Chapter Sixteen
Istorm into Ember Unit, still seething from the scene at Ruby Hall. My hand trembles as I punch in my door code, ready to collapse onto my couch and scream into a pillow.
The door swings open and I pull up short. Jinah and Noa sprawl across my couch, Soot's massive head resting contentedly in Noa's lap as she scratches behind his ears. His eyes flick to me briefly before closing again in bliss.
“How did you—”
“Remembered your code from the party.” Noa flashes me an unrepentant grin. “You weren't answering your phone.”
“You look like you're about to set the place on fire,” Jinah observes, raising one perfectly arched brow. “What happened?”
I blow out a harsh breath, running my hands through my hair. Crossing the room, I drop down beside them, reaching out to run my hand along Soot's warm back. His fur ripples with contentment under my touch.
The words stick in my throat. “I mated Dohwan.”
“What?” Noa jerks upright, nearly dislodging Soot's head from her lap.
“You're joking.” Jinah gapes at me. “The grumpy guard? Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass?”
“I'm serious.” I hold up my hands helplessly. I briefly explain what happened on the rooftop after Noa and the others scattered.
“Holy shit,” Noa breathes. “Did you have any idea he might be your mate before then?”
“Of course not!” I drop my head back against the couch. “I didn't even think about it. I was just pissed off at him and grabbed him. I didn’t notice skin touching skin.”
“That's why you were gone all day?” Jinah leans forward, her dark eyes sparking with interest.
I groan and sink deeper into the couch. “He showed up at dawn, pounding on my door like the building was on fire. Said we had to go meet his family right away since the mate marks appeared.”
“Just showed up and demanded?” Noa's lip curls. “Highborn presumptuous prick.”
“You have no idea.” I shake my head, remembering the awkward silence of the car ride.
“His family was a whole ordeal. His mother kept looking at me like I was some kind of exotic pet she wasn't sure about keeping. And his brother was a total weirdo.” I suppress a shudder at the memory of Dojoon's creepy leering.
“That bad?” Jinah prompts.
“Worse. But that's not even what has me ready to torch the place.” My fingers clench into fists. “We ran into his ex at Ruby Hall afterward. Ga-in.”
“The same one from your first day of work?” Noa whistles low. “She's a real piece of work, that one.”
“She freaked out when she saw his mate marks, going on about how I poisoned Dohwan with my halfblood seduction or something.” The memory of her sneering face makes my blood boil.
“What a bitch,” Noa spits.
I run my hands through my hair in frustration. “That's only part of it. I think the mate bond is starting to affect me.”
“What do you mean?” Jinah sits up straighter, her expression turning serious.
“I—”
The doorbell chimes, cutting me off. Soot's head jerks up, and his eyes start to glow like hot coals as he fixes them on the door.
I open my door to find Dohwan filling the frame, his broad shoulders tense and his jaw tight. Before I can say anything, he pushes past me into my apartment, his expensive leather shoes clicking against my hardwood floors. Soot's growl rumbles through the room as Dohwan strides right past him.
My mate's scent hits me—spice and smoke and something uniquely him that makes my pulse quicken despite my irritation. I shut the door harder than necessary, turning to watch him zero in on my friends.
“Leave.” His voice comes out rough and deep, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. “Gawon and I need to settle some things. Now.”
Noa's eyes narrow dangerously. “Excuse me?”
“This can't wait,” Dohwan growls, his hands clenched at his sides.
Jinah and Noa exchange glances before looking to me. I catch the silent question in their expressions: do I want them to stay? To help throw this presumptuous male out?
Part of me wants to dig my heels in just to spite him. But there's something in his rigid posture, the barely contained energy radiating off him, that makes me curious. And if I'm honest, the mate bond thrums between us, urging me to let him stay.
I give them a small nod. “It's fine. I'll call you later.”
Noa's lips press into a thin line as she stands. “If you're sure…”
“She's sure,” Dohwan cuts in impatiently.
Jinah grabs Noa's arm before she can snap back at him. They gather their things quickly, though Noa can't resist shooting Dohwan a death glare as they head for the door.
“Call us if you need anything,” she tells me pointedly.
I wait until they're gone before turning to Soot, who's still rumbling threateningly at Dohwan.
“Stand down,” I order firmly. “Go to your room.”
Soot's eyes flare briefly before he obeys, padding down the hallway to my spare room where he usually sleeps. The soft click of the door leaves Dohwan and me in charged silence.
The second we’re alone, I whirl to face Dohwan, ready to demand what he thinks he's doing barging into my apartment. The words choke off as he closes the distance between us in two long strides. His hands cup my face and his mouth crashes down onto mine.
For a heartbeat, confusion floods my system. Then his taste hits my tongue—smoke and spice and raw male power—and my body ignites. My lips part under his and I kiss him back with equal fervor, my hands lifting of their own accord to tangle in his dark hair.
The kiss deepens, turns fierce and demanding.
Dohwan's grip on me tightens, one hand sliding to grip my hip while the other cups the back of my neck.
I battle him for control, sweeping my tongue along the sharp tips of his fangs.
The move earns me a deep growl that vibrates through his chest and straight to my core.
We wind around each other like living flame.
My fingers slip under his shirt, tracing the hard planes of his stomach.
His hands slide beneath my top, leaving trails of fire across my skin.
Hunger punches me in the gut, making my blood sing and my powers surge.
Heat blazes over every inch of me where we touch, the mate bond between us humming with raw energy.
I feel like I'm burning alive, consumed by the inferno of his kiss, and I never want it to stop.
My fingers curl into his shirt as Dohwan's hand slides up to cradle my jaw.
His other hand grips my hip, pulling me flush against him.
When his tongue sweeps along my bottom lip, I arch into him with a gasp, pressing myself to his hard chest. The deep groan that rumbles through him sends electricity down my spine.
My head spins with his taste, his scent overwhelming my senses. Heat pools low in my belly as I reach for his belt, desperate to feel more of him.
Suddenly he tears away from me. I stumble forward, catching myself as Dohwan practically throws himself against the far wall. His palms press flat against the surface, chest heaving with ragged breaths. His eyes are wild, irises glowing bright in the dim light of my apartment.
I stare at him, my own heart hammering against my ribs. My lips still tingle from his kiss and my skin burns where he touched me. The abrupt loss of contact leaves me reeling.
“What the hell was that about?” My voice comes out rough, breathless.
Dohwan shakes his head sharply, not meeting my eyes. “I didn't mean it.”
“What?”
“It was just instinct. The mate bond.” He runs a shaking hand through his disheveled hair. “I shouldn't have—I didn't mean to do that.”
I gape at him, stunned disbelief warring with the hurt blooming in my chest. How could he kiss me like that—with such raw passion and hunger—then claim it meant nothing? The memory of his hands on me, his mouth devouring mine with desperate need, makes his words ring false.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Forget it.” Dohwan turns his face away, jaw clenched. “This was a mistake.”
The words hit me like a slap. I stare at him, watching the way he deliberately avoids my gaze, and sudden understanding clicks into place. This is what he does—runs away when things get too real, makes excuses to avoid confronting his own feelings.
“Do you think I'm stupid?” My voice has a dangerous edge. “You really expect me to believe that?”
“I can't lie.” His tone turns cold, clinical. “You know this.”
“Your body can't lie either.” I gesture between us, to the electricity still crackling in the air.
His hands clench into fists at his sides. “I didn't want this. The mating wasn't my choice.”
The silence lingers in the air between us. I go still, letting them sink in as fresh anger rises hot and fierce in my chest. Fine. If that's how he wants to play it.
I lift my chin, meeting his gaze squarely. “The feeling is mutual.”
He finally looks at me then, something flickering across his face before his expression goes blank.
“Get the fuck out of my house.”
Dohwan stares at me for a long moment, the glow completely gone from his eyes. Then he moves, crossing my apartment in quick strides to wrench open the front door.
I follow him out, slamming it closed behind him with enough force to rattle the walls. Whirling around, I press my back against the door, my hands trembling with the effort of holding back the scream of frustration building in my throat.