I snort with unconcealed disdain. “Maybe you should reconsider your career choices.”
“I wish I could.” The devastation in her gaze catches me off guard. Damned if I don’t feel sorry for her.
Chapter 10
Find a Way Out
~~Aria~~
I’m humiliated, but even worse, I’m disturbed by my reaction to Drakos. Despite my mental state, my body’s response to him is unwelcome. When he carried me to the locker room, I clung to him as if he were my lifeline, not my sworn enemy. My body’s betraying me, and I’m betraying my sister and Noah. I can’t conveniently forget his callous decision to walk away from his son.
Drakos has every right to call me out on that article, and so does Gardenia. I’m an awful person. I’ve sold my soul to the devil in exchange for a comfortable income. Is it worth it to trade integrity for dishonesty and self-loathing? If I weren’t responsible for Noah, I’d leave this job.
But I can’t tell Noah that he’ll have to give up playing an expensive sport because his aunt can’t pay the bills. Hockey has helped him recover from losing his mom. He needs hockey, and because of that, I need this job as much as I hate it and as much as it compromises the person I’ve always believed myself to be.
Drakos studies me with those deep blue eyes, and I struggle not to fall under their spell. I see concern, but I also see a guy who’d rather be somewhere else. Anywhere but with me.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t pointing directly at you.” I sort of was, but I tried to be vague.
“Why not? You relish disparaging me and do it every chance you get. Why stop now?” Drakos eyes me warily. The sympathy previously in his gaze has been replaced by confusion, rather than repulsion, which I did expect.
I don’t have a comeback to his accusations because they’re true. I merely shrug. Drakos leans closer and narrows his gaze. “I want to be furious, but right now I’m having a hard time mustering up the hatred I usually feel for you.”
I blink a few times, and our gazes lock. My body soars with pleasure at the closeness, and I hate myself for it. I catch a whiff of the soap he used after working out today. I feel his breath on my cheek. If he meant to intimidate, it’s not working. In fact, it’s backfiring for both of us. I want to touch him. I want to feel the roughness of his stubble. I crave stroking his golden hair and feeling it slide between my fingers. There’s a hunger burning inside me I can’t deny. Maybe it’s always been there, and once Drakos showed some kindness, I hunger for him just like the steady parade of women in and out of his bedroom.
The next thing Drakos does is unexpected but not unwelcome. He touches my cheek with such tenderness, I’m further caught off-balance. He moves closer, and so do I. His face is only inches from mine. His gaze drops to my lips, and I know exactly what he wants. I want it too, even though I’ll regret this stupid thing I’m about to do.
He brushes his lips across mine, as if sampling to see if kissing me is worth it. His answer comes a split second later when his lips press against mine. He places one hand at the back of my head and buries his fingers in my hair. I grip to his shoulders, holding him to me. His tongue slides across my lips, and they part, inviting him inside.
We’re kissing as if our lives depend on it. What started out as a quick peck turns into a make-out session. He’s an incredible kisser. In fact, the best. No surprise there. He’s had tons of experience. We’re both getting worked up. I feel a familiar wetness between my legs, and I hazard a guess that he’s getting hard judging by the way he’s devouring my lips. I can’t get enough, and neither can he.
My head spins with the power of the unexpected connection between us. Hate is a powerful emotion, and we’re currently channeling it quite well into lust.
“Excuse me.”
We jump apart as if we’re suddenly being held at knifepoint. I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame it somewhat. Drakos blinks a few times before turning toward the voice.
“Hi, I’m looking for the coach.” I recognize this person. It’s Carla, the PI and Michella’s boss. She’s playing it cool, pretending she didn’t walk in on the make-out session between two sworn enemies. Of course, she probably doesn’t know any of that.
“He should be in his office.” Drakos’s tone is husky and thick with lust. He frowns briefly before standing and moving away from me.
“I looked, and he wasn’t in there. I’ll try a few other places.” Carla glances in my direction and smiles. It’s not a warm, friendly smile, nor is it hostile, merely businesslike.
I’m grateful she interrupted us. What the hell was I doing?
Carla leaves the room without another word.
“Not much for small talk, is she?” I quip in an attempt to break the tension in the room.
“Not at all.” Drakos swings his attention back to me. He’s disgusted, but I’m not sure if he’s more disgusted with me or himself. “That shouldn’t have happened. Now you’ll write a fucking exposé on how well I kiss.” He embraces his anger and annoyance toward me once again.
“Don’t flatter yourself. It’s not worth writing about, but I appreciate the effort.” I brace for a hostile comeback. Instead, he throws back his head and laughs his ass off. I stare at him as though he’s gone mad. I’m confused. I expect him to be offended, not amused.
“You just keep telling yourself that, but you know as well as I do that I’m the best you’ve ever had.” He leans closer and smirks, slipping into our usual dislike for each other. “And if you’d like to sample more of what I have to offer, I understand sex with an enemy is the hottest sex out there.”
Is this jackass propositioning me? I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I’ve drawn a blank when it comes to an appropriate retort. A naughty part of me is already visualizing fucking this man’s brains out, while another part is appalled at such a thought.
“I think I’ll take my chances and pass.”
