Walking down the sidewalk, L was lost in thought. Unaware of the four men that followed her. She turned down the street, stopping to wait at the crosswalk as she waited for the light to change.


    Shifting the box to her side as she clutched it with one arm. Smoothing her ponytail. Before all but skipping towards the antique shop as the light changed. An older gentleman with red hair and deep chocte eyes held the door open for her. His toothy grin sent shivers down her spine.


    “Thank you,” she whispered as she hurried past him, unable to shake the eerie feeling he gave her.


    The bells twinkled above the door as L walked into Erik’s antique shop. It was quiet except for the whistling of the kettle.  “Erik?” L called out as she stepped up to the cash register. Sitting the box down gently on the counter, she brushed her hands over her top, smoothing the material down. She couldn’t wait for Erik to see it.


    Walking out of the back room with his nose buried in a book. He moved towards the front and L couldn’t help but grin as she watched him adjust his sses on the bridge of his nose. “Sorry, lost myself for a bit.”


    “Good afternoon Erik, what are you reading?” L asked, dragged her finger under the tape pulling the paper open.


    “Oh, just some research.” Erik answered as he closed the book and sat it behind the counter. He stepped closer to L, and she jumped at his nearness. The fae men that she’d been aroundtely had her on edge, and she was overly aware of Erik. How his body heat seemed to seep through her clothing, the soft scent of his cologne.


    She was always aware of his nearness.


    Today it was more so than normal. Dragging her finger across the brown paper, L jumped and pulled her hand away.


    “Oww,” L lifted her hand, the blood dripping from the paper cut.


    “You’re hurt,” Erik said as he grabbed her wrist. “I’ve got a first aid kit in the kitchen.” He murmured as he let go of her wrist and turned towards the kitchen, L following behind him.


    “I don’t know where my head is.” L said as she moved into the kitchen. She turned the kettle off while Erik searched under the sink for the first aid box. “Why do you keep your first aid box in the kitchen?”


    “A friend once told me that the most bleeding happens in here.”


    “Odd thing to say.” L said as she leaned her hip against the counter, watching Erik.


    “He was an odd fellow, brilliant fun at parties.” Erik said with a smirk as he turned around holding the red and white box.


    “I have a hard time picturing you at a party.” L said, biting her lower lip. Fighting down a smile as he sat the box down on the cab and opened the lid.


    “I used to go to quite a few, nowadays I live a simpler life.” Erik smiled as he meticulously lined up the antiseptic and bandages. He picked up a cotton ball and held his hand out to L. She held her injured hand out, and his smile deepened as their hands touched. “This might sting a bit, I do apologize.”


    “It’s just a paper cut. I can take care of it.”


    “L, let me take care of you.” Erik said in a soft voice as he dabbed the cut clean.


    L felt her heart beat faster at his softly spoken words.


    “Erik-”  L whispered.


    “I feel things for you.” He said as he dabbed the antiseptic onto her cut. “Things that I haven’t felt for a-” he paused as if he were thinking of the right words to say. “Things that I haven’t felt in a very long time.”


    “Erik, I’m not sure what to say.” L said. Watching as he ced the bandage on her fingers. She had longed to hear those words and now that he had spoken them, she didn’t know how to react.


    “You don’t have to say anything, I just wanted you to know that I like you. I’d like to pursue you, I mean to say I’d like to pursue a rtionship with you.”


    Even though he had bandaged her fingers up, he still held her hand in his. L felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked down at their joined hands. She wondered if he felt the same sparks that she was feeling now.


    “Erik, I-”


    “L, you don’t have to say anything right now. The reason that I asked for your help was not just because I do need help. But it gives me an excuse to spend time with you.” His fingers squeezed hers gently as he turned away, moving to clean up the bandages and cotton balls he had sat on the counter.


    “I’d, um.” L said pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts, “I’d like to spend time with you too.”Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Erik turned to look at her, his gray eyes locking with her eyes. As she looked up at him through loweredshes.


    “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.” He said biting his lower lip as he stepped closer to L.


    L looked up at him, her eyes widening as she sucked in a deep breath. “Erik-”


    The bells over the door chimed and Erik looked at L onest time before turning away. He stepped out of the room, greeting the customers as L raised her hands to her cheeks. Feeling the heat under her palms as she tried to calm herself down. She didn’t know if it was her longtime crush on the shop owner or the fae men at her home that had sent her libido into overdrive.


    “L, I, I think you have a visitor.” Erik called out, pulling L from her thoughts.