AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Where's your second job? Maybe I'll go there and make friends."
She gave him a look while pouring frothing milk into a purple mug painted with pale pink hydrangeas. "And by making friends, do you mean intimidating the staff and patrons on my behalf?"
Elias grinned, accepting the second coffee and plopping some money into the tip jar with a wink. "Wasn't that implied?"
Alyona shook her head. "You're impossible. You and Sel are both impossible. So no, I won't be telling you where I work."
Knowing she had to help the other patrons, he pouted only briefly. "Mean."
"True, now come back here and grab your own pastries. I have other customers to attend to."
Elias did as he was told, using the tongs to plop two lemon danishes onto a chipped porcelain plate and stealing a tray for it all. Sel reappeared right as he was walking to his usual corner, trotting along behind him. Elias didn't let Sel take it from him like the beta wished to, setting it down in two steps and turning back to Sel.
"I still can't believe you forgot an umbrella," Sel admonished, shaking his head as he lifted the towel up to dry Elias' hair. "You know how sensitive you are to temperature changes."
He was about to respond when a towering presence sidled up to them and snatched the towel out of Sel's hands with ease. "I'll take it from here."
Both of them whipped their gazes to Levi, who was perfectly dry. Elias chanced a glance at the front door to find a new black umbrella resting in the box by the coat rack and blushed.
Shit, now I look like a real idiot.
You already do! His inner voice mocked with a laugh.
"Ah, hello."
Levi smiled down at him, dragging his gaze from Elias' soaked black socks all the way to his dripping head, eyes soft. "You're adorable when you're soaked, or more innocent. Plus, I rather like the sweater."
Elias wanted to escape from these compliments that had a piercing impact on his heart. Thankfully, the rain washed away any trace of Ian's scent on the clothing, leaving that conversation to the wayside for now. He looked down at himself for a chance to tear his eyes from the depths of Levi's gaze.
"Ah, thanks. It's big on me…"
Sel cut in. "That's because it's Ian's."
"Ian? Your roommate?" Levi inquired, sounding more curious than upset.
Elias gave Sel a death stare so fast it was like whiplash. His friend didn't balk as he crossed both arms over his chest.
"Don't you have customers to help with?"
Sel glanced toward where Alyona was struggling to keep up, and the line which now wrapped around the back of the store. He scowled right back at Elias then, as if to say this isn't over, buddy, before striding away. Elias dismissed the threat and turned back toward Levi.
"Yes, it's my roommate's. Sometimes I like thick, fluffy stuff and I don't really own any of that."
Elias' ears heated as soon as the words left his lips, and he glanced out the window while berating himself. Why admit that?
Levi chuckled, bringing back his focus. The alpha stepped closer, and his dark eyes burned with warmth, making Elias squirm.
"Like I said, cute," Levi said, running one knuckle down the side of Elias's face. "Now, do I have your permission to towel you off? Just looking at you is making me shiver."
"Sure."
With that, Levi first wrapped the soft linen around his head and gently scrubbed, messing up Elias' waves and making them fall into his eyes. He didn't complain, only held out his arms for the alpha to work down his body, closing his eyes.
Levi took his time, first soaking up the water of his arms and torso, then his legs until the towel was more soaked than him. Each soft stroke of the alpha's fingers carried the sensation of a searing mark. Drawing circles whenever there was bare skin to touch—on his ankles, his wrists, and neck.
By the end, a small fire burned in the pit of Elias' stomach. Every time he looked down at the crouching alpha below him, Levi was looking back at him, focus never wavering and eyes heavy-lidded. He quickly sat down, averting his eyes.
The coffee was still hot, so he took a scalding sip of it. Levi sat down across from him and grabbed the lemon pastry first, taking a bite so big half was already gone. Elias would've laughed if he weren't overwhelmed already.
