Page 13 of Ambition

The scent of him is divine, something dark and sensual, and it catches in my lungs. But I still pivot to scowl at the back of his head while appreciating the defined lines of his spine. “Why?”

He stills, not looking at me, hands in his pockets. Then he says nothing at all and continues into the gym, rounding the wall past the elevated boxing ring.

Prick.

I want to call after him but this, again, feels like a test.

Releasing a frustrated breath, I steel myself to deal with Von, presumably—hopefully—waiting in the hallway.

ISADORA

“You know I can drive.” I speak the words even after my bag is in the back of Von’s Bentley, the two of us sitting in the underground parking lot below Nox, me in the passenger seat, him behind the wheel. He opened the door for me when we came down here and I got in, because I know his head is fucked and I don’t like when it is.

I don’t look at his bloody knuckles clenched around the shifter.

Or the fact he’s wearing a black hoodie and backwards hat now after changing somewhere inside Nox, red curls edging under the cap. Black sneakers, a watch on his wrist; it’s got a green face. His mom gave it to him and she doesn’t give him much, with her focus on her own career.

We’re alike in that way, me and Lora Bentzen.

Maybe it’s why he likes me so much. Some kind of Oedipus complex trickling down. I wrinkle my nose and push the thought aside.

Hip-hop plays from his speakers, turned down low. We have opposite music tastes, him and I, and I want to connect my phone over his and turn up Breaking Benjamin, but I sit in his running car instead, staring at the red leather interior and waiting for him to speak out of his sulking.

I absentmindedly run my fingers over my throat and I don’t realize it’s sore until I wince, and I briefly wonder if Cain saw where Von bit me, or if it was where Theo sucked my skin.

Von must notice the movement because slowly he turns his head to look at me and I decide to meet his gaze and get this shit over with.

His face is expressionless. His mask.

A muscle twitches in his forearm, though, the one stretched out to grip the wheel.

I notice it out of the corner of my eye and press my knees together, my hands on my thighs.

I want to snap at him. Tell him to stop being such a fucking baby about this.

But I remember seven years ago.

I never forget it; all the things I’d do for him.

Can I really be mad he has the same warped feelings for me?

“Did you like it?” he asks quietly. “When I bit over where he touched you?” He glances at my throat, gray eyes dipping for a moment, then rising again.

I stare at his full lips. The freckles on his smooth skin. The beautiful shape of his eyes, the hollows from lack of sleep beneath them, which are pretty damn hot.

I rest my head against the back of the seat, pretending I am comfortable and relaxed. That my heart isn’t racing inside my chest, reflecting on that so sober kiss he initiated.

“Liked it well enough,” I say quietly, smiling a little.

His eyes narrow. “Yeah?” He glances past me, where there’s a door that leads to the stairwell to Nox. “You let Cain Bonavich bite you too?”

I clench my teeth at his snarky remark as he stares at me.

He tilts his head, watching me carefully. “Oh?” he presses calmly. “Does that offend you, Isa?”

“I’d let Cain do anything he wanted to me, if we’re being honest.” I don’t even blink as I lie. “He could pin me down and fuck me senseless and I’d thank him for it.” Might not be a bad idea, just the once.

Von’s cheeks go hollow. Then he smiles slowly. “Maybe invite him by tonight. Karia and Cosmo are coming to relieve some of my stress.” He turns to stare out the windshield, then puts the car indrive.“Over you,” he adds, his voice quiet.

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