My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

A knock at the door broke the silence at Elion's study. His hand stopped in place, and he glanced up.

"Come in," he said, curiosity stirring faintly within him.

The door creaked open, and Raelynn peeked inside, her face framed by the soft strands of hair that had escaped her braid. She hesitated for a moment before stepping in, clutching a book to her chest.

Elion leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes observing her. "Do you need something?"

Raelynn stepped closer, her gaze wandering around the study. "Not really. I just thought I'd... read for a bit and wanted a change of scenery."

His brow lifted slightly, a mix of curiosity and amusement crossing his face. "And you decided... my study was the best place for that?"

Raelynn blinked, tilting her head innocently. "Yeah? Do you not like it?"

For a moment, Elion froze. Her question was simple, but the way her eyes danced with both mischief and honesty left him momentarily stunned. He felt his mouth move before his brain caught up.

"No, it's fine. You can read here." His voice betrayed a faint note of surprise at his own words.

A wide smile spread across Raelynn's face. "Really? Great! I promise I won't disturb you."

Elion nodded, waving a hand toward one of the armchairs near the corner. "Make yourself comfortable."

Raelynn settled into the chair with her book, a small smile tugging at her lips as she curled up. The sunlight fell softly over her features, and Elion found his gaze lingering longer than it should.

He tried to return his attention to his work, but the quiet rustling of pages drew his focus back to her. She seemed utterly absorbed, her expression shifting with whatever she was reading—sometimes a frown, sometimes a small chuckle.

Does she always get so animated when she reads? he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried, and failed, to suppress a smirk.

Minutes stretched into longer moments, and Elion's concentration faltered. He shifted in his chair, glancing at her again. The faintest hint of a smile ghosted across her lips, and he found himself wondering what could be so captivating.

"Do you always work so quietly?" Raelynn's voice broke the silence, startling him slightly.

Elion blinked and straightened. "It's not exactly the kind of work that requires conversation."

Raelynn tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eyes. "What is it you're always so busy with, anyway? I've been wondering."

Elion raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden interest?"

She shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "You're always working, and it looks important. I wanted to know what kind of job keeps you so occupied."

On the outside, Elion remained. "It's nothing special, just responsibilities that need attending to."

Inside, though, his thoughts raced. Is this my chance to show her how competent I am? Maybe she'll be impressed...

He gestured for her to come closer, and Raelynn stood, clutching her book as she moved to his desk.

"Alright," he said, turning his laptop screen toward her. "I'll show you."

He began explaining his tasks—replying to urgent emails, reviewing reports, and approving documents. His words were calm, but his gaze kept sneaking back to her.

Raelynn nodded along, her lips pursed in thought as if she were trying to keep up. Their conversation carried on, his explanations becoming more detailed. At one point, he handed her a document to skim through, and their fingers brushed. He felt the faintest spark at the contact but said nothing.

As Raelynn leaned in closer to look at something on the screen, Elion realized how near she was. Her face was just inches from his, and he could feel the soft warmth of her breath.

His senses sharpened. She smelled faintly of roses and lavender, a subtle but intoxicating scent that made his chest tighten. His voice faltered slightly as he explained the next task.

Raelynn didn't seem to notice. Her focus was entirely on the screen. "Oh, so that's why you were so annoyed last week," she said, pointing to a particular email.

Elion nodded, his voice a little lower. "Exactly."

When Raelynn leaned in even closer, his pulse quickened. He wasn't sure if it was intentional, but her presence was overwhelming in the most distracting way.

Then it happened.

Raelynn shifted, leaning forward to get a better look, but her foot slipped against the edge of the rug. She stumbled, and her hands shot out to steady herself, but instead of finding balance, she tipped forward.

Their faces collided, and in the briefest, most unexpected moment, their lips pressed together.

Time seemed to stop.

Elion's eyes widened in shock, his body frozen. He couldn't think, couldn't move—his mind a blank slate except for the startling softness of her lips against his.

Raelynn gasped, jerking back so quickly that she nearly toppled over again. She clutched her book to her chest, her face flaming red. "I—I didn't mean to! I just—!"

Elion cleared his throat, his hand instinctively reaching to adjust his collar. He forced himself to look calm, though the tips of his ears betrayed him with their telltale blush.

"It's fine," he said quickly, his voice slightly strained. "It was... an accident."

Raelynn nodded furiously, her eyes wide with embarrassment. "Right! Just an accident. Totally!"

They stood in awkward silence for a moment, neither quite sure what to say.

Finally, Elion turned back to his desk, focusing on a random document to avoid looking at her. "You should... go back to your book," he muttered.

Raelynn, still clutching her book like a lifeline, nodded. "Yeah, good idea."

She shuffled awkwardly back to the armchair, but barely ten seconds had passed before she jumped back to her feet.

"Oh, uh, I should go! I have to...water the plants. Bye!" she blurted before bolting out.

He didn't try to stop her, thinking it was probably for the best. Having her around wouldn't do him any favors.

Elion's eyes were fixed on the paper, though his thoughts were far away. He could still feel the faint imprint of her lips, and the memory sent a shiver down his spine.

There was no way he'd be able to shake that memory anytime soon.