“Valens?”
I sighed. “You know, ‘who needs valor when you have a Valens,’Valens.”
His eyes widened as he stood, his hand extended in greeting. “Apologies. I didn’t know you were General Valens’ son. You look rather…”
“Breakable.” The rasped, deep voice interrupted, a large shadow devouring me alongside the singular word.
“Sorry, it sounded like you said breakable,” I said, twisting myself to glance at the man who’d spoken. I stepped back, lifting my gaze to his. Broody didn’t evenbeginto describe his vibe.
Based on the emblem on his tight-fitting shirt, I knew the man speaking down to me, quite literally, was a high-ranking Commander. The viper emblem etched just above his ranking gave me every answer I needed: Spec Unit six, which meant thisassholewasmyoverseer.
Great.
While his personality could’ve used numerous sweeps of polishing, he was undeniably easy on the eyes, far easier than any man I’d found attractive before. His slightly curled, dark-brown, near-black hair fell just past his ears, covering the continuation of the scar that marred his cheek. The dusting of stubble attempted to coat the sharpness of his jawline, but if anything, it cast the perfect shadow for unwavering admiration.
Tattoos sprawled along the entirety of his neck, a patchwork of vines, crow wings, and some type of bird skull I was unfamiliar with. It bled beneath his shirt, and I couldn’t help but wonder whatelsewas covered in ink. His lips were plump, lively, almost as if they were capable of uttering words of endearment and understanding—things I knew a man of his caliber would never be able to express without atleastfour drinks—personally, moans were my favorite.
As if sensing my wandering gaze, his honeyed glower met mine, dark brows lifting with anything but amusement. “Do you like what you see,cadet?”
I hooked a finger over the chain, turning the cross back and forth before swiping my tongue over my bottom lip. I attempted to haul myself back from the state of desperation I’dalmostsuccumbed to. However, it didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun, and he seemed the furthest from the word. “Did you want me to?”
“Ah, rather chipper, I see.” He smiled, two sharp canines welcoming my rather sinful thoughts. “Good. I’ll be interested to see how long you can fly before I break your wings.”
My brows furrowed as the cross settled against my neck. “Wings? I prefer walking, well, strutting actually.”
Not even bothering to address my mockery, he folded his arms over his chest, gesturing toward the door with his chin. “Unsure if yourDaddyinformed you, but this is where you part with all of your belongings.” A deep chuckle rolled from his chest as he cocked his head to the side. “And with the squadron you’ll be joining, that cross you keep toying with as if it’ll somehow save you from your damnation will be useless here.”
“Oh, delightful,” I muttered as I rolled the luggage to the man behind the counter. “Who’d need a ten-inch dildo anyway with your pleasant attitude? I think I’ll be fine to part with it,” I said with a smile, hoping it irked himjustenough to add another layer to the tension already spreading across his shoulders. Didn’t he like fun?Shit, this was more amusing than art school, at least. “The cross? I’ll keep it. Religious freedom and all.”
He moved faster than I breathed, his hand coiling around my throat as he shoved me into the wall. The ground became nonexistent beneath my feet as he lifted me with sickening ease to meet his gaze—an easy foot over my 5’7” stature. Leaning forward, his lips brushed against the shell of my ear, his utterance doing something to me that I couldn’t quite comprehend.
“Oh,darling,if you’re looking for religious freedom here, get on your knees, for I am your fucking church.” Each syllable contained an underlying growl, making me question everything about this man. “I have no issue devouring pretty men like you, believe me. I rather like the taste.”
I coughed, the pressure releasing slightly as I pressed my fingers into the wall for stability. “You, uh, normally choke on the first date?”
His other arm rested just above my head, caging me in as he lowered himself to close the gap between us, his nose coming to rest inches from mine. “It depends on whether the one I’m entertaining seems to have an experienced tongue. Given how much you love to run your worthless mouth, it appears you may be the epitome of someone fond of seeking attention. What? Me wrapping my hand around your perfectly fragile throat wasn’t the attention you were seeking?”
“Worthless? Then tell me why you keep staring at my lips?” I cocked my head as much as I could, angling myself flush against the concrete. “If you want to break me, maybe you should get in touch with Dad…” I trailed off, not realizing who this man’s name even was.
“Sweet little dove,” he crooned, his grin only growing. “I am well-acquainted with your father. Though I don’t know if I should be honored or offended that he didn’t warn you who you were reporting to. Considering he’s the one who reached out to me.”
There was no way to hide my shock as I stilled. “He reached out to you?”
Dad would do something like this—keep secrets about precisely what I was here for. As far as I knew, he’d sent me to train, but a commander?Seriously?
“Shocked?” His golden gaze sparked with something unreadable. “He mentioned you have a thing for lashing out, that you blanket your insecurities with anything that will earn even the slightest glance. Your attire. Your demeanor. Your humor. And well, I just so happen to be the best option at his disposal to remind you just how much of a waste you are in this world. How worthless you truly are when all of the masks you’ve created for yourself crumble into a state of nonexistence. How long do you think you can keep smiling before I break you, Oren Valens?”
“Sounds delightful,” I added, ready for the conversation to be done. “Do I at least get a room here on base?” I couldn’t wait to relax away from him, from everyone, for as long as I could.
“I’m so glad you asked,” he hummed, dropping me without a moment of contemplation. Shoving himself from the wall, he pivoted, choosing to face me no longer. “Once you hand overallof your belongings, you will be given a key to your bunker. A space of which, might I add, you’ll be sharing with two other recruits. You are to dress in uniform every day, nothing more and nothing less. Your days of self-expression end here, and I’d highly suggest you obey the chain of command. I’d hate to damage your pretty little face more than I have to.”
I unclasped the cross and set it on the counter. “Key?”
The young man behind the desk cleared his throat, pointing to the headband that had shifted in the commotion. I placed it next to the necklace before running my hand through my mess of hair. The slap of a key tore my gaze from the asshole as I curled my fingers around it.
“And when should I report back to you?” I’d played this before with assholes. They expect you to crack, to break, because they love the thrill of watching something imperfect snap, but that wasn’t me.
Iwasperfect.
