Chapter 3 – Something Is Wrong With Me

 

The first time I saw Marcus Blackwood again, he was sitting across the company’s table pretending to be an investor.

I almost laughed.

Because the universe had a sick sense of humor.

ValeTech hosted investors all the time. Billionaires, sharks, tech geniuses, rich guys who thought throwing money at something made them smart.

But Marcus? Nah..

Marcus didn’t belong in that room.

You ever see a wolf walk into a room full of sheep?

Yeah, that was exactly how I felt about Marcus.

I stepped into the conference room with my usual calm CEO face on, but the second my eyes landed on him, my chest did this weird tight thing like my heart forgot its job for a second.

Marcus looked up slowly.

Like he already knew I’d walked in, and immediately our eyes met, I couldn’t help but get lost in my naughty imagination.

The man looked exactly the same as the night in the parking garage. Dark coat replaced with a sleek black suit that fit his broad shoulders like it had been stitched onto him personally.

But his eyes? Were still sharp  and endearing.

He was still watching me like I was something he planned on tearing apart later.

I cleared my throat and walked toward the table.

“Gentlemen,” I said casually. “Sorry to keep y’all waiting.”

The other investors nodded politely.

Marcus didn’t.

He just leaned back in his chair slightly, arms relaxed, studying me like he was solving a puzzle.

Something about the way he looked at me made my skin warm.

Ethan would’ve had a field day if he saw this.

I sat down across from Marcus.

Close enough that I could feel the heat from him.

And that was a very bad idea doing that.

“Mr. Vale,” one of the investors started talking about numbers and expansion and other things I normally cared about.

But today?

My brain kept drifting.

Back to Marcus.

Back to the way his eyes kept sliding over me slowly.

And the worst part?

I liked it.

There’s something about this man made a darker part of my brain wake up.

The part that liked pressure, control.

 

The part that imagined what it would feel like if someone like Marcus grabbed my wrist and pushed me down just to see if I’d fight back.

I brought myself back to the conference room,focus Noah.

Marcus spoke suddenly.

He had his husky voice it was dangerously calm.

“Your growth strategy is impressive, Mr vale.

All the investors turned toward him.

Marcus didn’t look at them.

He was looking at me.

Only me.

I leaned back slightly in my chair.

 

“Thank you,” I said.

Our eyes landed on each other for a second

Something passed between us in that moment.

Something that made the air felt heavy.

Marcus tilted his head slightly.

“You’re very young to be running a company like this.”

There was a challenge in his tone.

I smirked.

People say that a lot

“And are they wrong?”

I leaned forward slightly.

“Not yet.”

Marcus’ mouth twitched.

Almost a smile.

Then he looked down at the documents on the table like the conversation meant nothing.

But I saw the shift in his posture.

Like he was pleased with my response.

The meeting went on for another hour.

I barely remembered a word of it.

Because every time Marcus moved or spoke or even breathed too close to me, my brain did this stupid thing where it started imagining things it absolutely shouldn’t.

Like what his hands would feel like on my neck,or my mouth on his d**k.

Or what his voice would sound like if he stopped pretending to be polite.

By the time the meeting ended, my patience was hanging by a thread.

The investors started standing and shaking hands.

Marcus stood last.

And of course, he walked straight toward me.

 

My pulse kicked up immediately like am some teenager in love.

Up close, the man was even worse.

Taller than I remembered.

His scent hit me first. Something dark, and dangerous.

Marcus extended his hand.

“Marcus Blackwood.”

Like I didn’t already know that.

I took his hand.

The second our palms touched, something shot up my arm like a damn electric current.

Marcus felt it too.

I knew he did because his grip tightened slightly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Marcus leaned slightly closer and murmured so only I could hear.

“You look different today.”

My throat went dry,oh really

His gaze dropped briefly to my mouth.

That did something very inappropriate to my brain.

I smirked.

“Maybe you’re distracting.”

Marcus didn’t laugh.

He just watched me like he was thinking about something dangerous.

Then he let go of my hand.

And walked away.

Leaving my head spinning.

****************

Elara Westborn stood in the chamber of the Elders, arms crossed tightly.

She hated this place,it just cold stone walls, and it felt suffocating

And the Elders sitting like silent judges.

One of them spoke.

“Marcus has begun contact with the hybrid

Elara face went cold immediately  she knew what meant.

“He is following orders.”

Of course he was.

Marcus always followed orders.

That was the problem.

Elara looked away, hiding the storm building in her chest.

She’d loved Marcus longer than she wanted to admit.

Loved him when they trained together.

Loved him when he became the Elders’ perfect weapon.

And now? they’d sent him to seduce and destroy someone else.

“Whatever it takes,” the Elder said calmly.

“Eliminate Noah Vale.”

Elara forced her expression to stay neutral,like she isn’t burning up inside of her.

Because she knew Marcus.

And if there was one thing more dangerous than the hybrid heir…

It was Marcus falling for him.

And she’s willing to go to any length to fight for Marcus too.

**********

Later that night, I was sitting alone in my penthouse.

Trying very hard not to think about Marcus Blackwood.

And he was failing miserably at it.

I loosened my tie and leaned back against the couch.

My brain replayed the meeting again.

His voice,his eyes

The way he leaned close like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

Dang..

What the hell was wrong with me?

I barely knew the guy.

And yet the idea of him pinning me down against something had already taken permanent residence in my imagination.

I laughed quietly to myself.

“Get a grip, Noah.”

**************