Page 14 of Trapped By the Cartel

Elliot's eyes flashed with renewed anger, his chin lifting defiantly. "I will never beg for anything from you, Damon Vexley. Not today, not ever."

Oh, is that so?

The air crackled with tension, an electric charge coursing between us, threatening to ignite like a summer storm. His denial only fueled my desire further; his fire called to mine, challenging me in ways few dared.

If he knew the effect that his defiance was having on me, he would have already changed his behavior.

"You seem very sure of yourself, omega," I taunted, stepping closer once again. Our bodies were almost touching now, close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from him. Close enough for him to see the hunger etched into every line of my face. "But then again, so did the Titanic."

He scowled, clearly unsure whether to laugh or growl at my audacity. Before he could decide, I grasped his wrist, tugging him towards me. His eyes widened slightly, surprised by the sudden contact, but he refused to pull away.

"Do you know why alphas are dominant, Elliot?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous. My thumb stroked patterns on the inside of his wrist, feeling his pulse quicken under my touch. "Because we're built to hunt."

His swallow was audible, but he held firm, refusing to show weakness. "You make it sound like we're animals, reduced to base instincts."

But were we really so different? I asked myself. No, I didn't think we were, I answered immediately.

"Sometimes, those instincts serve us well," I replied, smirking. "They help us survive. Help us thrive."

"And what do you plan to do, alpha?" He shot back, a spark of challenge lighting up his beautiful hazel eyes. "Hunt me down like prey?"

"That depends on you, omega," I countered, releasing his wrist and trailing my fingers up his arm instead. Goosebumps prickled along his skin beneath my touch, belying the cool indifference he tried to project. "Do you wish to be hunted?"

Our gazes locked, each willing the other to blink first. The world around us faded, the tense dance of dominance and resistance playing out solely between us. Eventually, he would relent.

Finally, Elliot broke eye contact, looking away with a frustrated huff. "You're impossible," he muttered, taking a step back. "And infuriating."

More impossible or infuriating? I mused.

"Yet here you stand," I pointed out, gesturing to the space between us. "Still arguing, still fighting. Still wanting."

He closed his eyes briefly, a silent admission of defeat—or perhaps surrender—but when they opened again, there was no softness left within them. Only determination.

"If you think that I'm going to roll over and accept whatever bullshit you throw at me, Damon, you've got another thing coming," he said firmly. "I won't submit willingly, no matter how much you push."

"We shall see about that," I replied, offering him a small smile filled with promise and warning. With that, I turned away,leaving him standing alone in the office. As I walked out, I heard him let out a low growl of frustration—and something else. Something primal, raw, and undeniably arousing.

Chapter 7

Elliot

Fuming, I paced the length of the ostentatious hallway, hands clenched into fists at my sides. I would rather be anywhere but here, but it wasn't up to me, was it?

My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat echoing my conversation with Damon, each thump resonating with the fury simmering inside me. I was so furious that I could barely control myself.

Fury at myself, primarily. How could I have allowed him to kiss me like that? To reduce me to a quivering mess of wanton need with just one press of his lips against mine? It was embarrassing, infuriating... and absolutely exhilarating.

My heart was already accelerating just thinking about his soft lips pressing against mine.

The memory of his mouth on mine sent unwanted shivers down my spine, making my traitorous body ache for more of what I shouldn't want. Damn it! This wasn't supposed to happen. I was supposed to remain calm, collected, and unaffected by his charms. That was the bare minimum.

Yet, all it took was one moment of weakness, one slip-up, and he had me reeling. When my guard was down, he took advantage of it.

And gods above, the man was insufferable! Arrogant, smug, infuriatingly confident... and utterly, undeniably alpha. Every word that dripped from his perfect, sinful lips seemed designed to provoke a reaction—whether it be anger, arousal, or some twisted mix of both.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I wandered through the labyrinthine corridors of this manor. The grand estate was a testament to wealth and power, but its opulence failed to impress me amidst the whirlwind of emotions storming inside me.

I could hardly think about the place where I was, considering all the other shit going on in my life.

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