Page 36 of Sweet Omega
Satisfied, Tarymn returned to his office and forced himself back into the mess Deltta had handed him. He combed through the documents again and again. But there was no evidence of foul play. Everything was in order. The more he scrutinized, the more his frustration grew.
“Fuck.” Tarymn dragged a hand down his face, the e-reader blurring before his eyes as a pounding ache hammered at his temples. He shoved the device aside and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling as if the answer might be written there.
Then he remembered.
With a muttered curse at himself, Tarymn pushed to his feet and made his way upstairs.
“I’m here,” Tarymn said as he climbed the stairs, his voice carrying into the den. “I almost forgot. Are you ready to move it?”
“Yes,” Ludiin mumbled, still bent over the hulking machine. He gave the screwdriver one last twist before stepping back. The thing looked like some oversized food warmer, rectangular in shape with a heavy door, big enough for a person to fit through.
“What is this supposed to be?” Tarymn asked as he stepped closer, curiosity lacing his voice. He grabbed one side while Ludiin took the other. Together, they heaved the contraption across the floor until it sat neatly against the wall Ludiin had indicated.
“Sometimes I sculpt stuff. This is where I dry them,” Ludiin explained, brushing dust from his hands.
“You sculpt?” Tarymn arched a brow, intrigued. “Is that part of your course?”
“No,” Ludiin said. “I take extra classes to entertain myself.” With that, he walked past him as though it were nothing remarkable, disappearing down the stairs.
Tarymn lingered for a beat, staring after him with something like fascination tightening in his chest.
“You take extra classes to entertain yourself. Who does that?” Tarymn asked, trailing after Ludiin.
“Me,” Ludiin replied matter-of-factly, not even slowing his stride. “It’s fun and easy.”
“Easy?” Tarymn barked out a laugh, the sound rolling out before he could stop it.
“What’s funny?” Ludiin asked, narrowing his eyes at him, clearly serious.
“You don’t even hear how arrogant that sounds,” Tarymn said, shaking his head with amusement.
“It’s not arrogance if it’s true,” Ludiin countered.
Tarymn chuckled again, the sharp ache in his temples dulling with every step. “There’s an arrogant little devil beneath that shy exterior, isn’t there?”
“Stop calling me arrogant,” Ludiin snapped, coming to a sudden halt. His long hair whipped around him in a silky cascade, catching the light as he spun toward Tarymn. “Or… or…”
“Or what?” Tarymn stepped closer, crowding into his space. An intoxicating feeling thrumming through his veins as he watched Ludiin's perfectly sculpted nose wrinkle in defiance, his sharp eyes blazing.
God, he was stunning.
The thought slipped into Tarymn’s mind uninvited, startling but he couldn’t deny it, because it was true.
His gaze traced the sharp cut of Ludiin's cheekbones, the slope of his nose, the curve of his lips. His lips… Tarymn’s breath caught. The memory of their taste from that night flooding his mouth, and he ached to kiss him again, to taste him. Before he realized it, his body was moving.
Just then, Ludiin huffed, breaking the moment as he stomped down the stairs, stopping him from doing something stupid.
“Fuck,” Tarymn muttered, shock radiating through him.
What the hell was wrong with him?Where was his fucking control? he shook his head, standing there for a full minute before he followed Ludiin to the cooking station.
Hym was already seated at the table, halfway through his meal. From the counter, Ludiin shot him a glance, piercing and fiery. If looks could kill, he would’ve dropped where he stood.
“Hey, brother,” Tarymn greeted lightly as he moved to the counter, grabbing a plate. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the storm in Ludiin’s expression. Leaning closer, his voice dropped. “I was kidding,” he murmured, a smile tugging at his mouth. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“I’m not arrogant,” Ludiin whispered back, his shoulders stiff.
“I know,” Tarymn said.
