“One of the scientists,” I told him, shrugging, and then rolled her name off my tongue. “Dr Quentin Scott.”
“She placed you in that cuff.”
I glared at my younger brother, but Erik only smiled back. We didn’t share the same dynamic as I did with Hunter. Although plenty of people would tell you I was wrong for saying it, Erik was my favourite brother. It was a fact that I seldom bothered to hide.
“And her?” I asked him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
We looked back towards the bar. Scott was laughing at something, head tipped back so that her long raven hair cascaded down her back as she clutched a beer bottle by the neck in her hand. Holden looked down at her, and I noticed the hopefulness in his eyes that I had missed before. His hand ghosted over the small of her back and I narrowed my eyes, watching him.
“She’s fond of him,” Erik said eventually. “Nothing more.” He sighed wistfully. “Unrequited love is the worst of all.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. No. Scott wouldn’t be interested in someone like Matthew Holden. Scott strived for perfection. She wanted nothing but the best.
“Gray, you take so much pleasure in people’s misery,” Erik said, shaking his head and causing platinum blonde strands to fall out of place.
“It’s in my blood.”
As I excused myself from the group at the bar to get another drink, Grayson appeared beside me expectantly.
“What do you want, Grayson?” I asked him, already annoyed by his presence. “I’m off duty.”
His voice dropped, and he leaned close so only I could hear him. “Can’t a God order a drink without an ulterior motive?”
The words were smooth, wrapped in silk and honey, and sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. It should have been a physical impossibility to be so alluring and infuriating at the same time.
“Any other God and I would say yes. You? No.”
“Dr Quentin Scott,” a voice said cheerily. “What a pleasure to meet you.”
When I turned around to address my name, a beautiful man with shocking platinum blonde hair, struck me, taking my breath away. He was as tall as Grayson, slimmer built, but shared the same blue eyes.
“Hi,” I breathed, trying to collect myself. “I’m not sure I know you.”
“Erik,” he introduced himself with a dazzling smile. “Gray and Hunter’s younger brother.” He extended a hand out to me.
“Erik,” Grayson warned him fiercely.
I reached my hand out towards him, but Grayson’s shot out and caught my wrist in a tight and painful hold.
“Let. Go. Of. Me,” I hissed, turning my head towards him.
“That’s not a wise move,” he said, bringing his face close to mine, and I focused on his mouth to avoid his eyes.
“Grayson!” I said, pulling my arm against his grip forcefully. His hold didn’t weaken.
“Fine,” he huffed, reluctantly letting go and folding his arms across his chest. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Everything to Grayson was a game, and he was trying to scare me, probably worried that I’d request another transfer. Erik’s personality leaned more towards Hunter’s, although it was less authoritative and more carefree and open.
I wrapped my hand around Erik’s, happy to meet another God who helped prove that Grayson was a complete psychopath and anomaly.
The moment our palms met, there was a surge of emotion that hit me like a runaway freight train. They raced to the surface, making it hard to take a breath. I felt love and affection stronger and purer than I ever had before. Clear in my mind were images of my adoptive parents and brother and an avalanche of memories from my childhood. I saw and felt every crush I had over the years. Ethan broke through them all with the most clarity I’d seen him in so long. Ethan, when we first met, first became a couple, sinking to one knee. Ethan walking away from me and completely shattering my heart as he closed the door.
When Erik released my hand from his hold, my knees buckled, and I gripped the bar to keep myself upright.
“What just happened?” I said, trying to catch my breath as if I’d just run a marathon.
“Sorry,” Erik apologised with a kind smile. The expression lit up his face. “It happens at first touch. We’ll pull everything we’re responsible for to the surface.”
