Trigger (Origin #1)

One of his friends with white hair touched his arm and asked him a question, apparently noticing his distracted state.

Godric held up a quick finger, shushing him. He sniffed the air once more, and then his steps were measured when he started walking again, his black dress shoes silent on the tiling. Right in my damn direction.

I quickly shut the door. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

My wide eyes stared at the ivory door as I slowly backed away from it. He wouldn’t go in the ladies’ room. That didn’t make any sense. I froze in the middle of the bathroom when the door banged open, caught by the predator.

Godric stopped in his tracks, his nostrils flared. Golden eyes pierced mine for a full half minute while he just stood in the entrance, his hand still holding the door open.

The man with the white hair cleared his throat from outside and peered around Godric’s head toward me. “Is there an issue, God?”

“God?” I blinked then. My voice was full of derision. “I know you’re an egomaniac, but you don’t seriously let people call you that, do you?”

The furious man finally spoke, growling, “Get your ass over here right now, Poppy.” Apparently, he didn’t want to move further into the ladies bathroom.

“No, I’m good.” I took a step back.

I was wrong.

Godric slammed the door behind him and charged right at me, the sleeves of his black suit jacket straining against his clenched muscles. He grabbed ahold of my right bicep and flat out started dragging my ass toward the door.

My boots skidded along the tiling as I pulled back, but it was no use. “Dammit, let go!”

Then he opened the door to the bathroom.

We were outside it with one more step.

His four friends had created a barricade so no one could watch the show occurring with their favorite man on earth. Four pairs of eyes stared down into my flushed face as I kept jerking my arm inside his hold. Then their brows furrowed as they inhaled deeply.

Pure shock radiated off them, their eyes widening.

The one with white hair stared at my neckline where my shirt was askew from Godric’s brutal ways. He muttered in surprise, “Fuck. It’s about time. And look at that bite.”

“Shut the hell up, Finn.” Godric turned his angry gaze down on mine, and his voice lowered. “Stop fighting me, or you are going to make a scene.”

I glared but quickly quit struggling.

There was another group of recruits being scanned at the front entrance. I didn’t want any of them taking notice.

Finn blinked, his eyes focusing. “What now, God?”

I snorted. I couldn’t believe they called him that.

Godric groused, “I’m taking her up to my office.”

“We have a meeting scheduled.”

“It can wait.”

He kept his grip firm on my bicep, herding me to the elevators. His friends managed to keep everyone from seeing me, their muscled bodies perfect as a blockade. Godric glared down at me while waiting for an elevator to arrive, no words spoken.

The elevator dinged. All six of us piled inside.

Godric and I were in the back.

The floor numbers on the screen above the doors continued to flash red as they went higher and higher.

His friend with the black hair glanced back and blatantly analyzed my body. “What’s her name?”

“Fuck off, Rune,” Godric growled.

Rune tipped his eyes up to his friend, a cunning grin gracing his handsome features. “So you are possessive of this little waif of a girl. Interesting.” He smirked when Godric yanked me a step closer. “She’s not your typical lover. You look like you’d break her.”

I stiffened at the jibe.

The man with brown hair choked on a laugh, not even peering back. “Fuck, Rune. That’s harsh.” He paused. “But I’m betting he took soft care with her.”

“Alaric, you can fuck off too.” Godric cracked his neck.

“Actually, I did think he looked a little different this morning.” The last of his friends decided to join in this discussion—if you could call it that. It was more like best friends teasing one another. The man with gray hair shrugged, staring up at the numbers still rising. “His cheeks were rosy and shit.”

Godric sighed. “And fuck you too, Wolfe.”

I tapped my right foot in irritation.

“Okay,” I growled. “I have feelings, and I’m right here. Your comments were extremely rude and hurtful.”

The men fairly vibrated in front of me with barely contained laughter. Alaric even snorted, his brown hair shaking with it. The other three weren’t faring much better.

My temperature rose, and my hands shook. “Do you know who I am?”

Godric rubbed at his temples with his free hand.

Rune muttered, “Yes, you’re his fuck buddy. Even if his cock could splinter your sweet little pussy in two.” He shook his head in mock sympathy. “Really, sweetheart, you might have fangirled with my man here. But he’s too much of a brute for you.”

My nostrils flared. “I’m Poppy Carvene, asshole.”

The elevator halted, just as it went completely silent inside. I grinned in malicious delight. “That’s right. Carvene, you pricks. And believe me, there was no fangirling for your man here when I found out who he was. I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual for him too. So shut your damn mouths.”

The elevator doors opened on the top floor.

They stood frozen in place, not moving.

Blocking our way with their blank expressions.

Godric growled with hostility, “Get out!”





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN





Godric didn’t release my arm when we stepped out of the elevator. His fury continued to rise with each step he took to a waiting area on our left behind a glass wall. The flare of his nostrils was impressive, along with the pink flush to his dark complexion. He yanked the glass door open and hauled me inside.