Just wanted to thank everyone for all the love this story has gotten! It's taken me a while to update because I wasn't keeping track of this story, I just kinda threw it up here and didn't really expect any response bc I've never gotten reviews on my previous accounts... Anyway! Thank you for being so nice and showing your interest.
Also to a address a question I've been getting, originally this was supposed to be a oneshot, however considering they were strangers I wanted a little more build up before they ripped each others clothes off (cause this will be a lemon! so viewer discretion). That being said I wanna keep it short for once because all my oneshots somehow turn into long stories that I never finish lol so hopefully this one won't.
Rowan Whitethorn was lonely. A fact that was usually easy to overlook, but more and more lately he seemed to be tumbling into a pit of sappy emotions and overall tumult. He was lonely, and wound so tight he felt like a spring ready to snap. He felt hollow, like his skin was tighter than usual, pricklier than usual. He didn't know what it was about and no amount of physical exertion seemed to dampen the uncomfortable feelings. Which he had to say was new. Working out always cleared his mind and put his body at ease. So naturally, in light of his recent shitstorm, he was less than thrilled to realize someone was trying to teal from him. In fact, it had only served to highlight how truly alone he was. Having another person in his house had only reminded him that he hardly ever had company, he didn't even have a pet. He didn't even have a damn cleaning lady. He had known immediately upon stepping into his home that something was off. His shoes were askew by the front door, the window open and he could smell the faint scent of vanilla and lemon. All things that were unusual considering the only person ever there was him. He was something of a recluse. Sure he had a few friends that he'd known all of his life, but when it came down to it, they were really just rich kids turned business associates. Sure, he had had women, but none as of late. Rowan wasn't one to lie to himself, or to hide from the truth and the truth was... God, the truth was, he was in such a weird place right now. He needed someone. And perhaps it was this disgustingly irritating, newfound neediness that made it so he couldn't get this woman off his mind.
Rowan swore he wasn't a brute as his build may suggest. However he knew he was built like something of a viking and so he tried to offset his hulking stature by dressing well. It also helped that his blue blood upbringing made him subdued and poised. It also helped that he was alone basically all the time, so who could he act brutish towards really? There were few things that got under his skin though: liars, thieves, and beautiful women. His cheeky little intruder last night had possessed all of those traits. So in hindsight, it didn't surprise him that he had had a moment of temporary insanity. For it truly was stupid of him to lie to the authorities. He should've just turned her in but all he could think of upon hearing that feisty mouth and seeing that lithe little body clad in all black was how he'd love to punish her himself. And what a punishment he would deliver. Even the excuse he'd given to the ruddy and rotund officer was steeped in innuendo, or just blatant lust more like.
Luckily he hadn't given into his crazy desires. In fact he was proud that he let her go without ripping her clothes off- because seriously, he knew better after all that had happened before. He knew that his needs were... unique and not something most women could put up with, let alone enjoy themselves. But the self pride ended there because he had asked her to come back tonight- no he'd ordered her. Granted he didn't think she'd agree, he could tell from their brief interaction, she was too fiery for that- to just take orders. He saw the defiance dancing in her eyes moments before she said, "Yes, tomorrow."
And that insubordinate glare had heated him from the outside in, because if there was one thing he did well it was bending people to his will and how he'd love to bend her every which way. Especially with they way she looked right now. It turns out she hadn't listened to his order to meet him last night so Rowan had resorted to other tactics. He knew it may come off as odd, creepy, stalkerish but he had lived for long enough to know that when you had a gut feeling you should act on it. He'd lived long enough to know that in the real world you can't always follow your heart and every whim and fancy it allows, so while it is possible to fulfill your desires you must. He wasn't sure what it was about this woman that appealed to him on such a fundamental level but he would be damned if he didn't pursue it.
So here he was actively in pursuit in the form of casually grabbing a bite to eat at her workplace. The Glass Palace Diner was located in the seedier part of town but nonetheless it was a little slice of heaven on the otherwise crummy street. With lively music, warm food and quaint decorations the place looked not unlike the diner in the movie Grease Rowan had seen not too long ago.
Shaking the rain off of his coat he proceeded to hang that and his hat on the rack before taking a seat on one of the many stools in front of the counter. He watched with rapt attention as springy golden curls bounced about a slim set of shoulders that led to a slender back and a round behind he'd love to sink his teeth into. But that was after hours Rowan, the monster that he became when overcome with lust- the monster he tried desperately to hide.
But, his thief was appealing in ways other than blatant sexuality. She somehow exuded a prim and proper charm as she conversed with her customers despite her seemingly being rough around the edges. He could tell she fit in her, she was appreciated here and everyone enjoyed her. In fact there wasn't a customer that came that she didn't greet, not a grouch within a mile radius of her he suspected. The was the queen of this little diner as she moved around on nimble legs with a graceful athletic gait.
Watching her he had a brief feeling of being suspended in time, that feeling you sometimes get when you think about how you're just in extra in the lives of hundreds, a forgotten face, a negligible part in someones intricate, and complex life that exists completely independently of yourself. He wondered how long this lively woman had been existing without him even knowing, how long a seemingly innocent and kind woman had been donning a mask like a second identity to go commit felonies. And more importantly why?
Rowan was content to sit and ponder for as long as it took for her to notice him which in actuality wasn't that long. It felt like he'd been observing her for ages but in actuality only five or so minutes had passed. At any other place, or with any other worker he would've considered their less than prompt assistance to be laxity on their part but the diner was extremely busy, filled to the brim with customers of all ages. There was a rambunctious group of teenagers in the back, a simpering giggling gaggle of college aged looking women in a booth behind him, a group of PTA mom's and their respective children all dressed in school clothes and backpacks. There were two old men seated next to him watching the news overhead as they chatted over coffee, a harried looking cop sat to Rowan's left, and a construction team seemed to be coming in for their break. The place was hopping, and the thief along with simply one other employee handled it was ease. All in all it was quite impressive, so waiting five measly minutes didn't seem so hard. Rowan had all the time in the world anyway.
When the thief's eyes finally lighted on him her smiled dimmed considerably as recognition flared in her eyes and he watched as she paled under the lights of the establishment.
"Uh-
He briefly wondered how she'd play it. Would she act like she didn't know him or would she be standoffish?
"What are you doing here?" she questioned sharply.
Standoffish it was.
"Well, I've heard this is the best coffee around- is it not Sir?" he turned to the older gentleman to his right with a polite smile.
With a doting grin the man replied, "Our little lady Aelin's got the magic touch in the kitchen- especially when it comes to a good cupa' Joe."
So Aelin was her name. Rowan looked at her in her orange checkered apron with it's white frills, her cap sleeved white tshirt, pants and black and white checkerboard sneakers. He considered her unruly hair that she had tried but failed to wrangle with a headband, he took in her fiery blue and gold speckled eyes and the defiant quirk of her lush mouth. Aelin. He liked it.
With a brief shake of her head as if shaking herself out of a revere she asked, "Alright, well how do you take your coffee?"
"Black."
"Anything else?"
"Not yet."
An appreciative sound hummed in the back of her throat as she turned to attend to his order.
Aelin would be lying if she said she wasn't scared. Her day had been going great until he showed up. She had somehow staved off Manon without donating a kidney to the black market or handing over her soul to the crotchety landlady, she had chatted with the cute kidergarteners that always came in for breakfast getting her daily dose of adorable and even her hair was kinda behaving. She was handling the afternoon rush and everything, and then the man with the weird hair and huge build came waltzing in. Except she didn't even see him arrive, he'd just appeared which was the most disconcerting part. He was incredibly sneaky. Especially for someone so damn large.
How did he know she worked here? It couldn't just be a coincidence right? Why was he here? What did he want? She hadn't actually gone through with the robbery so she couldn't get in all that much trouble... she was pretty sure.
The dishes she was clearing away clattered to the floor making a huge unnecessary mess and breaking her out of her panic. God, she was panicking. Absolutely whipped into a frenzy and she couldn't take it. Ever since he arrived and she finally caught notice she was hyper aware of him- to the point where it was hindering her productivity. He was taking up too much space on her radar, muddling her senses and he wasn't even buying anything besides the damn coffee. How long did it take to drink a cup, sheesh. And well, she should just kick him out for loitering, the place was busy he couldn't just sit here and take up room.
So she told him that.
Except it came out all wrong because her delivery was all whack. She was standing in the midst of spilled leftovers and broken dishware as she stopped and told him to just go already, your hulking ass is taking up too much dam- darn space and did he even see the crowd? was he rude enough to sit there while other people needed to be served?!
It was like time halted because the entire diner stopped eating and chatting and joking and laughing and humming and chewing just to watch her in the throes of her melt down.
"'Scuse me guys. I'm sorry," she addressed the diner at large and then shot her coworker Lysandra a look and then proceeded to go around the counter, grab Rowan by the tie and drag him through the kitchen and out the back door.
As it turns out touching him was a bad idea, he radiated a masculine heat that pulsed with power and sensuality. If he wanted to he could've totally gotten himself free of her grip with no problem. If he wanted to he could totally grab her by her apron and have his way with her... not that she was thinking about that exactly... no. Not at all.
As the door closed behind them with a metallic squeak and a heavy thud she turned to face him unsure of what she actually was going to say but settling for something along the lines of, "You seriously can't be here."
"There's not that prohibits me actually Aelin, it's not like I'm stealing- right?" he replied smugly.
She huffed, "I can't- focus! You have to go, you can't just show up at my job like this, I need this job."
Adjusting his tie he spoke clearly and properly, seems he didn't speak any other way really, "As it turns out, that's actually why I'm here."
She hit him with a blank look.
"Since you stood me up last night, I decided it was rude to inconvenience you by asking you to come to me- so I came to you."
"How noble of you. However, it's already been established that you're here- what for?"
"Well, originally my plan was to invite you back to my place and punish you myself-
God, just the thought rose goosebumps all along her skin.
"But, then when I was waiting on you last night when you so kindly stood me up, I pulled out your cheeky little note and got to thinking about why it was you endeavored to steal from me in the first place. Considering how terrible a thief you were that you a, left evidence in the form of a note- juvenile by the way- and b that you couldn't even get away with it... I concluded you must be a rookie, which means you've gotta be in a desperate situation. I mean you said it yourself that you were in a desperate place... Or maybe that's a ruse and you just like the rush, but my money is on the former."
He looked at me expectantly, "So?"
"So what? You want me to give you the 411 on my plight? Because if that's the case- no."
A chuckle escaped him, deep and rumbling, "I just want to help. Which you should probably be grateful for."
Aelin knew that if she just swallowed her pride and said yes her financial stability would be a guarantee. This guy was loaded. She could tell by the quality of his clothes, his hands although large strong and calloused were also well manicured, his hair and beard neatly trimmed. He was well spoken and well bred. All her problems could be solved with one nod but at what cost?
Somewhere inside the deviant part of her flared to life and responded, "what about the first option."
Silver eyes darkened to a smoky grey, and before she knew it she was cornered; the man's knee brushing her leg before hitting the brick wall at the side of her thigh, his hands coming to rest by her head caging her in.
"Aelin, do you need financial help or do you need a fuck?"
"I'll take both for four hundred Alex."
"Let's get one thing straight my name is Rowan."
"Rowan," she purred.
"Excellent. You seem to be in luck you dirty little thief because I am both a kind beneficiary and an incredible lay."
lol I didn't edit this sorry
