CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?

Athena crossed her arms, her lips twitching into a smirk. "Honest? Please. You sound like every walking red flag I’ve ever heard of."

Eryx chuckled low, clearly unbothered, his eyes glinting as he stepped closer. "Funny thing about red flags, sweetheart... girls like you can’t seem to stop touching them."

Athena’s smirk sharpened, her chin tilting up. "Or maybe some of us know how to burn them down."

His grin widened at that, a slow, wicked curve that made his sharp features even more dangerous. He leaned in just enough for his voice to drop, rich and teasing. "Careful. With that fire in you, you might just set me off... and I promise, I burn hotter than you think."

Athena’s stomach flipped, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she scoffed, rolling her eyes again. "You really don’t get tired of hearing yourself talk, do you?"

Eryx placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense but still grinning. "Not when you’re listening, darling."

Athena shook her head, biting back the laugh threatening to escape. "You’re shameless."

"Mm," he hummed, his gaze sweeping her face before settling on her eyes, dark with something heavier than playfulness. "And you love it."

Eryx suddenly stepped forward, his hand slamming against the wall behind her with a loud thud. Athena flinched, eyes widening a little as she realized he had trapped her. Now she was pinned between him and the wall, their chests brushing so close that she could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing against hers.

His eyes locked on hers, dark and taunting, and that wicked smirk never left his lips.

"What’s wrong, princess?" his voice dropped low, dripping with shameless teasing. "Cat got your tongue? Or is it because you can feel me this close?"

Athena quickly masked her surprise, her sharp tongue snapping back. "You really think too highly of yourself. Move before I knee you where it hurts."

Eryx only leaned closer, so close that his breath tickled her skin. "Go ahead," he murmured, his grin widening as his eyes glinted with mischief "But you’ll be the one thinking about this later, not me."

Her chest tightened, but she rolled her eyes anyway, refusing to give him the satisfaction. "Keep dreaming, Eryx."

He tilted his head, eyes roaming over her face, soaking in every flicker of her reaction. "Dreaming?" he whispered, lips curving higher. "No, sweetheart... I’m wide awake. And right now, you’re the one stuck with me."

Eryx’s smirk deepened as if he’d grown tired of just pinning her there. Without warning, his arm slid around her waist, firm and possessive, pulling her body flush against his chest. The sudden closeness stole the air from Athena’s lungs.

Her breath hitched, caught halfway in her throat. She could feel the solid heat of him pressing into her, the steady beat of his chest against hers, their bodies molded perfectly together as if she was meant to be there.

What the fuck are you thinking Athena?

Well truth be told, the guy is so hot and very difficult to ignore.

"Much better," Eryx whispered, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear, his voice low and husky enough to make her skin prickle. "You fit here perfectly."

Wow! Not only is she seeing visions now, but her thoughts are also becoming true. What more difficult turns is her life going to take?

Athena didn’t know whether to cry or laugh at his words.

The words alone sent a shiver racing down her spine. But it was his tone,the way he said it with a shameless confidence, that made her stomach twist in ways she hated to admit. Heat surged up her neck, rushing over her cheeks until she was flushed scarlet. She could feel it, could feel the burn spread across her skin, and she cursed herself for it.

Athena clenched her fists at her sides, trying to steady herself, but it was useless. The longer she stayed against him, the faster her heart pounded, thundering so loud in her chest she was sure he could hear it.

And he did hear it.

Athena has never craved death more until now or better still, the ground should just open and swallow her and her shame whole.

Eryx tilted his head, his cheek brushing against her temple as he lingered close, listening. That smug, knowing silence of his said everything. He had caught it, the frantic rhythm of her heart racing for him.

But he didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. His silence was worse than anything he could’ve taunted her with. It left her restless, burning, and painfully aware that he knew exactly what kind of effect he was having on her.

God she felt like a whore. Fighting to be in love with one and trying her best not to fall for four guys.

The heat between them was unbearable. Every inch of her body screamed to push him away, to fight off the suffocating closeness but another part, the part she refused to acknowledge, didn’t move. Couldn’t.

Eryx’s grip around her waist tightened, pulling her impossibly closer, his chest pressed firm against hers. Athena’s breath was already uneven, her body tense like a bowstring ready to snap, but she wasn’t prepared for what he did next.

Slowly, deliberately, Eryx dipped his head. His lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her neck, just the faintest ghost of a touch, hot and feather-light.

Athena’s entire body jolted. Her breath caught in her throat, stuck somewhere between a gasp and a moan. Heat shot through her veins like fire, pooling low in her stomach until she could barely think.

She was supposed to shove him away. She was supposed to curse him out and tell him to stop being a shameless bastard. That was the plan. That was what made sense.

But God, why did it have to feel this good?

Her knees wobbled, her fists clenched tighter, but instead of pulling away, her head tilted slightly to the side, betraying her. Her chest rose and fell faster, shallow, heavy breaths escaping her lips as if her body had been hijacked.

Eryx smirked against her skin, feeling the way her pulse hammered wildly beneath his mouth. He didn’t need words, her reaction was enough. He trailed his lips lower, brushing, teasing, never quite pressing a full kiss, but enough to make her burn.

"You’re shaking, princess," he murmured against her neck, his voice so low it sent vibrations straight into her bones.

Athena’s eyes fluttered shut for a heartbeat, her head spinning. Damn him. Damn his voice. Damn the way her body was betraying her, clinging to the heat of him instead of pushing him off.

"Ahe..m Eryx..." she managed, her voice weak, trembling in a way that made his smirk grow.

He hummed in response, a shameless sound, as if daring her to finish that sentence.

She wanted to say stop. She wanted to tell him to get the hell off her. But the word refused to form on her tongue, because then, he planted a full kiss on her neck making her shiver. All she could manage was another broken breath, her chest heaving against his.

And then...

The door creaked open.

The sudden noise was like ice water splashed across her heated skin. Athena’s eyes snapped open, her entire body flinching back to reality. Her heart leapt into her throat as she shoved Eryx hard against his chest, finally breaking free from his hold.

Eryx stumbled back a step but didn’t look the least bit fazed. His lips still curved into that infuriating smirk, as if he’d planned this entire scene from the start.

Athena’s stomach dropped when her gaze darted to the doorway.

Azrael.

He stood there, his tall frame filling the space, his eyes dark and unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing, just stared at them, the silence thick and suffocating. Then his voice cut through, sharp and edged.

"What’s going on here?"

The air felt like it shattered around them.

Athena’s mouth opened, ready to scramble out nonsense as an excuse, but Eryx beat her to it.

He straightened, brushing an invisible speck of dust off his shirt, his smirk widening into something almost cruel. His tone was calm, mocking even, as if this wasn’t a big deal at all.

"What’s it look like?" he drawled, his eyes flicking lazily between Azrael and Athena. "I was just... keeping her company."

His voice carried a layer beneath the words, a deliberate provocation, like he wanted Azrael to react, wanted to throw gasoline onto whatever fire was already brewing between them.

Yeah that’s what it was. He doesn’t want to share her not even with one of his best friend.

Athena’s heart pounded in her chest, her face still flushed, the ghost of his touch burning on her neck. She hated herself for it, for the way her body still trembled, for the heat that refused to fade.

Eryx, on the other hand, looked utterly pleased. The quickened pace of her breathing, the redness staining her cheeks, the mess he left her in, he drank it all in like a victory.

Azrael’s jaw tightened. His eyes flicked from her flustered state to Eryx’s smug expression, and the tension in the room spiked like a blade pressed to skin.

The silence stretched, thick enough to choke on. Azrael’s stare was a blade, his expression unreadable, but his eyes, his eyes were locked on Eryx.

Eryx, of course, didn’t flinch. He only grinned wider. And then, like the shameless bastard he was, he stepped forward and slung an arm lazily around Azrael’s neck, tugging him close as if they were long-lost friends meeting in a tavern instead of two predators circling the same prey.

"Relax, brother," Eryx drawled, voice dripping with amusement. "Don’t look at me like that. You’ll scare me off and then who’ll keep you entertained?"

Azrael’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t shake him off. Not yet.

Behind them, Athena let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her hand rose instinctively to the back of her neck, fingers brushing over the skin that still burned where Eryx’s lips had grazed. She hated how hot her face felt, hated how her body betrayed her so easily.

She needed out. Now.

Without another word, Athena turned, her steps quick but not hurried, her composure hanging by a thread. She didn’t look back, didn’t dare risk catching either of their gazes. Never, she couldn’t trip.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the two men in silence.

Azrael finally shifted, his eyes flicking sideways to Eryx. "What did you do to her?"