The thought fills me with a little panic, but also oddly makes me angrier. Both of us, actually. And I’m certainly not going to make time to examinethat.
The elevator dings, and the doors slide open. I step out onto the thick, plush carpet and take a deep lungful of air. I close my eyes so I can really dissect what I’m smelling. Mark’s leather and bourbon scent is lingering, so he must have gotten home fairly recently, and I don’t smell anyone else.
He might be with a beta whose scent is so light, I can’t pick it up without being right beside them. Or with someone wearing scent neutralizers. It doesn’t feel like the case, though. No, it feels more likely that he’s home alone, and I can catch him off guard and really tell him what I think about him crossing a line.
My pulse thuds in my throat, hot and erratic, but I firmly and confidently knock on the door.
My omega, having calmed down from the idea of someone else being there beside Mark, is now back to quivering in anticipation in the back corner of my mind where I tend to keep her shoved. It’s such an odd experience, feeling like you share your body with another person. She’s excited, thinking I’ll cave and admit this isn’t about anger at all.
I bare my teeth, no one around to see it. No, he doesn’t get to have that kind of power over me. No one does.
I can faintly hear music playing inside, and nervousness once again takes hold. Maybe I should go back downstairs, tell myself I tried, and drown this whole reckless impulse beneath a bottle of expensive wine.
Unfortunately, that’s when the lock clicks, and before I have time to bolt back for the elevator, he’s there.
His hair is damp, and he must have just gotten out of the shower when I knocked, because the t-shirt he tossed on is clinging to him with wet spots in a couple of places, like he hadn’t had time to fully dry off. It’s fitted tight across the chest and shoulders, and my mouth practically goes dry at the sight.
Fucking focus, Ava.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I cross my arms firmly, letting my anger stiffen my spine and wearing it like armor. “We need to talk.”
He blinks at me, then glances down the hall like he’s hallucinating. Or maybe he’s waiting for acamera crew to jump out and tell him he’s being pranked. When his eyes come back to mine, they’re mostly curious. Which… I didn’t expect. I thought there’d be a lot more anger. “It’s after eleven. You planning on serving me a subpoena in my pajamas?”
The smugness in his tone is like gasoline to my fire. “No, more so wondering if you’re only capable of throwing your little punches in front of an audience. If the bravado holds up when it’s just you and me.”
That gets him. The smirk slips, his expression cooling. He pushes the door open wider and makes a mocking sweeping motion with his arm to invite me in. “Well, come on then, viper. Let’s see if your bite is as vicious as your hiss.”
My omega all but purrs at the low timbre of his voice, and it doesn’t help my blood pressure one bit. I square my shoulders and walk past him, determined to prove to him and to myself that this is just about my anger.
Chapter Six
Mark
She walks past me like she owns the place, even though she is inmyapartment. At almost midnight. When she shouldn’t even know where I live. Clearly, she had to do some investigating to find out. I should tell her to leave, but I find myself unable to. I’m too damn curious how this is going to play out. She’s coiled tightly, like a spring that is going to snap back at any moment.
As she moves, I catch the slightest hint of her scent. I’ve never smelled it before. A light citrus scent of some kind. Oranges, maybe? It’s so muted that it’s hard to tell, but it does something to my alpha. I want to get a better read on it, which is something I’ve never felt before. Normally, I find most people’s scents somewhat overbearing.
Unfortunately, when I feel uncomfortable, I tend to run my mouth. “So, are you here to critique my furniture, or does this little stalker visit have a purpose? I’d like to go to bed soon,” I say dryly.
Her head snaps towards me, eyes sparking. “You know damn good and well why I’m here. You crossed the fucking line today.”
“Come on, Ava. Like you’ve never gone for the jugular in front of the jury,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “I got my ass publicly chewed by the judge, and the media is having a field day. Why are you actually here?”
Her jaw works, as if she’s biting back words, and she doesn’t answer right away. Interesting. She tips her chin back. “I’m sick of your shit. That’s why I’m here. A chance for us to take the gloves off and just really get it all out in the open.”
I shake my head and push off the door, taking a few steps closer, slow and deliberate, and watch her take a step backwards before she realizes what she’s doing and forces herself to stop. It triggers something in me, almost a predator instinct, and I prowl closer. “No, I don’t think so. Doesn’t add up. You could have told me off at the courthouse. Or used your investigative prowess to get my phone number and call. Instead, you show up here to tell me in person.”
She scoffs. “Awfully full of yourself, counselor. I came to tell you in person because I want to see your face. And I couldn’t risk causing a bigger scene than you already had at thecourthouse.”
I agree with an exaggerated nod and purse of my lips. “Right. That must be it.”
“Oh, fuck you, Mark.”
I laugh. “You’re such a brat. No, you’re here because I landed a hit and you can’t let it go.”
“Bullshit. You’ve landed plenty of hits when we go toe to toe. This was personal. A dirty tactic that I’d expect from one of the bitchass alphas down at City Hall. I guess I thought you were better than that, though I don’t knowwhy.”
