deep inhale and smile. It’s funny how a small thing like a familiar smell can make the worst day seem manageable.
It’s not burning hot in my hands, but I still take a sip to test the temperature. When it doesn’t scald my tongue, I take two mouthfuls. Slightly on the bitter side, but it’s still amazing.
A shadow falls over the pot, and I glance up to see Nikos standing there, watching me with his spectacular green eyes. Butterflies burst in my stomach, beating their wings wildly as I remember his kiss, and my lips tingle in memory of our encounter in the woods. The truth is, if I had known he’d kiss me, I would have still followed him.
And that’s why I have a problem. That’s why I have to keep my distance and pretend last night never happened. Not to mention, his cryptic offer to have me go off with him to reach the witch coven first was ludicrous. That kind of conspiring will lead to my death at the hands of these Viking wolves. Plus, there’s a greater chance of us getting killed without more of us to help each other out. Like, who would have thought Crius’s singing would have aided our wolves in their time of panic?
“What’s going on?” I ask casually, like nothing happened between us.
“That’s my cup,” he states, and gone is the man who pinned me to a tree last night. Instead, he’s back to his normal grouchy, dickhead self. It’s definitely for the best.
The expression on his face is patronizing, and I am starting to really hate the way he tries to intimidate me with that expression.
Unable to help myself, I lift the cup to my mouth. “Do you mean this one?” I sweep my tongue along the rim, making sure to not leave a single section unmarked, then I proceed to drink the whole cup of coffee in one go. I stick my finger in, too, for good measure, and run it along the inside before sticking it into my mouth. Then I get to my feet and hand him back his cup. “Here you go.”
I smirk while he eyes me with what I can only imagine is shock. The fact that he didn’t expect that from me makes me smile.
He accepts the vessel and bends over to proceed to pour himself the rest of what’s left in the pot. Then, as if to prove his point, he stands so close to me, I can feel the warmth from the coffee in his hands on my cheeks. He stares at me with a challenge in his eyes.
“Do you think you can intimidate me, Omega?” He lifts the metal cup to his lips and downs the caffeine in one go, then licks his lips hungrily. “If you keep pushing me, I can promise that you’ll soon find me buried deep inside you, knotting in you, and you’ll beg me for more.”
My throat grows tight, and I have to look away to stop him from seeing me blush. He laughs and grabs the pot before dispensing any last drops onto the dried soil.
“Asshole,” I mumble under my breath.
“Your sweet words only make me harder,” he mocks.
Why did I think antagonizing him would end well for me? New rule: don’t engage Nikos in anything, possibly ever again.
It takes me several long minutes to settle myself down, and by then, Nikos has put out the fire and is kicking loose soil over the remains.
Stone is beside him, his sandy blond hair windblown and messy like he didn’t bother to even pat it down after waking up.
“Morning, Narah,” Crius says, joining them. “Hope you slept well. Today we are going to reach the coven. It can’t be that far now.”
Stone laughs and slaps him on the shoulder. “Just because you say something doesn’t make it so.”
I turn my attention away from them as Ragnar approaches, and instantly my stomach twirls with nerves. I catch the way he glances over to Nikos, who is packing the pot and cup into his bag. Then the leader returns his gaze to me.
Did Ragnar see us talking in the woods last night? A shiver zips up my spine that he might think I conspired to backstab him… or did I completely misunderstand Nikos’s purpose? Maybe it had zilch to do with me taking his side but was a test to see if I would jump at the first better offer.
I eye Ragnar, unsure how to feel. It shouldn’t surprise me