Page 25 of The Bookseller and the Alpha (Witch Twins #1)

Calypso

I sensed Luc’s presence when I stirred. Even before my eyes opened, I could have pointed to the spot where I knew he stood, just outside the bedroom doorway.

I sensed him. Like a compass pointing to magnetic north, my awareness was tuned to his.

It was a strange feeling, like a tug on my insides when I faced in his direction.

Strange, but not unpleasant. What did this hyper-awareness of him mean? I didn’t want to think about that.

He’d watched me sleep. Perhaps that should have freaked me out.

But the idea didn’t feel creepy. Instead, it was intimate, like he was my protector.

Or my lover. My breath caught in my chest as I remembered the dream I’d had about him.

No. I slammed the door on that memory. I wanted to slap myself.

This was a ridiculous infatuation and it had to stop.

The man had not once shown any interest, other than maybe a little mild flirting, and I was ready to throw myself at him. Get a grip woman .

By the time I opened my eyes, I could sense that he’d already turned away.

I got a good view of his tight ass and broad shoulders as he stalked down the corridor that probably led to the kitchen, going by the smell of coffee wafting from that direction.

Tension rolled off him visibly. My heart dropped like a stone into a deep well.

Maybe he was still angry from how I had insulted him.

You can do this Caly . I would be polite.

I would be grateful. And I would get the hell out of his space.

With the morning sunlight, I could finally see the room I was in.

It was simply but impersonally furnished.

The king-sized bed took up most of the space.

There was a wooden dresser, the dark wood matching the colour of the bedhead.

No knick-knacks cluttered its surface and there were no pictures on the wall.

It told me nothing about him. An open door led to an ensuite bathroom.

I sat up carefully. No headache. Thank gods. I scurried across the room, soft carpet under my feet. I’d take a quick shower, then be out of his hair.

The bathroom was just as impersonal as the bedroom.

I spotted a toothbrush and a razor by the side of the sink, in a small wash bag.

A pack of painkillers was open on the bench.

But that was it. No sign that anyone inhabited the space except him.

Relief washed over me. Not that there was going to be anything between us.

There couldn’t be. But my inner cavewoman still stood up and cheered. Stupid hormones.

At least there was shampoo and conditioner in the shower.

I’d stripped and stepped into the hot water before I remembered that I had no clothes to wear.

I would need to stay in Luc’s things or put my own pjs on again.

I wrinkled my nose, remembering how disgustingly sweat-soaked they were in the middle of night.

I really didn’t want to wear them again.

But I’d enjoyed wearing Luc’s clothing too much.

I choked on a half-laugh, half sob. My business and my home had been broken into, Sam and I had been attacked, and I was mooning over the Shifter in charge of the investigation.

Maybe there was something wrong with me.

Or maybe it was just another symptom of my deep-seated need for someone to love me.

I’d always been too clingy. It drove men away.

I had learned that it was better to not try.

Being lonely was better than rejection. Than being told that I wasn’t suited for a ‘normal’ relationship.

And now Luc had stepped in and my brain had started to fixate on him as the hero I’d always wanted.

I needed to end this now. After the shower I finger combed my hair but avoided looking in the mirror.

I was vain enough that I didn’t want to see the stitches in my forehead.

Carefully probing the area with my fingertips, I was relieved to feel only a mild tenderness, but I really didn’t want to see the damage.

I’d ask Mrs S when I got home. And until then I would keep my hands and my thoughts to myself.

It was harder than I expected, to act cool and collected, when I walked into the kitchen wearing Luc’s t-shirt and shorts under a robe I’d found hanging on the back of the door.

I was conscious of my bare legs and that I was wearing no bra.

I crossed the robe more securely across my body so he couldn’t see how my nipples had pebbled just at the sight of him.

Luc was sitting at the kitchen table. The dark pants that moulded so nicely to his ass had been paired with a pale blue shirt, open at the collar. His eyes flicked up toward me as I entered the room. I saw a flash of vivid blue before his gaze dropped back to his screen.

I froze. His eyes were blue. His Shifter side was close to the surface. That usually only happened when they were feeling strong emotions, but his control was so good I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t seen his eyes.

“There’s coffee in the pot and bread for toast, if you’re hungry.

Billy will be here shortly with some clothes for you, then I’ll take you back to your flat.

We’ll collect Pompy while we’re there and you can talk me through what happened.

” His voice was cool. Impersonal. I stiffened my spine.

I got the message loud and clear. He was frustrated. Sick of babysitting me no doubt.

“Why do I need to collect Pompy? You can drop me off at my place and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“You’ll be staying here with me.”

“Thank you for such a kind invitation, but I’d prefer to stay in my own home. I’d hate to be an imposition.” I put enough syrup in my voice to choke him.

My fingers were gripping the coffee mug so hard it hurt.

Blindly, I put it on the counter and turned to the toaster.

I would be calm. I would be calm. My fingers tapped against my knee.

I stilled them. I stared at the toaster and waited for the toast to pop up.

Tears blurred my eyes and I brushed them angrily away.

C’mon, c’mon. How long could it take? I wouldn’t stay here a minute longer than I had to.