Page 61 of Twilight Sins

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I knew you’d be judgy. But it’s not like your plain black shot of espresso is a culinary masterpiece.”

“You don’t know how I take my coffee.”

She laughs. “Yes, I do. All you manly men are the same. Why actually enjoy your first beverage of the day when you could instead drink battery acid and put a little hair on your bare chest?” Her cheeks heat up and she glances away. “Anyway. White mochas are the shit.”

She waits in silence until I swirl a healthy dollop of whipped cream on top of Luna’s mug.

“What’s that?”

I turn around, her white mocha in my hand. “The shit, apparently.”

“That’s a white mocha.”

“With whipped cream and caramel sauce.” I take a drink, swirling the sugary mess around my tongue. “I think you meant, ‘It tastes like shit.’”

I slide the mug across the island to her, but she doesn’t grab it. She’s too busy staring at me, open-mouthed. “How did you do that?”

“My staff has a wide range of coffee preferences. The coffee cabinet stays well stocked.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t explain how you even know what this drink is. Or how to make it.”

As the plain black espresso shot I plan to drink brews, I lean against the counter and cross my arms. “You don’t know as much about me as you think, solnyshka.”

She finally takes a drink, cursing softly under her breath. “Oh, fuck me.”

“Is that your version of a five-star review?”

“It’s me realizing I don’t know anything about you. At all.”

Just the way I like it.

Usually.

But the way Luna is frowning down at the countertop makes me second-guess that approach.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” she blurts. Her cheeks flush. “I’m just a little desperate for something to think about. My brain isn’t good at long stretches of down time.”

“You were in the library for five hours straight the other day.”

She arches a brow. “So much for not having a tracker on me.”

“I don’t need a tracker. I walked by the library and you were so into your book that you didn’t even notice.”

I still remember how she looked. Her legs were curled underneath her and her hair tumbled over her shoulder like a sheet. It was strange how normal it felt to see her there.

“Oh.” She frowns. “You should have said something.”

“I was busy.”

Busy with anything other than snatching the book out of her hands and fucking her senseless against the shelves.

Her frown deepens. “Must be nice. I’d love to be busy.”

“Most people would love to kick back in a mansion for a few days.”

“Then they can swap places with me,” she snaps. Instantly, she chews on her lower lip. “I just… Relaxing isn’t great for my anxiety. I like to stay busy. It’s why I've been working so much overtime since Benjy and I broke up. Being in the office is easier than being at home by myself. It’s too quiet.”

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