Page 328 of Hate Mates

“I agree.”

“Fuck you both.” I point a finger at my boss. “If shit goes wrong and I end up wrapping my hands around her neck and accidently killing her, you will only have yourself to blame.”

Nico chuckles, shaking his head. “Something tells me that if you wrap your hands around her neck, it won’t be to kill her.”

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter under my breath. “You two assholes are relentless.”

“Nah. We just see what you don’t.”

My brows raise in question. “And what is that?”

“The sexual tension simmering between you and Athena.” A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it and I shake my head, denying Nico’s accusation, but before I can respond he continues. “Go take your frustrations out on her. Fuck her. Strangle her. Or whatever kink it is you have. But just do it and get it over with. You never know, she may surprise you.”

Mulling over Nico’s words, my gaze shifts to the brat of its own volition. My eyes narrow when I find her already staring at me and I scowl.

Athena grins back at me, her eyes sparking with challenge.

My head cocks to the side, and I take in her body which is now fully on display in her little bikini. I mean, there are worse women I could stick my dick in, it’s just... well I hate her, for lack of a better word.

But Nico could be right. Maybe we just need to fuck this tension out of both of us and then we can go our separate ways. Sure, I will still have to see her, but it might make the atmosphere a little better between us, once we have taken our frustrations out on each other’s bodies.

Hmm.

Never thought in a million years I would be considering this, yet here I am. Such a weird fucking day. Maybe the sun is making me stupid or something. Whatever it is, I know without a doubt, something is shifting in the air, tangible and no doubt reckless.

Even so, my next words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“Athena, be ready in fifteen minutes. I’m taking you home.”

Chapter Four

ATHENA

“Are you sure you will be okay with Matteo taking you home?” Allegra asks once again, a look of concern on her face as we get changed in the pool house.

Chuckling, I pull the blue maxi dress over my head, letting the light fabric drop and pool at my feet. “I’m sure. It’s a twenty-minute car ride. What could possibly go wrong?”

She pins me with a pointed look and, ignoring her, I grab my phone when it chimes. Facial recognition opens my screen, showing a text message. A grin curves my lips as my eyes trace the words.

“A lot actually. And what has you smiling like that? I know that look and it can only mean trouble.”

Laughing, I tap out a response before focusing my attention on my friend. “I have a date tonight.”

Her brows furrow, confusion marring her features at the quick change of subject. “A date? With whom?”

“Some hot, up and comer working for my father. His newest, shiny protégé, I’m sure. He just finished school. Comes from a wealthy family. Is ambitious, and my dad likes him, so that helps.”

My response is vague at best. I have only met Henry twice. If it wasn’t for my father pushing the union, I probably wouldn’t have looked at him twice. Not that there is anything wrong with him. Henry is attractive and ticks most boxes. I’m sure we will have lots in common, he is just missing that air of danger that gets me hot like nothing else.

When I look at Matteo, it’s an adrenaline rush. I feel like I am treading a tight rope, one wrong move and I will free fall into danger. When I look at Henry, I just feel safe. It’s not a bad thing as such. It’s just that… I have always been the type of girl who lives on the wilder side of life. Always looking for my next hit of epinephrin. Matteo is that hit.

“Sounds fun.” Allegra murmurs, skeptical.

“Yep,” I respond, smiling.

Allegra sighs but before she can speak, a deep, masculine voice filters into the pool house. “In the car, now, Athena.”

Rolling my eyes, I snatch up my purse from the side table. “Better not keep him waiting.”

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