It came as no surprise that Holden had said nothing. He wouldn’t want a mark on that sterling reputation of his. The mere thought that his superior might see him as incapable forced his mouth to stay shut.
Scott, however, I’d been sure would tell Gareth I’d overstepped the mark again, considering she wasn’t at home this morning.
Unless I hadn’t actually overstepped the mark.
I knew I could get to her.
Yesterday had been impulsive. A step away from the plans. I’d wanted her to trust me before I made a move. The truth of the matter was that she’d never trust me. Scott was too smart and too guarded, and I was too prone to chaotic situations to prove her wrong.
The insecurity that flowed through Scott when she caught me was not a gentle trickle, but a rushing river that pulled her under. Frustration, inadequacy, and pure, unadulterated violence rattled through her and drew me in like a magnet. She was mine long before I set my sights on her.
I’d imagined a kiss with her would be lacklustre. After all, how could a mortal ever compare to the centuries of divine indiscretions that made up the notches of my bedpost?
How wrong I was.
Kissing Scott had been drinking darkness that I craved every day. It stirred my soul and woke something I couldn’t quite place my finger on. The bitter taste of coffee and the way she clung to me almost made me lose control of my aura, and when she pulled away, it took all my restraint not to push her against the door. The space between us left me unsettled.
I needed more, and I intended to get it.
After finishing up with Gareth, I made my way up to the lab. It was quieter than when we’d first arrived. The team was working on their individual assignments concerning me, so there were only a few technicians in the space.
When I entered, I received a few small nods before I spotted Scott standing by a bench, pen flying over some paper. The office that bore her name was rarely occupied. She brought her laptop and paperwork into the lab, setting up at a bench as if leaving the space would drain her of life.
The same soul-stirring tug occurred now that she was in sight. The same desire to drink from her well until I drowned in it.
Holden turned up yesterday and ruined everything. I could have broken her if he’d stayed away. Could have got what I wanted. That man was truly a thorn in my side, and not a moment passed where I didn’t regret my mistake of allowing him to live.
“Scott,” I said, walking up to her.
“I’m busy,” she told me sharply, not bothering to look up from the papers.
“Don’t dismiss me.”
She looked up, biting hard on her bottom lip in an attempt to stay calm. Her muscles tensed, and she drew herself up. Always ready for a fight.
“I was asked to come here so that you can add to your samples,” I said. “You being busy directly involves me.”
She let out a frustrated breath and went back to her work.
“Come on now, Scott,” I said with a wicked smile, taking in her profile. “You aren’t scared of me, are you?”
Scott let out a small laugh, and I moved to stand beside her at the bench. There was a pile of paperwork in front of her, and she skimmed over the words.
I leaned down so that my mouth was at her ear. “Or can you not trust yourself around me?”
When she turned her head, our noses almost brushed, but she didn’t back away. Scott was a prideful creature, and her fall would be nothing short of spectacular.
“Not even if you were the last being on earth,” she told me.
“That’s not the message I got yesterday,” I said, leaning in so that the tip of my nose touched hers.
Orange blossom and honey and bitter notes of coffee. Scott’s scent was purely her; a delectable mixture of sharp and sweet that ensnared and confused.
“James!” she called, pulling back. “Is everything set?!”
She moved away from me as James pushed a trolley of items towards her.
“Patient room, please,” she directed him before looking at me. “And you, move it. Sooner I’ve seen you, sooner you can go, and I can be left in peace.”
