Page 6 of The Devil's Hunt

“Yes,” he crooned, his voice lower than before. My heart hammered against my chest like a caged beast, desperate to escape its confines. His presence was overwhelming, a darkness that seeped into my pores and made me crave him like an addict craves their next fix. His scent was intoxicating, and just being inches from him had my thighs clenching involuntarily in response. His eyes never leftmine, and the intensity of his stare burned into me like a branding iron. Every nerve in my body was on edge, as though a live wire had been twisted around them.

“My favorite is probably vanilla chai tea,” I managed to stutter out, my voice barely above a whisper.

“That’s what I want," he replied calmly.

“Iced or hot?”

“Surprise me.” Those beautiful green eyes stalked my every movement.

“Okay. Hot it is.” I rang in his order, feeling like every motion was too clumsy and uncoordinated—a clear indication that I was, in fact, not composed. “That will be $5.45.”

He handed me a fifty-dollar bill, and I started making change for him. “Keep the change,” he instructed in a low voice that sent goosebumps scattering across my skin.

“No. I couldn’t,” I protested weakly.

“You will.” There was no room for argument in his tone.

“Thank you,” I responded. “Can I get a name for your order?”

He gave me a devilish smirk and put his wallet back in his pocket. “How about you bring it to my table, and I’ll tell you my name.” He didn’t wait for a response before turning toward the back of the coffee shop and sliding into an isolated booth.

I stood rooted in my spot, utterly perplexed by what was happening. I felt every fiber of my being pulling me toward the darkness he exuded, begging me to succumb to something dangerous.

Forbidden.

I made his chai and headed toward the table where he was sitting, scrolling on his phone. He looked up as I approached and slid his phone into his pocket.

“Hot vanilla chai for the stranger who won’t give me his name.” I handed it to him, and he let our fingers brush against each other ever so briefly before taking the drink from me. The warmth that filled my stomach was oddly familiar, but foreboding. I tried to ignore the heat pooling between my legs as if it were a matter of life and death. The nameless stranger took his time sipping his chaiwhile scrolling on his phone before he finally looked up at me again.

“Can I get you anything else?” I asked him, standing awkwardly at his table, trying not to squirm under his gaze.

For a long, uncomfortable moment, he said nothing, then reached out and trailed one finger over the back of my hand in a feather-light touch. “Why don’t you sit with me?”

“I’m sorry, I’m on the clock. I can’t.” I nervously shuffled my feet, frozen in place.

He paused and looked at the watch on his wrist. “Actually, you’re off. It’s 6:08.”

“Wait, what?” My mouth hung open in surprise. “How do you know what time I’m off?”

"I know a lot of things about you, little rabbit."

My stomach dropped at his statement. My palms began to sweat, and I gulped loudly. My head started to spin as I tried to form one coherent thought to respond to him.

But all I could do was stare into his eyes like he was a goddamn vampire glamouring me to stand completely entranced in his presence.

When I finally spoke, my voice sounded foreign to me. "Who are you?"

He rose from his seat, looming over me like a dark cloud. The heat radiated, and the air between us seemed to crackle with electricity. The sweat forming against my skin, dripping down the small of my back, felt as if it was burning, as if his very presence was setting me alight. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, and all I could feel was the paralyzing arousal that ran through my veins.

"Archer."

"Archer? Wh-what do you want from me?"

He leaned in closer and chuckled softly, the sound deep and melodic. "Thanks for the tea." His lips curled into a smile, revealing a set of perfect, pearly white teeth as he brushed past me and headed out the door.

I furrowed my eyebrows, watching him leave, as a twisted mix ofconfusion and desire tightened in my gut. His proximity to me caused an electric pull that made my skin buzz with anticipation. But there was something else I needed from him, something deeper…darker. My heart thundered in my chest as I clocked out and followed him into the evening air. The campus was alive with murmurs and shadows, but all I could focus on was his towering silhouette moving away from me. I pushed through the throngs of people with rabid determination until he turned a corner to the right. I quickened my pace, crossing the street without a thought for traffic, my eyes fixed on his tall figure rounding the corner up ahead. He was still just within sight, almost teasing me with how close he was, yet how far away he felt. A group of students rounded the corner he’d just passed, blocking my view, and by the time I turned the corner, he was gone.

It was like I had been chasing a ghost. I clicked my tongue, huffing in annoyance, and turned to head back toward my home. I was consumed by an almost desperate search, a need to fill this void inside me, and I didn't hardly understand the reason for the feelings that were coursing inside me.

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