Lured (Team Zero #1) by Rina Kent

“What?” I feign nonchalance and head to the coffee machine. He always has it ready for me. “You’re so gorgeous, it’s unfair.”

He appears thoughtful for a second as he sprinkles salt on the eggs. “Why is it unfair?”

“People like you shouldn’t get the beautiful package. It helps who you are.”

He rubs his bottom lip with his forefinger. “Maybe we become who we are because we have the package.”

I pour coffee in my mug on which is written ‘La vie commence après la première tasse de café’ – the only utensils I brought from France. It’s old and a bit too big, but it’s Papa’s precious present since I started my coffee addiction.

I pause, mulling Dominic’s words. Since I didn’t fill my system with coffee, I’m not in a mood for early banter, so I just drop it.

Dominic, being an asshole, smirks announcing his win as we sit down across from each other on the dining table.

Aromatic scents float around us. He went all out with breakfast today. Jam, marmite, eggs, and even bacon. It looks delicious but not more than the half-naked man savouring his eggs. Locks of his dishevelled dark brown hair fall on his forehead. He appears pretty tame if not tired today.

He seems like… himself.

A giddiness takes hold of me. I thought I was above all the teenage emotions, but it turns out that my hormones are freaking loud and demanding around Dominic.

I take a sip from my mug to stop myself from jumping him. The bitter black coffee is the most heavenly taste on earth. I close my eyes and moan softly.

“What do I do to become that coffee?”

My eyes shoot open, and I almost spit the mouthful of coffee.

Dominic is watching me with an amused gleam as he nibbles on his eggs.

Well, two can play. I feign a mocking tone. “The mighty Dominic will reduce himself to being mere coffee?”

“Hey, if you’re addicted to me and can only start your day after having me, then I’m game.”

My fingers clasp the coffee mug tighter. He appears neutral, relaxed even, but I’m not sure if he means it or he’s just fucking with me as usual.

I don’t want to get my hopes high in case he crushes them, so I evade. “You should try coffee, it’s so good.”

“You French are so obsessed with coffee, it’s ridiculous.”

“And you British are so possessed by tea, it’s more than ridiculous.” I shoot back. “You drink 60.2 billion cups a year. That’s crazy.”

He shrugs as if it doesn’t matter. “I’m not a tea person.”

“I noticed. You’re an anomaly.”

He shrugs again. Only this time, he definitely doesn’t care.

I fix myself a sandwich. I don’t usually eat much in the morning, but Dominic is spoiling me and the British marmite is growing on me.

“What are you doing here, anyway?” I ask. “Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I took a day off.”

Now, that’s rare. I grin around a mouthful of my sandwich. I’m already halfway through. “That’s a coincidence. It’s my day off, too.”

“It’s no coincidence, Cam.”

Oh.

My cheeks heat and that balloon starts growing in my chest. Dominic the workaholic who slaves in his lab, even during the weekend, took a day off for me.

“What’s the occasion?” I nibble on my sandwich, not paying it much attention anymore.

“I will show you around London. I figured you didn’t get a decent tour since you got here. Since I’m such a good sport, I volunteer to be your guide.”

My heart jumps in thrill and damn excitement, but I manage to copy his amused tone. “You’re not just a good sport, you’re like an angel.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You even have the brightest halo in all of England. Can you believe I’ve seen it since I was in France?”

“I’m glad I showed you the way. Who knows what would’ve happened if you didn’t find me?”

I sip my coffee, the teasing mood withering away. Yeah, who knew what would’ve happened? I would’ve spent a few weeks here, satisfied my nerdy anglophile side, and then returned to France. By now, I would’ve grovelled to my parents and I would be drinking my coffee at the top of the hill with my nose deep in a book.

None of that seems possible now.

I’m so caught up in Dominic’s web that it will be impossible to get out.

He taps the table in front of my mug. “Where did your mind go now?”

“Not somewhere pleasant,” I admit.

I expect him to push and make me confess all these jumbled feelings and thoughts – that I’m not even sure I understand them myself – but he remains silent. Perhaps he doesn’t want to hear it either. Perhaps he’s too comfortable in the casual thing we have.

I used to think I’m comfortable, too.

Not anymore.

I want more of him and I have no idea how to get there.

Dominic’s expression is unreadable as he points at my half-eaten sandwich. “Are you done?”

“Yeah.” I drop the sandwich, losing all appetite. “Why?”

He pushes off his chair and reaches me in two long strides. One of his arms flings behind my back while the other goes under my legs. He lifts me in his arms with infinite ease. I yelp then gasp when his ravenous mouth finds mine. His tongue plunges inside, and I moan.