Page 17 of Fractured

Outside, I sucked in deep breaths of air as I climbed back in my car. Already, I was feeling better. I hadn’t been too anxious, I hadn’t panicked, and I’d tried to ask the questions. After seeing Lauren’s response, something settled inside me.

Before driving back home, I stopped at the pharmacy to pick up my birth control prescription. I wasn’t the most sexually active person, it was more that I was protecting the world from my DNA. If I could have requested a hysterectomy at such a young age for no other reason than not wanting kids, I would have been tempted.

The cool air blew over me as I passed through the doors, the slow elevator music playing overhead. I didn’t grab a basket this time, as I needed nothing but my pills. The manager from the other night passed me in aisle six, but he didn’t see me and I was sure he didn’t remember me. Which was just fine by me.

When I reached the pharmacy counter, only an elderly woman was in line. I zoned her out, not interested in her conversation, but something else did catch my eye.

The tech waiting on her.

He was the one I saw the other night. Although seeing his profile for a brief second was nothing compared to the entire picture. Flawless, rich, dark brown skin, close-cropped black hair, golden brown eyes. He was the most perfect male specimen I’d ever seen.

It was my turn to step up to the counter.

Showing off brilliant white teeth, he smiled down at me. “Hello, what can I help you with?”

“Prescription pickup for Lilith Durand.” I couldn’t look away as I pulled out my card holder from the back pocket of my jeans. Purses were my nemesis, and I hated clunky wallets too. Then a few years ago, I found this little holder only big enough for about five cards. It was exactly what I needed.

“Perfect.” He turned to flip through the prescriptions hanging on a rack. Once he found mine, he passed it across the counter and started typing on the keyboard. Every few seconds, his gaze would come back to mine as a smile played at the corners of his lips.

He was blatantly checking me out. And today, I needed this. Needed to feel normal and beautiful, and a night of glorious sex would be welcome too.

“I’ve never seen you here before,” I blurted out.

One side of his mouth lifted in a crooked smile. “I’m new. I take it you’re a regular?”

I held up the birth control pills. “You could say that.”

Chuckling, he finished ringing me up, and I swiped my card.

His nametag was bright white, and scrawled across it in black marker was ‘Saint.’ I loved that.

Bracing both hands on the counter, he leaned toward me. The muscles of his forearms flexed with the movement, and I was instantly snared. “Well, Lilith, I hope I see you again.”

“Me too.” I grinned as my heartbeat raced from something other than fear.

I walked away, thinking of those bright golden eyes and how they seemed to see right into my soul. The tingling zapping through my body reminded me of being starstruck. Even hidden by his work clothes, it was obvious he worked out, and I bet he was sexy as hell without them.

The aisle I took back to the front of the store was personal hygiene. I stopped right in front of the bubble bath and colorful bath bombs. I hadn’t used one of those in forever. A few minutes must have passed as I read the labels on each one.

“That’s a good choice,” the man from the pharmacy said, right at my ear.Saint.

Gasping, I spun around. He was so close, I could smell the earthy tones of his cologne, and my eyes almost fluttered shut. “What is?”

“This one.” He reached behind me and pulled something off of the shelf. I looked down at the lavender and vanilla bubble bath he’d placed in my hands. “A beautiful woman like you needs to treat herself every now and then.”

“Is that right?” I grinned uncontrollably. He’d taken his nametag off and had keys in his hands. Was he off work? Could I ask him to go home with me?

It had been so long since I’d had a one-night stand, and he would be exactly what I needed. No strings, just an evening of fun for the both of us. I’d love to get lost in him for the night. The latent turmoil from earlier today was slowly morphing into an entirely different, more enjoyable type of energy.

“Absolutely.” He smirked and took one tiny step closer. “Maybe another time, I can pamper you properly.”

Shit. That was totally a come-on, but not for right now, and my hopes sunk. “I couldn’t persuade you to come home with me now?” My core was already throbbing with the thought of what unbridled sex would be like with him.

A look of regret passed over his face. “Unfortunately, no. I have my niece’s birthday party tonight. But I’ll see you again. Hopefully soon.” He nearly purred the last.

“Yes, soon.” I would need to go grocery shopping very, very soon.

“My name is Saint by the way.”

---