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Finally coming back to myself, I blinked and moved out of the way. “Oh. Sorry.”

My nostrils flared when he brushed past me and I caught another whiff of that scent. Instead of going to the kitchen, I found myself wandering back into the office and watching as he grabbed an apron.

“So you’re working in the kitchen, huh?” My voice came out a little huskier than normal.

Ricky jumped, not having realized I was still standing there. Turning, he gave me another sweet grin as he tied on his apron.

“Uh-huh. I’ve worked in a kitchen before, but I’m a little nervous,” he admitted, then flushed again as his eyes darted down my frame. “Are you, um—do you work in the… other kitchen? The special diet one?”

It wasn’t surprising that he’d already reached that conclusion. I looked like all the other staff who worked in the “other kitchen.” Same inhumanly pale skin. Same permanent shadows under my eyes. Same discolored fingernails. Same lanky, sinewy frame and somewhat gaunt features.

The ‘catering to special dietary needs’ cover for the restaurant was a pretty good one, to be honest. We ghouls didn’t look all that healthy by human standards.

“Yep.” I crossed my arms and leaned my shoulder on the doorframe. I was gonna be late, but fuck it. Ricky, I had already decided, was worth being late for.

“Liz said in my interview that it’s for a, um, rare vitamin deficiency that causes extreme allergies?” he said uncertainly. “That sucks, dude.”

I smiled, trying not to look like I wanted to sink my teeth right into him. Even though I totally did. “Yeah, that’s right.”

“Pretty rad this place caters for it specifically.” As he said it, his dark brows twitched a little, like he was finally realizing how weird that actually was. Then he shrugged with a chuckle. “I’m just grateful to have a job, but… I’m kinda glad I don’t have to work in the super strictly controlled kitchen.”

“Yeah, we’re locked down pretty tight in there,” I said absently, my gaze already roaming back over his frame. “To, you know, keep out any contaminants.”

I knew I should probably stop staring at him. I’d been told I could look a little creepy when I was focusing intently. The inhuman features—just enough to unnerve someone, but not quite enough to make them suspicious—probably didn’t help.

Plus, I had no idea if he was into dudes, but as he shifted from foot to foot and fiddled with the ties of his apron, I realized he kept stealing glances at me too. And he was blushing again. His throat bobbed in a swallow, and when his pink tongue darted out to swipe over his lips, I felt a tingle in my pants. I wanted to suck on it. And maybe bite down on it a little. Not bite it off. Probably. Just… nibble on it. Maybe his lips too. And his neck. And nipples.

I was now hungry and horny, and I really had to let us both get to work, so I straightened and gave him what I hoped was a sultry grin. “Well, better get to work. Have a good first shift, Ricky.”

His name felt good in my mouth. I was already having visions of myself screaming it in the throes of passion. While being bent over the clutter-filled table in here, or maybe when he was on his knees in front of me. I bet his mouth would feel blisteringly hot on my skin. Specifically around my dick.

“Yeah, thanks. You too.” Ricky blushed again. “I mean, have a good shift too. I know it’s not your first one… Um, will Brett be in the kitchen already? Liz just told me to come here and get an apron then head straight there…”

Brett was one of the cooks who oversaw the human kitchen. He was a mondo dick. I kind of didn’t like the thought of sweet, delicious Ricky having to work with him, but it wasn’t like I had any say in what went on in that small side of the business.

“Yeah, Brett’s working today.” I nodded at the big shift schedule on the wall. “What time does your shift end?”

“Closing.”

“Me too.” I tried to keep my grin from looking too predatory. “Maybe I’ll see you again later then.”

Ricky went bright red. “Y-yeah, maybe. That’d be… Um, okay, so I’ll… see you.”

“See you, Ricky.” Finally tearing my gaze from him, I turned and walked out of the back office, then down the short corridor to the second of the two kitchen doors. This one had a sign on it, SPECIAL KITCHEN STAFF ONLY, printed in big letters.

I paused with my hand on it and waited until Ricky made his way to the other door, nervously smoothing down his apron. He saw me and offered another sheepish grin before pushing open the door and vanishing inside.

I barely suppressed my sigh of longing as I did the same. Yeah, I wanted to eat the new guy. Eat him right up.

Chapter Two

Ricky

“So you’ll be on prep.” Brett didn’t sound all that interested or enthusiastic as he showed me around Broth with a Bite’s small kitchen. Well, one of its kitchens.

I wondered what Elliot’s was like.

“Vegetables.” Brett gestured at a workstation with some green plastic chopping boards. Several big bags of carrots, celery, potatoes, garlic, and onions were already resting on it. “Peel and chop ’em small and put them in the containers so Daphne can add them to the soups.”