“Oh, no, no...” she quickly shook her head. “It’s just me. I’m silly.”
“You are,” he grimaced, cupping her chin with his fingers.
He quickly let go, then walked out the door, leaving Mina and Raphael alone. She had her profile turned to him but she could tell that he hadn’t taken his eyes off of her for a single second. His gaze was deep, pensive, as if he was in grave deliberation on what to do with her. She tried to shoo away these thoughts, which were clouding up her judgment. They were here just for a coffee and nothing more. There would be no hot action, no matter how often these images were popping up inside her mind.
She made sure to sit on a chair, away from him. She didn’t trust him to be this close to her. Or maybe, just maybe, she didn’t trust herself. She wasn’t sure anymore and she didn’t even want to risk it.
“Why don’t you sit over here?” he asked her, patting the place next to him on the bed.
“I’m okay here,” she replied.
“Scared?” he winked.
“Of you?” she snorted. “Don’t be absurd.”
“Actually, I meant are you scared of yourself?”
“What do you mean?” she frowned.
“Oh, come on….” he rose up from the reclining position he was in and was now sitting with his legs down and his feet on the floor.
She watched him, in anxious anticipation.
“You can’t deny the chemistry that’s between us,” he whispered seductively.
“I think you got hit in the head with that ball one too many times, my friend,” she teased him, enjoying it far more than she thought she would.
“Ouch,” he laughed at her comment. “That’s a good one.”
Instead of a reply, she just raised her eyebrow impertinently, while the corner of her lips danced, in a hidden attempt at smiling.
“So, you guys headed to the Bunker?” she asked, trying to change the topic.
The sexual tension in the room was palpable. She had no idea if it was just Raphael and his energy. His good looks were undeniable. Even she herself, who despised such overly assertive, pushy guys, couldn’t refuse him this compliment. Also, there was a boyish, impish kind of charm about him. That was usually when he’d stop being so full of himself and just try to be himself, like that last time. That was the kind of Raphael she could see herself with but, the cocky jock – no.
“That was the plan, yeah,” he nodded. “Wanted to get you in. But, then I remembered you were already in, so you don’t really need us but we still need you and, besides...”
Raphael was about to say something, when Renwick opened the door and walked in, carrying three coffees in his hands. He pushed the door closed with his foot.
“Am I interrupting anything?” he wondered, seeing the look on their faces.
“Hendrik got her in,” Raphael told him, without even being asked about their topic of conversation.
Renwick thought about it for a second, then shrugged his shoulders as he handed everyone their coffee.
“So?” That was his only comment.
“I thought we had an agreement,” Raphael was pouting and Mina had no idea why.
“It doesn’t matter,” Renwick urged him. “Stop being a wuss. She’s in. That’s all that matters.”
Renwick sat back down on the bed, and took a sip of his coffee. Mina felt like they knew something they weren’t telling her. Why was it so important to make her a part of their silly little club?
“Is there anything you guys want to tell me?” she asked, eyeing them suspiciously, as the heat from her cup oozed through, warming her fingers.
“No, why?” Renwick smiled, pouring sugar into his cup.
“I don’t know,” she still sounded distrustful, “feels like you guys are talking about something specific.”