Suddenly finding out he had feelings for his boss, Lucas could not help but feel his heart race at the slightest gesture from Devon.
"Are you listening?" Devon asked, snapping his fingers in front of Lucas and Lucas snapped out of his stray thoughts.
"Ah, yes. I mean, no." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
"Hm, why are you suddenly getting distracted?" Devon asked, looking puzzled.
'It's because you're standing so close to me.' Lucas answered in his mind. He looked at the table in front of them that had different ingredients for making different types of coffee and reminded himself that Devon was teaching him how to measure the sugar, as well as milk in case the customers needed it less sweet or sweeter.
And for when they want a cold cappuccino instead of a hot one.
It was a dilemma but he was sure he could learn it on time. That is... If Devon didn't have to stand next to him the whole time.
"As for the design," Devon said and beckoned him to step closer.
Lucas gulped and took steps towards him.
He stood in the spot Devon had been standing on while Devon stepped aside.
"Now," Devon called and suddenly stood directly behind Lucas who flinched and almost spilled the sugar cup. "We don't have much time so I'm going to directly teach it to you, so pay attention."
Devon reached for Lucas' hand from behind, starting Lucas. His heart began to pound even more uncontrollably. It was already a mess when Devon was standing next to him, yet now he was right behind him. It was as if Devon was hugging him from behind and that made his condition a whole lot worse.
He was taller than him so with just one tiny glance, tilting his neck a bit, he could see Devon's chin as well as his lips as he said words that seemed to have been muted but he could hear his voice and felt it was very smooth and comforting, especially while he was talking so close to his ear.
'Why is this happening?' he thought, biting his lips and trying hard to contain his heartbeat. 'I can't concentrate and my heart is beating so loud that I think he's gonna hear it. He's gonna hear it and think that I'm... '
"Lucas," Devon called. "Why is your heart beating so fast? Are you okay?"
"Yes, I..." he clutched his apron. "I'm fine." Lucas bowed his head but his heart kept beating hard. 'Why is this happening?'
Devon went silent, staring at Lucas, whose face, as well as ears, were flushed in embarrassment. His lips curled up and he smiled. But then, his eyes fell on Lucas' bare neck, his eyes glinting a sharp red.
The veins crawling around Lucas's neck, as well as the sweet scent of his blood penetrating his thick skin, made his endeavor to stay calm very futile.
To think he was starting to lose control.
He took his hand back, stepped back from Lucas, and said,
"I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. I just wanted you to learn this as quickly as possible." He looked at his watch around his wrist. "And I guess we've elapsed yet another lunch break." He dropped his hand and looked at Lucas who was feeling guilty.
It was all because he couldn't keep his heart in check and kept getting so distracted that they couldn't even get any good results from their practice.
This wasn't the first time they were having a lunch break practice which he flunked because he kept paying attention to Devon's little gestures and nice voice.
It had been over a week and he was still manning the register because he couldn't get this simple task done. His thoughts were always flooded with Devon.
Just how was he going to continue this job like this?
"Lucas," Devon called and Lucas raised his head, showing the little trace of tears at the corner of his eyes. "Is there something you want to talk about?" He asked, showing concern in his tone, as well as his face.
Lucas pursed his lips and shook his head. There was nothing. How would he suddenly raise his head and say something ridiculous like, "I think I'm in love with you and that's why I can't concentrate on anything. My heart pounds so hard that I become deaf to everything else, and my nose just happens to catch a whiff of your amazing scent."
He would immediately seem like a pervert.
"No, there's nothing." He said, but Devon had suddenly gotten to him and reached his hand out to rub away his tears.
"Then why do you look like you're about to cry?" He asked.
Lucas felt a lump in his chest. His throat had words he wanted to spit out but he knew those would lead him nowhere.
"Boss," he called, "...are you always this close to your staff?" He asked and Devon tilted his head slightly.
"What do you mean?" He asked, and Lucas' eyes rolled down to Devon's hand holding his abs, then his other hand on his face.
Such misleading gestures would give him the wrong idea.
"I do care for the people who work under me." Devon suddenly said. "But if you're asking if I'm always this handsy with them, then..." He smiled. "It's just you."
His words suddenly made Lucas' heart run a marathon. What did he say?
"You're just so adorable that I want to treat you with care and..." He gently stroked his face, his hand gently sweeping over his skin and towards the back of his head. "You're actually the first one who doesn't mind that my skin's temperature is below normal. So, I got comfortable with you. Isn't that a silly reason?" He laughed, but Lucas did not see it as silly at all.
Rather... He thought of it as the most caring word anyone had told him.