Page 16 of Frost and Fate
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Darren’s wolf was reeling. He had fully intended to keep his distance from Nova. He was only going to get to know her for Gideon, like the Alpha had asked. She looked like an Ice Queen when the door opened, all shining hair and silky gown. Striking was an understatement. Something had come over him when he smelled her. On top of her usual intoxicating scent, he had scented her fresh arousal. His primal instincts took over as he pushed through the doorway and pressed up against her. He’d nearly let his wolf take over. Darren had barely regained control of himself and his animal in time to keep from ravaging every part of her.She is the Alpha’s,he reminded his animal. It whined in protest as he had exited the apartment. “Clean yourself up,” he’d said to her.
The last thing he needed was her walking into Gideon’s penthouse smelling like sex.
The thought of the Ulric possibly scenting her arousal made Darren grit his teeth. She had re-emerged smelling of jasmine, and with a new hardness to her ocean eyes. He knew he fucked up, again. They headed to the elevators in silence. She stood on the opposite end, her arms crossed. Darren’s wolf scratched at him, urging him to do something, to fix this.She’s not ours,he scolded the beast. The wolf huffed and then settled, though its resentment simmered just beneath the surface.
Darren scanned his card and fingerprint, pressing the rarely used P for penthouse. He could feel the anger oozing off of her. Small tendrils of ice crept across the elevator floor toward him. She never looked in his direction. The tendrils had climbed his shoe and just begun to snake their way up his pant legs when the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival to the top floor. He sighed in relief and quickly exited. He made a mental note not to put himself in confined spaces with a pissed-off Ice Queen anymore. He wasn’t sure where those ice tendrils were headed or what they had hoped to freeze, but he had a pretty good idea. They passed through the vast foyer of the Ulric penthouse and up to the main entryway. Gideon met them at the large black double doors.
“Welcome, Nova,” he greeted smoothly. Just the way the Alpha said her name set Darren’s teeth on edge.
“Will you be needing anything else from me, Ulric?” he asked, using the Alpha’s most formal title. When Leah had told him he would be the escort and guard for Nova’s dinner date with Gideon, he had nearly punched through the wall. His duty was to do as the Alpha commanded, and now he had delivered Nova to his door. With any luck, he would be able to sit out in the foyer and cool down while they enjoyed their fancy dinner.
Gideon gestured for Darren and Nova to enter. “In light of recent events, I think it would be best if you stood guard inside. I’ll have building security standing by out here.”
Darren groaned inwardly. Apparently he wasn’t going to catch any breaks tonight.
“Of course, Ulric,” he answered coolly.
He set up in the far corner of the vast dining room. Gideon escorted Nova to a large mahogany dining table. He pulled out a chair for Nova and then took the seat next to her. A waiter emerged to fill their glasses with wine. Darren did his best to stare straight ahead. Sentry duty was usually easy, but his lycan senses made it impossible to tune out their conversations.
This was going to be a long night.
ChapterTen
To say Gideon’s apartment was overwhelming is a massive understatement. Nova had never been anywhere so grand. The penthouse took up an entire floor of the Ulric complex. Everything within the apartment was sleek, modern, and expensive. A lavish wolf statue was a prominent feature in the living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the dining room walls. The sun had begun to set and the view was absolutely magnificent.
“I’m glad you agreed to have dinner with me.” Gideon’s voice startled Nova out of her musing.
“Of course.” She smiled politely.Did she have any other choice?
“I was hoping to get to know you better.” The deep timbre of his voice vibrated through Nova’s chest. Gideon’s energy was unmistakably Alpha. Where Darren radiated a commanding, sexy, and powerful energy, there was just something different about Gideon’s. It made Nova feel nervous and attracted at the same time.
“What do you want to know?” she eventually managed. His cobalt eyes studied her. There was danger behind that gaze.
“Where are you from?”
Nova cringed internally. Small talk was one of the few things in this world that made her want to put her head in the oven. “Texas originally, but I’ve moved around a lot recently.”
Gideon listened intently. “And your family?” he asked. “Are they still in Texas?”
Nova exhibited the icy numbness she had practiced so many times before. “My mom died when I was six, and my dad left soon after. My aunt raised me.” While Gideon didn’t look particularly upset by the news, Nova did glimpse a sorrowful look in his deep ocean eyes.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He paused. “We lost our mother and father to a car crash when I was eighteen.” He let out a slow breath. “Aria is all I have left.”
Nova felt a twinge of sadness over the carefully controlled emotions coming from the stoic man across from her. “Is that when you became Alpha?”
Gideon nodded. “It’s not ideal. I was one of the youngest Alphas this pack has ever seen.” He cleared his throat. “But I’m proud to be Alpha of this territory. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Nova’s heart tightened.When he says anything, he means to have them back.Out of instinct, she reached across the table and put a hand over Gideon’s. He seemed taken aback at first. And then the corners of his mouth tugged up into a soft smile. Nova could have sworn she saw Darren take a step toward them and then step back again. When she turned to face him, he was standing as still and statuesque as before. She looked at Gideon, and felt the full burn of his blazing eyes on her.
“Nova, I…”
A waiter emerged from the kitchen and headed to their table carrying their meals. Upon his approach, Nova pulled her hand back, and placed it in her lap. It still tingled where the Alpha’s skin had burned against hers. The dinner was incredible. It was the most tender filet mignon Nova had ever tasted. It was served with a lush salad and a side of rich potatoes au gratin. Their small talk continued as they ate. Nova found herself loosening up, but unable to keep from glancing occasionally at Darren. He didn’t seem to notice her, staring straight ahead. After dessert, a thick to-die-for chocolate cake, their evening began to wind down. “I would like to see you again,” Gideon said, lowering his deep voice.
“Of course.” She cut a look to Darren but he remained impassive. Gideon was definitely gorgeous. His jawline was strong, chiseled, and those eyes were like sapphires. Nova was attracted to him, but there was just something missing. She didn’t feel the same fire that burned through her veins each time Darren was near.
With a kiss on her hand, Gideon said goodnight.
