Dark Desires

Chapter7

Chapter Seven

Pulling my damp hair into a messy bun. I all but ran down the sidewalk. I was only a few minutes late. I knew that it wouldn’t be a big deal for my boss. I just didn’t want him to have any reasons to be more upset than normal.

Stopping in front of the diner, I dug through my bag. Feeling the same way I had the night before, like someone was watching me. The only difference now was that there was no Talon. Finding my keys, I shoved them into the lock. Feeling goosebumps sweep over my bare arms. It wasn’t from the breeze. Something was out there.

Twisting the lock, I pushed the door open, stepping inside. The shrill sound of the alarm beeped. I scurried over, entering my password. I didn’t need the alarm going off this morning. I took a moment to just stand in the quiet of the dinner. A deep breath in, deep breath out. I still didn’t know what to think about what had happened with Talon.

Yes, I’d very much enjoyed it, but what if this changed things?

Shaking my head, I walked over to the cash register. Typing in my employee number before doing a count to make sure that everything matched Eva’s closing count.

After that I started my morning prep, getting things ready for the early lunch crowd as our cook came in. His dark curls bounced around his head as he bobbed his head to the music coming out of his headphones. A quick nod my way before he was gone, disappearing behind the swinging doors that led to the kitchen.

Grabbing my apron, I slipped it on, tying the strings behind me. I started the coffee machine as the bells above the door chimed. Looking over at the clock that hung on the wall, I frowned. It was still too early for most customers. Pouring the grinds into the filter, I put the steel basket back into place. Hitting the button to turn it on.

“Good morning,” I said, turning around. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes met his. The tops of my ears burned as his gaze moved down to the love bites that marred my neck. The muscles in his jaw twitched and his eyes almost seemed to grow a shade darker.

“Nevie.” He said in a tone that I didn’t know how to decipher, at least not when I was awake.

“Good morning, Derrick.” I said, bringing my hands up to adjust the collar of my black t-shirt. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, but make it to go.” He said, seeming to shake himself out of his stupor. His eyes moved to mine, the look from before gone. Replaced by a half smile that made butterflies flare to life in the pit of my stomach. He’d never come into the diner this early. It was strange.

“I’ve never seen you in the sunlight. Anything else?” I asked as I turned back to the coffee maker, grabbing one of the cardboard travel cups and sitting it onto the counter.

“Worried I was a vampire?” He chuckled, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Not today, Nevie. Maybe another time.”

I nodded my head, unsure of what to say as we waited for the coffee to finish brewing. Even though I’d spent the morning with Talon, I wanted to know about Derrick. What he did, why he was here?

He hadn’t been a regular for very long, but there was something about him that I couldn’t put my finger on. I looked over at him as he rested his hands on the counter, his dark eyes never moving from mine.

I wondered how they’d look in the darkness? In my dream they had seemed to glow. They wouldn’t do that in real life, I knew. His lip twitched. He gave me a half smile. “Something on your mind?”

My cheeks heated up and I looked down at his hands that rested on the counter. The silver rings sparkling in the morning light made me think of the band that I’d found in my sheets.

“No, nothing.”

“Really?” He asked, his voice a low rumble. I felt my body start to respond. My pulse quickening, my breathing rapid. I looked up at him, watching as his pupils dilated. “Maybe you can tell me about it after work?”

“I can’t-” My words were cut off by the bells on the door chiming. A woman hurried into the diner. Leaning over the counter, she looked around before pushing a lock of bright green hair out of her bright blue eyes.

She rocked back on her heels, her hands resting on her slim hips as she let out an exasperated sigh. “Where’s Talon?”

My heart dropped at her question. Was this one of his hookups? Her body was lean and muscular, and my heart sank lower as I realized that she probably was.

“His shift doesn’t start for a few hours. I can let him know you stopped by?”

Her full red lips pressed together as she crossed her arms over her pert breasts. Her eyes moving from me, then over to Derrick. I watched her lips curl back, her body tensing up as she looked between the two of us.

“He didn’t answer his phone this morning. It’s fine, I'll just go to his apartment.” She all but growled out, stomping away. The door slammed behind her as she left.

I didn’t want to think the worst, but I couldn’t help it as my mind raced. Who was she and how did she know Talon? Were they really dating and the things that he’d told me just sweet nothings?

Derrick’s hand covered mine. I felt a warm thrill, even through my sadness. I shouldn’t be feeling like this. It wasn’t fair to any of us.

“Nevie.” his voice was soft as his thumb stroked across the back of my hand.

“Yes?” I asked, pulling my hand away, giving him my best customer service smile.

“Are you alright?”

I nodded my hand, turning back to the coffee maker, “Sure, let me fix your coffee for you.”

He didn’t say anything as I finished fixing up his coffee. My mind already getting away from itself. I rang up his coffee, handing him the cardboard cup. Our fingers grazed, and there was that familiar feeling of sparks moving over my skin that I’d experienced only in my dreams.

“Have a good day, Derrick.”

“You too, Kitten.”

I didn’t say anything as I watched him go, he’d called me kitten in the dream too. What was going on? I longed for the lunch rush to pull my mind away from the stress of today.