifter anymore, and just go with the flow.
I silently spin out of the doorway but wait next to it, nodding to Alex as they head back to their desk a minute later. Raya is still puttering around in the kitchen, and I wait with bated breath for her to exit too.
When she turns into the hallway and sees me, her eyes brighten in that way I live for, and I meet her grin with an irresistible smile of my own. It feels less and less foreign on my face with every passing day. I’ve never smiled this much in my life, and it’s bewildering how easy she makes it.
“Good morning, sunshine," I say, trying to control my voice so it doesn’t betray how close I am to slamming her against the wall and taking her lips with my own.
“Hi! Happy Friday.” Raya’s eyes flicker down my body as she takes in my fitted slacks and button down shirt, and my smile turns smug. I don’t try to stop it, instead enjoying the slight flush on her cheeks as a result.
I turn and gesture for her to walk with me. She raises an eyebrow as I lead us in the opposite direction of our desks.
“It’s the end of the week, I thought you might need arestock on your office supplies," I say, throwing in a wink for good measure.
Raya throws her head back and laughs. Not exactly the reaction I was going for, but I’ll take it.
“Oh, you are not subtle at all, but yes, I do believe I’m in need of some more sticky notes.” She playfully wrinkles her nose at me over the rim of her mug as she sips her tea. How is it that this woman can make any face, and it’s always cute? I roll my eyes at her antics, opening the door to the supply room and taking the mug from her hand.
I set it carefully on a shelf as we step inside. As soon as it’s out of my hands, I snatch Raya by her waist and swing her around, using her back to close the door as I press her against it. My mouth goes straight to her neck and I inhale, relishing her surprised gasp and loving the soft scent of her. Strawberry and coconut, sweetness and sunshine.
When my nose bumps her earlobe, I whisper in her ear. “You’re a radiant sunbeam today in that yellow dress, hugging your curves in all the right places. You love to drive me crazy, don’t you, sunshine?” I nip her ear, earning a whimper from her pouty lips, before I continue. “I’ve been here for hours already. I’m starving for you.”
Her breath hitches and my mind reels with the implication. I didn’t mean to say that last part, but it’s true and I don’t take it back. I’d love to taste her blood, certain she’d be exquisite, but I won’t pressure her into anything she’s not comfortable with. If that was what her reaction was about though… Well, that’s something to explore when we aren’t hiding in a glorified closet.
I pull back to look down at her flushed cheeks, her brown eyes filled with heat and her fingers clenched in my shirt.
She’s perfect.
I release her waist with one hand, bringing it up to lightly trace the line of her throat before I step back and fixher hair where it’s slightly mussed after being pressed against the door. My crooked grin feels wicked as my eyes hold hers and I pick her mug back up, nudging it against her hands where they’re still fisted in my shirt.
She blinks rapidly, then scowls at me as she takes her mug.
“You’re… that was…” Raya is the most adorable when she’s flustered, especially when it’s because she’s turned on—by me.
“Yes, sunshine?” I muse.
She huffs, turning her back on me and grabbing an entire box of sticky notes before flinging the door open. She gives me one last glare over her shoulder as she stomps away, and no matter what her pursed lips say, the rest of her glows with happy mischief.
The remainderof the day trickles by, slow as molasses, only made bearable by the fact that I can look up and see Raya a few feet from me—and I do so many, many times. I watch as she jabs the end of her pen into her cheek while thinking. I notice how her lips tilt up sometimes when she’s typing. I’m not sure if she knows how often my eyes are drawn to her, but she certainly catches me more than I’d like.
When the workday clock finally runs out and our coworkers say their goodbyes, I turn to Raya.
“Ready to go?” I ask, and she bites her lower lip with a nod.
“Where are we going?” Raya asks, practically skipping to the elevator.
“Back to my place," I say, and Raya’s steps falter. “Beyond that, it’s a surprise.”
Raya turns to face me as the elevator doors close.
“Your dick isn’t a surprise, Ash," she deadpans, and I snort.
