Page 22 of Venomous Heart
All her pain, her guilt and fear froze in surprise, then were wiped out. For just a second, she wasn’t sure he meant it. Then his expressionless, cold face told her that he was serious.
“You’re replacing me?” She stared, stunned, but her shock didn’t last long. Anger came, her temper flaring as it always did, making her disregard the danger of provoking the Eok. “My patients need me. I delivered a baby just yesterday. You’re fooling yourself if you think you can keep me away from them.”
“I have authority on all security questions.” His tone was cutting, and his polished expression turned icy. “That includes the medical clinic, and it includes you.”
Her temper flared even more and mixed with the constant fear and worry, the bone-crushing exhaustion of the last month. Everything became focused on Arlen and his steely control. She didn’t care if she was the stupidest woman in all of history for poking the bear. She wasn’t letting him win.
Ava chuckled, raising her brows derisively, then crossed her arms over her chest. “You think you have authority over me?” She tilted her head and shook it. “You’re an even bigger idiot than I thought.”
“You are relieved of your position as the medical doctor for Aveyn’s human population, effective immediately.” Arlen spoke in a controlled voice, but she saw the flicker in his eyes as she defied him. “I am confining you to the mansion until I can ensure your safety.”
He was locking her up in that godforsaken place? Rage spilled through her veins, reawakening years of horror contained within those very same walls. She had already thrown caution to the wind, but now she wanted to poke the bear, wake up the beast, and make him feel every bit as miserable as she was.
“You and what army?” Ava flipped her hair defiantly and pursed her lips, speaking deliberately low and slow. “‘Cause if you want to lock me up, you’re going to need all the help you can get.”
She knew she shouldn’t mock him, shouldn’t provoke him, not after seeing first-hand what he was capable of, but she couldn’t control it. Being a doctor was what she was, it waseverythingshe was. It was the only thing she was certain of, the only thing that made her more than a genetically engineered toy.
And Arlen wanted to take that away from her? Well, she wasn’t going down without a fight.
The challenge was as clear as if she had shouted and Arlen was quick to respond. He scowled, his brows furrowing until they almost touched and his lips pursing in a savage hiss.
She didn’t budge.
“My authority is not to be questioned, even by you.”
He stepped closer, his tall frame bending over her, his head lowering just enough that his breath reached her lips. A deep, slow shiver ran down her spine and settled low in her belly. The memory of the kiss they’d shared rushed through her mind, and Ava stiffened.
Like my life isn’t complicated enough as it is? Nope, I won’t do it. I’m not falling for Big-Blue-And-Mighty on top of everything else.
“Knut made me. He literally manipulated the genes that built me.” Her anger got the best of her, fueled even more by the stubborn arousal that seemed to awaken inside her whenever Arlen got close. “In the end, even he didn’t have control over me. What makes you think you will?”
Arlen closed in on her, trapping her between the door and his big, powerful body. Ava’s breathing was fast and shallow, and she suddenly needed to brace herself against the closed door. She tried, but she couldn’t look away from Arlen’s pale eyes, which were gleaming with the same lust that ran through her body.
Or maybe she was fooling herself. What did she know of him? She didn’t understand anything anymore.
“I forbid you to endanger yourself ever again.” Arlen’s voice was heavy with the promise of retribution.
It didn’t matter.
“Do your worst, Big-Blue-And-Mighty.” She spoke right back to him, ignoring the persistent tingle of fear coursing through her limbs as his stare turned deadly. “I’m not as easily cowed as your big brawny idiot warrior, and I’m not Jonah.”
He was so close and from the look he was giving her, she wasn’t sure if he was going to wring her neck after all.
Or kiss her… again.
The tingle became a roaring need, threatening to take over. But she couldn’t, she had fought too hard, for too long, to give it all up.
Ava turned her head away. The next instant, she slipped to one side to get away from Arlen’s hovering body. She needed to put distance between them. The more, the better.
It wasn’t that easy, of course. Arlen followed her every move, his movements fluid and easy. His hands closed on her waist and he pulled her in. She tried to resist but her body betrayed her and she stepped closer, her feet moving of their own accord. Then their bodies touched, the heat from him spreading over her skin like wildfire, igniting things she’d always refused herself. His fingers dug into her flesh almost painfully as his fully erect sex pressed against the supple flesh of her stomach. His eyes slid to her lips, then lower down her body, still clad in the synthetic cotton uniform. There was no denying his intent, the male hunger that twisted his features into a mask of pure lust. Need raged through her, spilling moisture between her legs as her core clenched with the desire for a male.
And still, Arlen didn’t kiss her. There was a sense of control about him as he watched her. It was just under the surface, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Like he was controlling himself, but not quite completely.
He stared at her for a long time in silence, his hands on her like a brand, his breathing deep and slow, hot air on her lips. Then, slowly, like he was forcing each movement, he took a step back, his hands leaving her body. The sudden distance washed over Ava, the cold spreading over her skin, making her want to bite the inside of her cheek.
“I am not looking to start a fight with you.” His voice was pure ice, flowing in a controlled, indifferent tone that made her want to scratch him. “If it is that important to you, I will assign guards to keep you safe during your work until your replacement comes.”
