@OfTechAndCodes - her, maybe too well already, and he wasn't a stranger either, but the alternative was admitting how badly he wanted to follow her home.
@OfTechAndCodes The offer caught him off guard. He was the one suggesting dinner, sure. But inviting him to her apartment, he didn't expect her to. He wanted to, but at the same time he shouldn't want to.
"Not smart." he muttered "Inviting men you don't know to your place." he knew -
@OfTechAndCodes - would be soft to the touch.
"Dinner." he said that one single word, letting it leave his lips before he'd stop himself. "If youโre not busy."
@OfTechAndCodes The way her hair caught the light made his fingers itch to reach out and touch her locks, just to see if they were as soft as they looked. But even though he obviously didn't do so, not to mention he wouldn't feel them with the gloves on, but he was certain that her hair -
@OfTechAndCodes - was nothing compared to the bitter taste of restraint burning his throat.
"Oi." he called after her, voice rough as gravel. "Later. After work. You..." Christ, what was he doing? "...Cook?"
@OfTechAndCodes The moment she turned to leave, his gloved fingers twitched toward the plate. Not for another cookie, but as if to stop her from walking away entirely.
Fuck. He clenched his fist instead, watching the way her dress swayed with each step. The sweetness lingering on his tongue -
@OfTechAndCodes - something so good for God knows when.
"Good." he muttered, gruff as ever, but the way his shoulders relaxed betrayed him. "Too fucking good."
@OfTechAndCodes The scent of warm chocolate hit him before he even lifted the balaclava, and fuck if that didnโt make his stomach tighten. He peeled the mask up just enough to take a bite, the rich flavor exploding in his mouth. Christ, she baked like a fucking angel. Or he hadn't tasted -
@OfTechAndCodes - He released her just as quickly, clearing his throat. "Changed my mind. Could use the fucking sugar." Could use seeing that smile again, he thought and that thought hit him like a bullet to the chest because he realized he loved her smile. Fuck...
@OfTechAndCodes The second she turned her back, his hand shot out. Gloved fingers wrapped around her wrist with more gentleness than he thought himself capable of.
"Wait." The word came out gruffly but with no hesitation. -
@OfTechAndCodes - weight again to relieve the pressure in his pants. The thought of her baking... flour dusting her fingers, the sugar clinging to her skin... all that were doing things to him he couldn't afford to let them happen.
@OfTechAndCodes His gaze tracked the movement of her hands smoothing the fabric over her hips, the way the hem rode up just slightly on her thighs before settling back into place.
"Not hungry," he lied. He wanted to taste something she baked, but he... shouldn't? Instead he shifted his -
@OfTechAndCodes - admitted, watching the way her nose scrunched when she sipped the hot liquid, and that was dangerously adorable "I saw them on the counter. Didn't know they were yours."
@OfTechAndCodes The change of topic made his shoulders relax slightly, the tension easing just enough for him to notice the faint scent of sugar clinging to her. Vanilla and something warmer, like cinnamon? Probably, he couldn't put his finger on it exactly.
"No. I haven't" he -
@OfTechAndCodes - enough with that. She was right, she wasn't a kid. She was very young, but not a kid.
"Then whoever would think like that is a fucking idiot" he muttered, voice rough with something he couldn't name.
@OfTechAndCodes The sound of his codename on her lips sounded so damn different than every other time he was called that way. First time she had actually referred to him that way and fuck, she shouldn't say it like that. Not causing him to want to hear his real name coming from her lips.
But -
@OfTechAndCodes - wants you to change, he doesn't deserve you," he growled before he could stop himself, then immediately regretted the rawness in his voice. He shouldn't say that, but at the same time he meant it.
@OfTechAndCodes The way she said it, so damn earnest, made something tighten in his chest. His gloved hand flexed at his side as he studied her, the way her fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup and those lips of hers, so fucking kissable.
"Kid, if a man -
@OfTechAndCodes - the cup down before crossing his arms over his chest. Anything to keep from reaching for her. "Youโre too young to be worrying about what men want anyway."
@OfTechAndCodes His gaze was there, on her. The overhead lights catching the red in her hair like embers. Some men prefer tiny redheads who don't know how beautiful they are, might be what he'd blatantly say, but he didn't.
"Doesnโt matter" he muttered, setting -