Page 33 of Rivals & Revenge

“Would you mind sharing it with my tech guy? Maybe he can figure out how it works and come up with a fix,” he replied thoughtfully.I nodded, my head bobbing quickly in agreement. “As for the dogs, I wear a pheromone spray and I bring them each a handful of these primo liver treats they can’t resist.”

“Where do you get those?” he asked, curiosity lighting his eyes.

“The pheromone spray is online. Most of the bigger pet chain stores have them. But the liver treats. I make those myself.”

“You must have wanted to leave that first rose on my doorstep pretty badly to come up with something this elaborate.” His dark laugh rumbled through his chest.

I swallowed, flicking my eyes up to meet his. “Yeah. I guess so. I’m pretty competitive, and when I want something, I don’t stop until I get it.”

My mind replayed the day on a loop, desperate to glean something—anything.

Ahren was a beautiful man. The kind that made my body physically ache with the need to touch him. The way his voice caressed my name, dropping the “R” like it had personally offended him, made my body clench with need every time.

It made perfect sense that I would get lost in those pools of liquid honey and stare at those lips like a lost school girl. I had noticed Larissa seemed to be immune from the sucking gravitational pull that seemed to surround him, and I envied her.

Still, I couldn’t shake the images in my mind. His hand brushing gently through my hair and his hungry gaze on my lips. The feel of his arms around me as he carried me from the broker’s house…

A soft knock pulled me from my reverie.

“Come in.” I answered, keeping my tone even despite my spiraling thoughts.

Ahren strode into the room like the cocky peacock he was, wearing his signature confident smile.

My hands moved on their own, cleaning the gun. Movements so familiar I could do them in my sleep—I didn’t need to look. Then again, it wasn’t like it needed cleaning. If anything, it was just a distraction—something to keep my hands busy.

“Something on your mind?” I asked, an edge of curiosity seeping into my voice.

His eyes followed my fingers as they finished reassembling the weapon and laid it on the towel in front of me.

“Mesmerizing. I think I could watch that all day.”

A dry laugh worked its way through me. “Not sure the gun needs to be cleaned that frequently.”

“I have an entire wall full,” he murmured.

Something in his voice, almost—vulnerable, pulled me in. My eyes flicked from the cleaning kit, meeting his gaze, shocked to find a storm of emotions plainly etched on his perfect features.

Electricity crackled between us, stealing the air from my lungs. His eyes dropped to my lips and my tongue slipped out to wet them in response.

My eyes slid shut as his fingers feathered across my face and through my hair, wrapping my hair around them as he pulled me closer, pressing his lips to mine.

I knew instinctively his lips would be soft, yet wicked. But nothing prepared me for the moment his lips touched me and my core turned molten or the streak of pure liquid fire that followed his tongue as it swiped across my lips, demanding entrance.

Just when I thought I would explode from the heat rising in my chest, insecurity sliced through me like an icy blade as familiar as any of my knives. The self-inflicted wound bleeding out the heat as quickly as he poured it in, leaving me cold.

This has to be a moment of temporary insanity for him. He’s eight years older than me, and highly accomplished in more than one field.His body was hard and smooth, a masterpiece carved from marble that begged me to run my hands over it. The smirk I know was meant to be cocky and irritating, but instead made tiny butterflies take flight in my chest. He was just—perfection and I’m—well, I’m not.

I pushed against his chest, gently, but firm, giving my head a hard shake.

“I’m not the damsel in distress, and I don’t need a pity kiss.” I stated, willing my voice to remain steady.

“Fuck. I’m not saying this right.” I said, letting out a heavy sigh. “an impulsive kiss with a random girl—someone you hateda few days ago—”

He rose from the bed, leaving the room without a word or a backward glance.

I finished putting the pieces of the cleaning kit away and tucked the gun under my pillow. Hating to admit how its presence made me feel safer.

As I reached for the lamp, Ahren returned, striding into the room carrying a leather bound box, his expression unreadable.

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