Chapter 3
Chapter Three
MATTEO
G ripping my phone harder than necessary, lust explodes in my groin when Athena blows me a kiss. I shake my head.
What the fuck?
There is no way that little vapid vampire can wrench a reaction like that from me. I’m not attracted to her in the slightest. Her personality alone is like a built-in bug spray, deterring me from her. And yet… my cock twitched when her full lips rounded.
Eh. He must have forgotten for a second that we hate Athena Johnson.
I can let the little mishap slide.
“Did you hear me, Matteo?” Nico’s exasperated voice seeps into my haze, reminding me where I am and why I am sitting here.
Clearing my throat, I say. “Sorry, boss. What did you say?”
He smirks. “Take Athena home, will you?” It wasn’t a question.
My body tenses with those five words, a glower taking over my face immediately. I shake my head. “No. No way. Get someone else to do it.”
“Nah, I asked you to do it.” His smirk grows wider as Dante snorts. “Get Athena home safely, now, won’t you?”
“You’re a fucking asshole,” I grumble. “Why are you doing this?”
He leans back in his seat, getting comfortable. “Because you need to sort out whatever issue it is you have with her. Yeah, she is an annoyance, but harmless.”
“You did not have the same attitude when she made comments toward you and disrespected Ocean,” I shoot back, making him glare. I grin, knowing my words hit their intended target.
“Not the point. That little issue was sorted out months ago. Even before we found out Dante was alive.” He blows out a breath, running a palm across his mouth. “It’s time you work out whatever… problem you have with her. She is Allegra’s best friend and as long as that remains the same, she is not going anywhere.”
Sighing, I grimace, knowing Nico is right. Athena is a permanent fixture for now. Which means, I need to suck her presence up. Not literally. No way. But figurately. Yes.
“Fine,” I hiss out begrudgingly, my teeth clenched so hard, I’m surprised they don’t turn to dust.
Dante laughs. “This is going to be interesting.”
I glower at his smug face, only for my stare to whip to Nico when he adds.
“I agree.”
“Fuck you both.” I point a finger at my boss. “If shit goes wrong and I end up wrapping my hands around her neck and accidently killing her, you will only have yourself to blame.”
Nico chuckles, shaking his head. “Something tells me that if you wrap your hands around her neck, it won’t be to kill her.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter under my breath. “You two assholes are relentless.”
“Nah. We just see what you don’t.”
My brows raise in question. “And what is that?”
“The sexual tension simmering between you and Athena.” A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it and I shake my head, denying Nico’s accusation, but before I can respond he continues. “Go take your frustrations out on her. Fuck her. Strangle her. Or whatever kink it is you have. But just do it and get it over with. You never know, she may surprise you.”
Mulling over Nico’s words, my gaze shifts to the brat of its own volition. My eyes narrow when I find her already staring at me and I scowl.
Athena grins back at me, her eyes sparking with challenge.
My head cocks to the side, and I take in her body which is now fully on display in her little bikini. I mean, there are worse women I could stick my dick in, it’s just... well I hate her, for lack of a better word.
But Nico could be right. Maybe we just need to fuck this tension out of both of us and then we can go our separate ways. Sure, I will still have to see her, but it might make the atmosphere a little better between us, once we have taken our frustrations out on each other’s bodies.
Hmm.
Never thought in a million years I would be considering this, yet here I am. Such a weird fucking day. Maybe the sun is making me stupid or something. Whatever it is, I know without a doubt, something is shifting in the air, tangible and no doubt reckless.
Even so, my next words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
“Athena, be ready in fifteen minutes. I’m taking you home.”