Hugo tackles Adrian before he can say anything else, and they begin to fight. Reaching for Winter, I grab hold of her arm and yank her away from the brawling men.
The flashing lights give us glimpses of Hugo and Adrian throwing punches. I have no intention of breaking up the fight. They can kill each other for all I care.
Winter yanks away from me, and then I hear Carson curse, “Blyad'.” My eyes widen as I watch his vest light up.
I grab hold of Winter by the neck and shove her up against the wall. Our eyes lock as I growl right in her face, “What the fuck? The game’s over.”
Either Hugo or Adrian slams into my back, and it makes my body press hard against Winter’s. A tempting grin spreads over her face as she says, “It’s never over.”
Chapter 8
WINTER
I get glimpses of Damien’s face with every flash of light. He looks like a demon ready to rip my soul from my body.
A hot demon. I wouldn’t mind if he defiled my soul right here.
His hard body presses against mine, keeping me pinned to the wall. I feel his fingers move as he flexes them around my neck.
One of the guys bumps into Damien again, and this time I feel his breath burst over my face.
The music. The lights. The adrenaline and smoke in the air. It all screws with my mind as I stare at Damien, our faces only an inch apart.
It feels as if the minutes crawl by while the fighting around us slows down to a distant blur. Damien’s aftershave engulfs me, the scent mouth-wateringly good. I become highly aware of every solid inch of him, and it makes desire burst through me, more intense than anything I’ve felt before.
He lowers his hand from my neck, and I feel his fingers brush over my collar bone before they skim the side of my breast and down my side. He leans in, and just as his lips caress my jaw, he grabs hold of my gun and yanks it out of my hand.
For the first time in my life, I couldn’t care less about losing. Not with Damien so close to me. My skin tingles for his touch, and I begin to turn my head, ready to offer my lips to him.
It’s only for a split second, and then he takes a step back, severing the contact between us. Air bursts from my lungs as I realize what happened and what I almost did.
I knew Damien was dangerous, but damn, he practically had me hypnotized with lust.
Stupid, Winter!
Angry at myself, I sidestep Hugo and Adrian, who are still fighting, and rush down the stairs. When I finally step out of the building, I strip the vest from my torso and toss it aside.
Shit. I have some serious damage control to do. I can’t have Damien thinking I’m attracted to him even if it’s the truth.
Needing to regain control over my emotions, I head back to my personal quarters. I avoid phoning Cillian and draw myself a bath so I can relax and get my focus back on the training before going downstairs for dinner.
I strip out of my clothes, my thoughts consumed by what happened with Damien.
Damn, it was so close. How could I lose control like that?
If we were out in the real world, it would’ve been the perfect opportunity for him to kill me.
I step into the tub and sink down in the balmy water. Leaning my head back, I close my eyes, and then the disastrous scene begins to replay in my mind.
I clench my teeth as I remember his strong fingers wrapped around my throat. His touch burned through my skin, setting me ablaze as if a wildfire was pouring through my veins. He was so close. Too close. I felt every rippling muscle beneath his clothes.
My body flushes with heat, and it has nothing to do with the warm water I’m lying in. I could feel his hardness pressing against my abdomen. A tremble ripples through me, and I clench my thighs together, rubbing them slightly for friction.
God, I’ve never been so turned on in my life, and it scares me to death.
I let out a miserable sigh when my phone begins to ring, popping the lust-filled bubble I’m in.
“So much for getting my feelings under control,” I mutter to myself as I climb out of the water. I wrap a towel around my body and walk to where my phone is lying on the bedside table. Seeing Cillian’s name flashing on the screen draws another sight from me.
I answer the call, grumbling, “I was in the bath.”
Cillian ignores my comment and asks, “How was training?”
“I got myself and my assassin killed in a game of laser tag. Today sucks. I just want to eat and sleep.”
“Why did you get yourself killed?”
Because I was turned on by Damien Vetrov, and I wanted him to take me right there against the wall.
“A fight broke out, and it distracted me,” I lie, but then I add, “I did shoot Carson, though.”
“Good.”
“I’m heading down for dinner, and then I’m calling it a night.”
“Get some rest, poppet. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Cillian says before ending the call.
I drop the phone back on the bedside table then walk to my closet. Not caring about my appearance, I get dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt. I slip on my sneakers and pull a brush through my hair before I leave my room.
When I enter the dining room, Adrian rises to his feet from where he was seated at a table and begins to clap his hands. He’s covered in bruises, and when he grins, it draws my attention to his busted lip.
“Winter Hemsley, the one who shot Carson Koslov. Badass,” he calls out for all to hear, and it makes everyone turn their focus on me.
My face instantly flushes with heat from all the unwanted attention, and it has me snapping, “Stop. It’s not like we won. You still got yourself shot.”
“Have dinner with me,” he says as he takes a seat again.
When I hesitate, he tilts his head and grins. “Come on. It’s the least you can do after I got into a fight with Hugo to protect you.”
I let out a disgruntled noise through my nose, but I sit down anyway. At least Adrian is safe, seeing as I’m not attracted to him.
“This doesn’t mean we’re friends,” I mutter so he won’t get any ideas. After all, he is an assassin in training.
Adrian’s black eyes sparkle with mischief as he stares at me, then he murmurs, “Why be friends if there are so many other things we can be.”
“Don’t make me lose my appetite,” I say as I signal a waiter closer. “I was hoping to enjoy my meal.”
While I place my order, opting for a steak and baked potato with a side of vegetables, I can feel everyone’s eyes still on me. I shift in my chair, and when I glance to my right, my gaze collides with Damien’s. His eyes are narrowed on me, a slight frown marring his forehead.
Just having his gaze on me is enough to make my heartbeat speed up, and I quickly turn my attention back to Adrian, not wanting Damien to see how he affects me.
“I must say, you’re a nice change in the boring routine,” Adrian murmurs, dropping his voice low. When I just stare at him, he continues, “It’s been a long two years. Hopefully, I’ll be done with this place soon.”
“Who will you bid on?” I ask, even though I know he won’t tell me. It would be stupid of him.
He shakes his head and then surprises me by saying, “No one. I prefer to work alone. I’m sticking around for my own contract and to see who’s pairing up.”