It was a children's hideout.
Like literally. An ancient comic book cafe. Ancient, yeah! That's right. Who read comics these days? That too in a cafe.
No wonder it was so unkept. The titles were almost falling from its roof. The place looked more like a hit than a house. The door was made perhaps keeping a child in mind because it was too short even for an average length adult.
" Are you sure this is the place? "
Draco asked, scrutinizing with his eyes.
I nodded. It was. The place with the biggest collection of Dragon Lores. It had books which even collectors died to have. But the owner they said was obsessed with dragons so he never sold any of his items. He shared them with the world through his little cafe.
" Let's go in and take a look! "
We ducked out way in. I was sure Draco bumped his head but he made no face to make me realise that.
" Good morning! "
There was an old man sitting behind a table with a large register.
"Ah! Hi! Good morning. We are here to go through some of your collections! "
The man looked at us over his glasses.
His eyes specially hovered over Draco. But my man was lost in his own translation. He looked around at the place. Half disgusted and half annoyed. It clearly showed on his face.
" Good. Good.
It's rare for adults to take interest in fantasy reading these days!
Please put your names down and sign! "
I took the register and the pen and took my time writing my name and signing.
Behind my mind I was planning how to deal with that Draco.
He had no idea how to write in our language nor did he know about signing.
" Umm, Mister, can we use our finger prints instead. We would like to stay anonymous. Not put our names down! "
He nodded with a " Go ahead! "
" Draco give me you hand! "
I applied the ink adequately, " Now press like this. "
I demonstrated with action.
The inside seemed more spacious than it appeared from outside.
Layers and layers of books adorning the shelves built all around the place like an amphitheater.
" I will start looking through them. You can also go through some. I know you will not be able to read them but you can go through the pictures and if it seems like worth something, " I bowed and added, " I am always at your service your majesty! "
It was a pun. But he looked impressed.
I began from the left wing.
At first what came to my hands were just kids editions. I still didn't dare to ignore any, flipping my way through each of them.
After about a hour of going through mindless children's fiction, I looked around the room. I had not yet covered one single shelf. There were like over two, three dozens of it left.
" Hey! Draco! Come over. Make yourself useful! "
I was stretching my neck. It was paining like hell.
I had just wanted him to help me rearrange the books I had thrown on the floor, back on the shelf.
But he came straight for my neck.
I wasn't complaining.
The touch of his hand made those strained muscles immediately relax.
My head tilted back in reflex as his fingers pressed comfortably on those aching veins.
" Ahhh! "
A soft moan of relaxation slipped my lips.
It immediately made my eyes shoot open in his direction. He was looking at me with a weird expression. Then slowly I saw his cheeks and nose turning crimson.
Even his touch on my skin started feeling hot.
I looked away and sat up.
I half expected him to move his hands away too. But he didn't do that.
He went ahead massaging my shoulders.
" Ummm, Draco! Thanks. I feel much better. Can you pass those books back to me. I will put these back and move on to the next shelf! "
He gave me another set of weird gaze. But didn't utter a single word. He went ahead piling those books up from the floor, then handing them all at once.
And as expected I lost my balance taking that humongous pile back from him.
Why for once could he not have done things normal!
The books went in one direction and I went in the other.
His hands! Were they still magical? I thought he had lost his powers.
He grabbed my waist in one hand and balanced all those books, well most of it, with the other.
I straighten out of his grip. My eyes fluttering indefinitely trying not to be embarrassed.
" Please put those back in the shelf for me! "
I started picking those three, four books that had fallen idle. My main motive was to avoid eye contact with him.
He kept those back then extended his hand for the ones I had. I gave them to him without any question.
" Liana!" he called my name out of nowhere.
" Yes! "
" Why do you run away from my touch? "
What was that again? When did I do that? I mean why would I?
" I know you enjoy it... I know you want it... but why do you keep slipping away again and again... why do you act like you are resistant. "
His steps intensified towards me. His eyes searching.
He wasn't lying. I did try my best not to fall for him not that I was falling. I mean he definitely was not my type. Besides, Damian was our only common link. Other than him neither he nor I, needed each other in our lives.
I had run out of spaces to walk back.
I was pressed against a shelf and Draco in front.
His hand slowly sliding behind my ear, rotating in small circles around my hair.
I was feeling like my entire being was about to start melting. There were not only butterflies but bugs, cockroaches and catterpillar s fidgeting inside my tummy.
He walked closer. Then gripped my hair hard, pulling me by my head towards his lips.
I was about to go in, not caring about anything else.
But being the arrogant a*shole that he was, he had to say those next lines-
" What are you scared of Liana? Don't worry.
You are not the first one falling for me. I have had girls throwing themselves over me. They didn't call me playboy for nothing! Relax Liana. You are in experienced hand! "
My eyes flew open, brining me back to reality.
I stamped on his feet.
" Aich! Girl! What the heck! "
" Keep those hands to yourself... "
I literally pushed him back with all the might that I had.