Page 36 of Wild Omega

An understatement, for sure.

Not-Callisto’s hand closes on my shoulder, and he offers me a napkin from the bar. “Be safe and stop living your life on other people’s terms.”

Somehow that sounds rather profound, but my fuddled brain can’t seem to piece together why. “Like you did?” I mutter, flushing.

“Something like that.”

I dig into my wallet for cash to repay the fare but end up dropping my wallet. When I try bending over to pick it up, I sway dangerously, catching myself on a light pole just in time.

“Keep it,” he says, picking up my wallet and passing it over. “Spend it on headache tablets in the morning.”

People aren’t nice for no reason, are they? But before I can argue, he pushes me into the waiting car. I mumble my address and buckle my seat belt. It’s a bit of a drive, and I doze lightly. Not-Callisto’s words echo around in my brain, gaining traction as the drunk fog clears a little.

Am I always living life on someone else’s terms? Maybe it is time for a fresh start, which means losing some baggage. I smile as I dial up Hudson, not caring it’s one o’clock in the morning.

“Hey, Rick. Nice of you to call me first.” A dark humor coils in his tone. This guy is all-around nasty, and without being able to smell him, he doesn’t possess a single redeeming factor.

“Yeah, I did. Because I wanted to tell you we’re done. Through. Over.”

“Oh, really? You sound drunk, Rick, my boy.”

“I’m not drunk.” Maybe a little tipsy, but that’s all. I lean my head against the cold glass to cool my flushed skin. “I’m serious, Hudson. The only reason I hooked up with you is because you smell a bit like my childhood crush.”

The line goes quiet for a moment. “Are you headed home?”

“Don’t even think about it!” I snarl. “I said we’re done. You’re not good for me, and I don’t want you entering my house ever again.”

He laughs bitterly. “Well, that’s a real shame. I thought we had something beautiful, Rick. Was it only me who’s been invested all this time? You’re awfully cruel, you know.”

The sneer in his tone sets a creeping sensation slithering up my spine. The car pulls up on my street, and I mute the phone to thank the driver. The pale light over my door illuminates the narrow stairs up the side of the building. I trip once, landing on my palms. My phone clatters, reminding me I was on the call.

“Still there?” I ask cautiously.

“Still here, love.”

“What a shame,” I drawl, emboldened by the distance and alcohol. I tap the code into the keypad and shoulder my way inside. “Here I was hoping you’d fucked off already.” I wedge the phone against my shoulder as I shrug off my jacket.

“Such a nasty mouth,” he says, and the sound seems to come from all around me.

“Well, I wanted to be civil, but you made that—” I freeze as I process the echoing of his voice. Slowly I turn to find Hudson lounging on my couch, a cold smile slashing his face.

He scratches his stomach, his shirt lifted up his belly, a pack of my salt and vinegar crisps sitting beside his hip. “Go on. I was enjoying your little temper tantrum.”

Oh, shit! Did I forget to change the lock code again? Terror claws up my throat, catching my airways. Everything about his rigid posture and malice-filled expression says he’s pissed. Hudson never was the sort to take no for an answer.

I turn and flee, tripping over my own feet. His footsteps thump ominously behind me, and I shout as I tumble out the doorway, my gaze and hope all locked on those exit stairs.

Hudson catches me around the ankles and drags me back inside, kicking the door shut behind us. “You know, technically I haven’t entered your house again since that phone call.”

A sob catches in my throat.

“What was that about my scent?” Hudson growls, anger radiating off him. “If you liked it so much, you should have said so.” He slings me up off the floor like I weigh nothing, half-dragging me as I thrash in protest.

“No!” I scream as he flops me onto the bed and smothers me with his body weight.

“Breathe it in, precious.” He covers my mouth, and I kick out, trying to shake him loose. My chest spasms as my oxygen dries up. He’s so fucking heavy; what if he kills me? I could really die here.

Panic invades my body and a new sensation bubbles through me. I’m not ready to die. I bite down hard and Hudson yelps.

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