Shards of Memory [English - Under Revision]

Chapter 26: The World on Pause

Skylane

"I'll just feed you."

My pen paused mid-stroke. I looked up. Blaise's grin unspooled, slow and certain, like he'd just set a match to a fuse. Heat crawled up my neck. I tore my gaze away before the room could catch the blush.

God, Blaise. Absolutely no shame. And loud. You want everyone to hear you flirting?

"Oh, go on, Queen," Kyle chimed in, valiantly unhelpful. "Pretend we're statues."

Great. Deeper blush unlocked.

"Heard that, missy?" Blaise crooned. He lifted his fork to my mouth—broccoli spearing a cube of steak, like he'd thought it through. "Open. You're the only one starving you. And with that glare? You're two seconds from saber-toothed."

My glare sharpened; I inhaled to snap back—he slid the bite past my lips anyway.

The steak hit my tongue and my stomach answered with a shameless growl. Traitor.

"Told you." His smile flashed, victorious. "Hungry."

Only then did I clock that he was using the same fork. The fork he'd just eaten from. My pulse stumbled at the casual intimacy. Focus, Sky. Work.

"You eat," I said, snagging a pen and the next sheet. "I have to get through this."

"Think you can hold out?" His voice dipped, lazy. He licked a smear of sauce from his lip—obvious—and reached for his iced tea. Tilted his head just so. I watched, helpless, as his Adam's apple tracked each swallow. Unhelpful. Unfair. My mouth went dry.

He caught my stare and the corner of his mouth hitched. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Nope. Enough. I stole his fork and the nearest container and dug in without granting him eye contact.

He huffed a laugh and produced a second lunchbox like a magician who only performs for one person. Unbothered. Unhurried. Watching me like I was the better course.

"Slow down," he murmured, amused. "You're going to choke."

I didn't—until he deadpanned, "Yummy?"

I choked spectacularly. He offered his water, all innocence, eyes laughing.
"I meant the food."

"I'm fine," I croaked, glaring until the room stopped rubbernecking and returned to work. He looked genuinely delighted.

"Blaise, if you're done," I said, pointing to the mountain of files, "don't take this wrong, but you should go. I can't concentrate with you hovering."

Instead of leaving, he propped his elbows on my desk and set his chin on his fists like a very pretty gargoyle. I leaned back an inch, suddenly aware of every breath.

"Nah. I'm going to watch," he said, smirk sliding back into place.

"You can't watch TV in here. You'll distract everyone."

A low laugh. "Who said TV?"

Before I could blink, he bent, breath brushing my ear. Electricity arrowed down my spine; my hand flew up to cover it.

"I'm watching something more interesting," he whispered.

I rolled my eyes hard enough to sprain them and went back to writing. "What—flies? Sorry. None inside. Try the garden."

"You're prickly today," he teased. "You on your—"

I looked up, a warning blade. He lifted both hands, laughing. "Kidding. Relax. Work. I'll just...observe."