Chapter 9 Chasing Her
Chasing Her
ELI
I can’t be next to her. Literally cannot without wanting to bite the fuck out of her skin and then use the same word fuck in another way.
Sweaty bodies.
Skin pressed against skin.
Hydration.
Only to do it again.
I’m smiling, but at least when she’s not next to me, when I can’t smell her, my fangs retract enough for me to actually do my job. I didn’t predict this and now I’m trying like Hell to keep it together.
Did I abandon her? Absolutely.
Was it necessary? One hundred percent.
She’ll either go to the corner and sulk or she’ll leave and now that her job is done—selling us in front of the press—I can at least have a slight reprieve and try to calm down the damn pulsing in my system.
I swear it feels like I have a heartbeat in my teeth right now, just pulsing, begging, needing.
It’s beyond want at this point, and I know she thinks I’m being a giant ass, I can practically feel her shooting laser beams in my direction.
I glance over while grabbing a glass of champagne and watch her hang her head like she’s totally out of place and has no clue where to go, when Xavier Nickel from Orange Tech approaches her.
He's worth billions, good looking, was featured in Forbes and owns a fortune five hundred company—publicly traded just like mine.
He’s a sort of nemesis, whatever I do, he does, except I just do it better.
He runs a hand through his unnecessarily thick blond hair and smiles down at her, ah he busted out the dimples.
She looks up at him with stars in her eyes.
I toss back all the champagne in my glass, exchange it for another and aggressively walk in their direction just as she loops her arm through his and they go to a table.
I follow them like I’m hunting.
She’s throwing her head back and laughing—a real laugh, and if he leans in one more time and caresses her neck like he has a right to, I’m going to bite his head off.
Quite literally.
Bet his blood even tastes good—damn it!
What the hell is wrong with me?
He pulls out a chair for her, then pulls one for himself. I smoothly beat him into it, nearly knocking him on his ass as I shoot him an innocent look.
“Thank you, apparently the rampant rumors aren’t true—you are a gentleman.” Not a complete womanizer I want to end.
He clenches his teeth and forces a smile in my direction while simultaneously flipping me off with his right hand, right where Ava can’t see him.
Amused, I tilt my head and smile, my fangs no longer an issue since he’s not temptation, he’s my enemy.
I would never be friends with someone like him.
He adjusts his tie and sits down on the other side of Ava and leans in.
“I was just telling your new assistant that I thought she was one of the celebrities.”
I clench my teeth.
“Expensive dresses and makeup can make anyone look glorious, take a look at yourself, for example. You actually showered.” I lean forward.
“Washed your hair, oh got a manicure, good for you!”
Ava’s head lowers, she clutches her hands in her lap.
“And you aren’t stealing my assistant, she’s new and still in training and we can’t have you hiring her just because you want to see her naked.” That’s my right.
No wait, it’s not.
I clench my fists again, my claws dig into my palms.
“Wow.” He shakes his head, his smile gone.
“I guess the rumors about you are the opposite—they’re actually true, a grumpy, rich, bored CEO with anger issues who doesn’t even take into account a woman’s feelings. No wonder you’ve never dated.”
Low blow.
How does he know?
How does anyone know?
“I’m busy.” I snap.
“Too busy to tell a woman she looks beautiful.” He smirks and turns to Ava. Does she have tears in her eyes?
“And you do, look absolutely stunning, don’t listen to him, he’s always got a stick up his ass.” He stands and holds out his hand.
“Should we dance?”
Ava swallows and looks at his hand, then back at me.
“I was actually just going to walk back to my apartment. I should go.” She stands abruptly.
“Nonsense.” Xavier shrugs.
“I’ll drive you.”
My mouth drops open. He’s going to leave just to take her home or just to piss me off?
Ava puts her hands in front of her.
“Oh no, I don’t want to put you out.”
He grabs one of her hands and kisses the back of it.
“It would be an honor.” He places her fingers on his elbow.
“Just give me your address and let this one over here wallow at his empty table with no friends, champagne for miles, and billions of dollars. He’s used to it, after all.”
I jerk like I’ve been punched—he’s not wrong.
All I have is Gabe.
All I have is money.
Loneliness.
An empty table because I’m too intimidating to approach.
A part werewolf side, ready to rage.
And the knowledge that I’ll probably die a virgin.
They walk off hand in hand.
She looks back at me once, hurt etched all over her face. I lift up my empty champagne glass, my smile confident, when my heart is beating so fast I swear the entire room can hear it.
Cheers.