Inked & Innocent

Possessive

Javier stood outside the coffee shop, staring through the glass window at Aurora. He had come to get his usual cup before starting the day, but something else caught his attention. Or, rather, someone else.

A guy—tall, clean-cut, dressed in a button-up shirt and slacks—was standing too close to Aurora, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Javier felt his jaw clench involuntarily. What was this guy doing? He watched as the stranger smiled down at her, his eyes lingering on her soft features, and something dark churned in Javier's chest.

She looks nervous, Javier thought. Too polite to brush him off. The guy leaned in, his words soft enough that Javier couldn't hear, but Aurora's blush told him everything he needed to know.

Without even thinking, Javier pushed the door open, the bell chiming overhead as he strode inside, his boots heavy against the floor. His eyes locked on Aurora and the guy with the flowers.

"Hey, Aurora," Javier called out, keeping his voice casual, though his pulse quickened. "You're still up for tonight, right?"

Aurora's eyes widened, startled by his sudden arrival. "T-Tonight?"

The guy with the flowers turned, confused. "Tonight? I was just asking her if she was free tonight for dinner." He glanced between them, suspicion creeping into his gaze. "I don't think she gave me an answer yet."

Javier felt his irritation rise. Yeah, and she never will, he thought bitterly. Before Aurora could respond, Javier stepped closer, his broad frame casting a shadow over the guy. "Yeah, no. She's busy tonight. Sorry, man."

The guy frowned, clearly thrown off by the sudden intrusion. "I'm sure she can speak for herself," he muttered, a hint of defiance in his voice.

Javier's stare darkened. He wasn't backing down. His hand tightened at his side, resisting the urge to throw the guy out of the shop. "She doesn't need to," he said coolly. "She's got plans. Isn't that right, Aurora?"

Aurora, still caught off guard, nodded quickly, her eyes darting between the two men. "Y-Yes, I'm busy."

The guy's face twisted in mild disbelief. "Well, alright then," he said, his smile faltering. "Guess I'll try another time." He set the flowers down awkwardly on the counter, looking at Aurora one last time before walking out, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.

Javier exhaled sharply, his pulse still racing as he turned his attention back to Aurora. She was staring at him, her mouth slightly open, as if she didn't know what to say.

"You okay?" Javier asked, his voice softer now. "He wasn't bothering you, was he?"

Aurora blinked, clearly still processing what had just happened. "N-No, he wasn't bothering me. He was just... um, asking me out."

Javier couldn't help the bitterness that leaked into his words. "Yeah, I noticed." He ran a hand through his hair, trying to cool the heat still simmering in his chest. "You seemed uncomfortable."

"I didn't expect it," she admitted, her cheeks flushed pink. "I don't usually... guys don't usually..." She trailed off, looking embarrassed.

"Guys don't usually what?" Javier's gaze softened as he studied her, that protectiveness from earlier still clinging to him.

"They don't usually ask me out," she said quietly, playing with the edge of her apron.

Javier felt his chest tighten at the admission. How the hell is that possible? Aurora was beautiful, sweet, and kind—the type of woman men should be lining up to take out. But the thought of anyone else trying to get close to her made his blood boil. He didn't want to think about some random guy sitting across from her at a candlelit dinner, laughing with her, making her blush.

Fuck, Javier thought, trying to steady his breathing. What the hell am I doing?

He didn't know what had come over him, stepping in like that, but seeing that guy with flowers, getting too close to her—it lit something inside him that he didn't want to face. Aurora was too innocent, too sweet, and he knew deep down that he wasn't right for her. But that didn't stop the primal instinct that kicked in when someone else got near her.

Aurora shifted on her feet, her gaze still fixed on him. "You didn't have to do that," she said softly. "Reject him for me."

Javier shrugged, trying to play it off. "He wasn't your type."

"How do you know my type?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, and there was that playful spark in her voice again, the one that always made his heart skip a beat.

Javier met her gaze, feeling the tension crackle between them. He took a step closer, closing the space the guy had occupied earlier. "I just do," he said, his voice low. "Trust me, sweetheart."

Her breath hitched at the nickname, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them was thick with unspoken things, desire and restraint mingling like two forces at war. Javier's fingers twitched at his side, the urge to touch her, to claim her in ways he had no right to, almost overwhelming.

Stop, he told himself. She's too good for you. You'll ruin her.

But Aurora didn't pull away. She didn't shy from his closeness. Instead, her eyes stayed locked on his, wide and full of something he wasn't sure she understood yet.

"You don't have to protect me, you know," she whispered, her voice shaking just a little. "I'm not as fragile as you think."

Javier smirked, his heart pounding harder. "Oh, I know you're strong," he said, letting his gaze drop briefly to her lips before snapping back to her eyes. "But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna look out for you. Especially when some jackass is trying to pull something."

Aurora swallowed, her cheeks flushing deeper. "And what about you?" she asked quietly, surprising him. "Who's gonna protect me from you?"

The question hung between them, heavy and full of meaning. Javier's chest tightened, the weight of her words hitting harder than he expected. She knows, he realized. She feels it too.

He should back off. He should tell her to stay away from him, that he wasn't the kind of man she needed in her life. But instead, he found himself reaching out, his thumb brushing the soft curve of her jaw, the touch barely there.

"I'll protect you from me," he murmured, his voice rough. "Even if it kills me."

The heat between them surged, a current so strong Javier thought it might swallow him whole. Aurora didn't pull away. Her breath was shallow, her lips parted as if waiting for something—waiting for him. His hand lingered on her skin, the warmth of her face against his palm making it impossible to step back.

But he had to.

With a groan of frustration, Javier dropped his hand and took a step back, the loss of contact almost painful. "You should get back to work," he muttered, more to himself than her.

Aurora blinked, as if waking from a dream, and nodded slowly. "Yeah," she whispered. "I should."

But neither of them moved right away. The tension between them still hung in the air, heavy and unrelenting, like a storm waiting to break.

Javier turned on his heel and walked out of the coffee shop, every step feeling like he was leaving something important behind.

She's gonna be the death of me, he thought, pulling the door shut behind him.