writersyndicate

Challenge: AO3 is Down Drabblethon
Prompt: Any (fandom/ow), Any (pairing/frienship/character), Deep in the Library

Gifted to: Linky

Tropes: Mafia MMC, Tattooed MMC, LibrarianFMC, Snark as a Form of Flirting, Library

The cart had a squeaky wheel and was wobbly. It was the most annoying thing, but of course, they didn't have the funds that month to replace it. It aggravated her enough that Iris might buy some WD-40 at the store tonight so she'd have some peace tomorrow. For the moment, she'd have to deal.

There was a decent stack of returns and she was wandering to the back of the library. She had figured out that it was easier to make her way from the deeper parts of the shelves to the front, so she didn't have to backtrack. Work smarter, not harder, her mother always told her. She smiled at the memory that came up before focusing back on her task at hand. First was the history section.

Iris had been shelving and made it through half her stack when the sound of shoes clicking on the marble flooring made her turn. She held the book close to her chest as a man rounded the corner. He had taken the jacket off, showing the rest of the three-piece suit. It was a dark blue that stood out in the bright lighting. It was tossed over a shoulder, showing off that he had rolled the sleeves of the white dress shirt. The sight of his forearms was enough to make her flush. They were exactly as she had imagined, covered with tattoos of all kinds. The dark ink flowing over the skin like a living artwork.

Maybe she needed to cut out reading so many smutty romances.

"Well, hello, dove."

Iris eyed him, "Alec. I see you're haunting me as usual. What brings you in today?"

He chuckled and hummed, eying the stacks around them. He ran a hand over the spines nearest to him. "Just checking things out. Seeing if something catches my eye."

She could feel his assessing gaze sweep over her. Part of her wished that she had worn something a little more formal than jeans and a sweater. Another part of her hoped that maybe he would not find it so attractive and leave her alone. She refused to admit that there was a sliver of hope that the handsome man who frequently sought her out was interested.

Iris let out a snort and turned to put the book in her arms back on the shelf in its proper place. "I didn't think that you could read. Color me surprised."

There was a shuffle of cloth behind her before she felt a warm breath on the back of her neck and an arm wove around her middle. She was pulled into a hard chest.

"Well, aren't you a little spicy today, dove. Did someone bother you?"

"You."

He tsked and then chuckled. "It's hard not to bother you, Iris. You draw me like a moth to a flame. I'd happily get burnt by that wicked tongue of yours if that meant I had your attention."

He let go and stepped back, allowing her to face him, where she flushed bright red at the intense gaze. For the first time, Iris felt more than slight annoyance or exasperation. This was the first time that he had initiated more than just the gentle touch here and there. Now she had to figure out how to get her heart under control while she watched him casually stroll from the aisle.

"Until later, dove. Enjoy your shift."