Page 12 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

“This one, sir, it says it’s for suede.” The demon aggressively pulls a can from the shelf. “Damn! You think I can’t read?”

I can’t recall once that I’ve ever been this confused in my entire life. As he shoves his items onto the counter for Nitasha to scan, I stay next to the shoe supplies appalled.

Seven

Skyler

It takes every ounce of self-control to add the rest of Amethyst’s shifts to the schedule. I’d rather pull her into the office and run my fingers across her skin instead of these laptop keys. I’d known. The feeling was muted but I still knew it. The immediate pull I felt, the way her scent drove me wild. Amethyst is my mate.

This line of thinking is doing me no favors below the belt. I wanted her from the moment I saw her. Regardless of if she was my mate or not. But now, after touching her, feeling the bond flare to life, my wolf would be insatiable. I would be insatiable.

Regardless of how many dirty fantasies crossed my mind, they would have to remain just that for now. I wanted to get to know Amethyst on a deeper level before we took those intimate steps. If we did.

She could still reject the bond. Reject me. Just thinking the words is like a spear of ice to the heart… to the cock. The discomfort pressing against my zipper begins to disappear.

No matter what she chose, I would respect her decision.

I have a plethora of questions. Starting with how I became blessed to have such a brilliant, beautiful woman as my mate. And ending with what is she? Now that a mate bond has snapped into place, it’s unlikely that she’s human.

It’s clear that Amethyst is either unaware she’s paranormal, or she’s hiding it. I believe the former to be true given the items she purchased yesterday. She and her mother didn’t so much as glimpse at an aisle that held paranormal supplies.

Slumping into my chair, I blow out a breath, my eyes settling on the ceiling. The rain-damaged tile in the corner stares back at me. I sent in a work order to replace it months ago, and it’s going to fall any day now. Corporate always drags their feet on getting shit done.

Speak of the fucking devil. The warning siren blares on my phone letting me know Maeve is calling. I don’t have a lick of patience for her antics right now. With a groan, I slide my thumb across the screen to answer. “What the fuck do you want, Maeve? I’m busy.”

A moment of silence hangs between us. “Huh. You sure look busy with your ass sitting in that chair. You forget I have access to cameras?” Her raspy voice cuts through the air. “Honestly, I hoped you’d lost access by now. You know — been fired?”

I rip a sheet of paper from the notebook to my left. Let me look a little busy for the cameras. She chuckles on the other end of the line. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To take my place as district manager.”

I fly my newly crafted paper airplane across the office. It doesn’t make it as far as I would’ve liked. Lazily walking to retrieve it, I grumble, “I’d like anything that meant I didn’t have to hear your voice anymore.” You’d think after listening to her for the last eight years since she became my boss I’d have gotten used to it, but it’s still just as grating as ever.

I readjust the wings of my plane, preparing to launch it again. “Cute. Anyway, what the fuck I want is to let you know the harvest section must be set by closing tonight. Text pictures of completion. And maybe somewhere you’d like to meet me for dinner. Bye.”

Harvest has been set for two fucking weeks. Hardly a reason to subject me to that call. There is never a reason to suggest dinner together. When will she ever get the hint? I’m not interested.

Glancing to the clock on the wall, I watch as it ticks over to four, when I told Amethyst she could clock out today. I jump up and grab my jacket, hoping I can catch her before she leaves.

Stepping out of the office, her eyes meet mine and it’s like the air has been sucked from my lungs. The deeper I fall into those radiant depths, the more clarity I gain. Every moment, every choice I’ve ever made has led me here, to her.

I clear my throat searching for words but come up short. “I was just clocking out.” She says as she brushes her hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushed. “Right on time,” I wink while pulling on my jacket. Luckily, she’ll be out of here before Wren comes in tonight at five.

“May I walk out with you? I can explain the app you’ll need to view your new schedule and how to log into it.” Amethyst gestures toward the door, “Of course.” I fall in step beside her. Nitasha obnoxiously waves bye to Amethyst in the midst of yapping with a customer.

Holding the door open for her, I begin the monotonous description of Lineup. “Alright, you’ll download an app called Lineup. Your log in will be the same as when you clock in and out, and our store number is 0349.” I narrowly miss a hole in the pavement. Shifting to the right, my arm brushes against hers. We both stiffen as the fiery feel of the bond licks through our veins.

I internally beg her to realize it. To say something, anything. To give me some semblance of hope that she feels it too. That she wants this too.

Amethyst turns to face me as she leans against the door of her white Jeep. She looks up at me through her lashes, a smirk playing on her lips. Goddess, help me.

“Right, Lineup. Same info as clocking in and out. But could you text me the store number? I’m not good with numbers, I’ll forget on the drive home.” She holds out her phone, and my stomach does somersaults.

Her question feigns innocence, but the confident, satisfied look in her eyes tells me she has an ulterior motive. Hell, I do too. Taking her phone in my hands, I add my contact info and send a message to myself to give me hers. Once I hear the ding from my phone, our hands brush as I give hers back.

“Got you, Sunlight. I’ll send that number shortly.” She blushes and I grin boyishly. “If you’re giving me a nickname, I’m giving you one too. Just let me sleep on it.” She giggles and I try to memorize the sound. I lean in closer, a warm smile plastered on my face, “Well, do keep in mind that asshole, bitch boy, and dick are already taken.”

Her giggle turns into full-blown laughter, and I can’t help but join her. She doubles over, her hand resting on my chest for balance. My breath hitches in my throat as the electricity from her touch crackles through me. We lock eyes as she jerks back.

The loss of her touch is staggering. I can't help wondering if the distance she placed between us is because of our titles at work, or something deeper and more complex. Does she not want a relationship — is she in one already? Did something happen in the past to make her afraid of intimacy?