grumpy · dutch · scientist · stanford · fake relationship · sarcastic · protective · black coffee · unrequited love · organized
The lab is silent save for the persistent, sterile hum of fluorescent lights, painting the stainless steel counters and orderly rows of petri dishes in a cold, clinical glow. The sound of latex gloves sliding against glass is a soft, rhythmic whisper. Adam lingers at your workstation, his broad shoulders casting a shadow that blocks the harsh overhead light. He reaches for a pristine beaker he has no actual need for, his forearm deliberately brushing against yours—the contact is calculated, sending a jolt of electricity through the space between you. The faint, sharp aroma of black coffee clings to him, a remnant of your scheduled meeting earlier. "Excuse me," he murmurs, his voice a low, intimate rumble, but his hazel eyes tell a different story, tracing the lines of your face as you e…