Page 43 of In Control

The lift doors open and I find a visitor waiting for me outside my front door. My cat, Newton, sits on the mat beside him, giving him serious stink eye.

“I don’t remember giving you my address,” I say, as I duck down to tickle Newton’s chin.

“When you’re a doctor, it’s pretty easy to track down someone’s address,” Liam answers, leaning against my door and blocking my path.

“Is that legal?” I ask him with an unamused lift of one eyebrow as I pluck my keys out of my purse.

“Not really.” He smirks and I lean against the opposite wall, waiting. “You ran off this morning.”

“Are you surprised?”

“Hmmm, a little. More disappointed actually.”

“I’m not interested in getting stuck in between some alpha dick-swinging contest.”

“Again, I’m surprised. I have a feeling that’s exactly the kind of thing you do enjoy, Sophia, and I also suspect it’s not the first time.”

“It is. I’ve not made the mistake of entangling myself up with alphas before.”

“But it isn’t the first time you’ve had two men fighting over you?”

I laugh. He’s got me there. Because it isn’t.

“Sounds like a story,” he says.

“Another time.”

He nods and the smile drops from his face. “I am sorry about this morning, Sophia. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. I had no idea you knew Esra.”

I tilt my head to one side, assessing him, wondering if he knows about my and the professor’s liaison in the theatre.

“And I didn’t know you were his packmate. I’m not the type to play games like that.”

“I know. I’m hoping you can forgive me.”

“I can.” I swing my keys around my finger and Newton meows, impatient to get inside.

A smirk spreads across his face. “So, are you going to invite me in?”

I hold up a hand, indicating for him to slow down. “You’re in a pack. With an omega. And an alpha who doesn’t seem to like the idea of you seeing me.”

“Gabriel isn’t a problem, Sophia.”

“Really?” I say, not believing that despite what Zane told me earlier.

“No, I’ve been seeing other people outside the pack since we formed it. Gabriel does the same. And Esra …” My body tenses waiting to hear more about Esra, but he changes the subject. “Besides, Gabriel would like to meet you again. He’d like to get to know you better.”

That is a tempting offer and yet … I rub my fingers across my forehead. “Esra …”

“The thing with Esra is complicated. Shit, Esra is a complicated person. Most bloody geniuses are.”

I laugh. “You think Esra is a genius?”

“Probably. I’ve certainly never met anyone as dedicated to their work, or as driven and determined to succeed, and I work with surgeons and I’m mated to Gabriel Manchetti.”

“Esra seemed so pissed off this morning.”

“Like I told you. It’s complicated.” He pauses, considering his next words. “It’s not you, Sophia. It’s not personal.”

---