The coffee shop Ryker led me to was small, tucked into the corner of a busy street. The hum of conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine filled the air as we slid into a booth near the back.
I stirred my iced latte, trying to ignore the way his eyes were fixed on me, like he was dissecting every little move I made.
"So," I started, breaking the silence. "Do you always invite girls for coffee, or am I just lucky?"
He smirked, leaning back in his seat. "You think you're lucky?"
"I think I'm curious," I shot back, giving him a pointed look.
He chuckled. The sound was low and warm. "Curiosity kills the cat, you know."
"And satisfaction brought it back, I countered, sipping my drink.
For a moment, he just watched me, his expression unreadable. It was unnerving the way he seemed so in control, like nothing had ever rattled him.
"Why were you staring at me in class?" he asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
I nearly choked on my drink. "I wasn't staring!"
His lips quirked up into a grin. "You were. Don't lie."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't be so… distracting," I shot back, my cheeks heating up.
"Distracting?" he repeated, leaning forward slightly.
I roll my eyes, trying to play it cool. "You're impossible, you know?
"Yeah," he said, his grin fading. "I've been told."
The shift in his tone was subtle, but I felt it immediately. The air grew heavier, the lightness of the conversation dissolvinginto something more serious.
"So, Evangeline," he said, his gaze locked on mine. "What's your deal?"
"My deal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," he said, his voice low. "You've got this whole innocent, good-girl vibe. But I get the feeling there's more to you than that."
I frowned, his words tugging at something deep inside me. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He smirked again, but this time it felt colder. "Come on. A girl like you? You've probably got guys falling all overthemselves for you. Bet you know exactly how to get what you want."
I stared at him, my stomach twisting. "Excuse me?"
He shrugged, his expression infuriatingly calm. "I'm just saying, you don't seem as innocent as you look."
The words hit me like a slap, and I felt the heat rise up to my face. "Wow. So now you think I'm some kind of slut or something?"
His eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't expected me to say it outright. "I didn't."
"You know what? Forget it," I snapped, standing up so fast my chair scraped against the floor. "This was a mistake."
"Evangeline, wait -"
But I was already walking out, anger boiling in my chest.
I didn't stop until I reached the alleyway beside the coffee shop. The cool air hit my flushed skin like a slap. I lean against the brick wall, trying to catch my breath. Why did I let him get under my skin like that? I couldn't shake the feeling that his words had touched on something I wasn't ready to face. Was there really more to me than the image I projected? The question lingered, leaving me more unsettled than before.
"Damn it," I mutter, running a hand through my hair.
"Evangeline."
I jumped, spinning around to find Ryker standing at the entrance to the alley, his expression dark and unreadable.
"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger.
"You shouldn't walk off like that," he said, his tone low.
"Why do you care?" I shot back, my heart pounding. "You don't even know me."
He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. "That's the thing," he said, his voice dropping even lower. "I don't know you, but I can't seem to stop thinking about you."
I blinked, caught off guard by the admission. "What"
His eyes flashed red.
I froze, my breath hitching in my throat as I stared at him. "Your eyes," I whispered. "They're"
"Beautiful?" he asked, his lips curving into a faint smile.
The words slipped out before I could stop them. "Yes."
He stopped in front of me, so close I could feel the heat radiating from him. "You're impossible," he murmured, echoing my earlier words. Despite my anger, there was an undeniable pull toward him, something I couldn't quite understand or resist. It was as if his presence stirred something within me that was both thrilling and terrifying. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but his gaze held me captive, and I realised that maybe, just maybe, I didn't want to walk away.
And then, before I could think or protest, his hand brushed against my cheek, and the world seemed to stop.