EREX

"Sneaking in like a stray cat now?"

I smirked slightly, mere inches from her when she turned around and had to look up slightly. The heat of her body settled around me as I watched her skin pebble with goosebumps.

Kaya narrowed her eyes at me and I only rose a single brow in amusement. The more I acted like I was at ease, the more she'd get wound up. It was a slow thing, but I'd noticed it worked.

"You invited me in." She rose her chin and my eyes dropped to the box in her hand.

"I thought you were someone else." I explained plainly.

She shrugged and my eyes noticed the bare skin of her shoulders, her collarbones peeking out from the plain spaghetti top that left little to the imagination. "Not my problem, that's on you."

I suppose she was right. I nodded, averting my eyes. But before I could say anything, she spoke up, "Are you a big fan of art?"

"Hmm." I stepped back slightly since she refused to do it and I didn't have an ego problem. Just....'a proximity to her' problem.

"Is that a yes?" She rolled her multi-colored eyes and I nodded as I stood next to her.

She went back to looking at the painting, and tilted her head as she scrutinized it. I remained silent until she started to look around at the other paintings hanging on the walls around my apartment. As many as she could spot from this point anyways.

"Are you done peeking around?" I asked in a flat tone and wondered why I hadn't already sent her on her merry way or given a threat or two.

"No, not quite." She replied sarcastically and I snickered. She continued, "I can't recognize any of these works though." Confusion filled her voice slightly.

"That's because they're not famous works."

"Then?" Her eyes met mine, a tinge of curiosity peeking out as she turned to face me again.

"They're mostly from street artists." I answered as I looked at the New York City painting she'd been enamored with. It depicted a snowy scene of Times Square on Christmas.

"Did you buy this in New York?" She inquired and I squinted at her as her eyes went back to it, genuine emotions swirling in the depths of her multi-colored orbs.

"Why do you want to know? Do you want it?" I sarcastically replied her with a set of questions.

Her beautiful eyes flew back to mine, shining clearly, "Can I have it?"

I blinked, my brows slightly pulling together. Was she being serious?

I glanced back at the painting. It wasn't that special. You could find similar paintings easily enough. "What?"

My question seemed to have shaken her out of whatever reverie she'd slipped into and she turned to fully face me, "Nothing. Here you go."

She offered me the parcel. I rose a brow of confusion.

"It got delivered to me instead of you. This is yours." She answered testily. 

I took my hands out of my pockets and grabbed the parcel, inspecting the address to see that yes, indeed, it was mine.

"Thanks."

She shrugged and cleared her throat a little awkwardly. "Um, what is that smell?"

"Hm?" I looked up at her and then cursed as realization hit me, "Shit."

I handed the parcel back to her quickly and slipped into the kitchen, turning the stove off and checking to see if the lasagna was cooked properly along with the tomato soup in the microwave. The food smelled delicious, to be honest and thankfully hadn't burnt.

I took the soup out of the microwave and set it on the dining table before heading back into the kitchen to take out the lasagna too. Just as I placed it on the table and grabbed the utensils, Kaya cleared her throat.

I glanced over, "You're still here."

"Um?" She put her hands out, holding onto the parcel.

I waved at her, "Just put it onto the shelf there." I pointed to the cabinet top on her right, and she did so. I walked over to the door, holding it open, "Alright, great. We're done here. Than--"

Her stomach growled, cutting me off.

Really loudly.

Her eyes widened as she splayed a hand over her stomach and her cheeks took up a hint of embarrassed red. "That..." she stammered and I found my lips tipping upwards.

I glanced at the food I'd laid out and then at her, "Did you eat anything since we returned?"

Amused, I watched as she wrestled between lying and saying the truth for a few seconds, eventually caving in, "No. Nothing."

I snickered, "Yeah, I could tell." I referred to her stomach growling in hunger. She flashed me an irritated look but I was undeterred. "Have a seat."

I glanced at the clock. 

9:47 PM.

What was I doing?

I closed the door and turned around, heading towards the dining table where I'd laid the food out, my brain still processing things. Before I could rethink my impulsive invitation, though, she slipped into the seat across from mine, and it was too late. 

Dammit, why wasn't I ever thinking straight when she was around? 

Or maybe I was. I don't know.

All awkwardness seemed to evaporate for her as she grabbed a bowl and started to pour some soup for herself. I tentatively watched before sitting down myself as she handed me the bowl I'd thought was initially for herself.

"Uh, thanks."

This was uncharted territory.

She paused, glancing up at me, a few strands of her blonde hair framing that sharp face, and something shifted in her gaze as she pulled back, murmuring. "You're welcome."

Soon enough, we were eating, and my eyes kept returning to her. Watching as she gulped down the soup and moved on to the lasagna whereas I was taking my time, only halfway done with the soup.

"Where did you get this from? This is so good, ohmygod." She spoke with a mouthful, surprised and curious as she met my eyes.

Slightly amused, I watched her eat without answering.

"This is kinda really...." She swallowed, "Authentic, you know?" The blonde licked the corner of her plush lips and my eyes followed the movement.

"Mhm."

"So, where did you order it from?" She chewed on another mouthful, looking up at me expectantly. 

I glanced at the clock and replied nonchalantly, "I cooked it."

I met her eyes right as I said it and she choked.

Legit choked.

Her eyes widened, and she hit her chest, looking away as she tried to swallow. I was torn between feeling a weird kind of off-hand worry and amusement.

"Here." I handed her a glass of water that she accepted silently— fine, she was still coughing—and drank promptly.

A few seconds later and after getting some air, she murmured her thanks.

"Sorry? I couldn't hear you." I pleasantly smiled at her, and she glared right away.

I couldn't help my chuckle. 

"Whatever." She bit into the lasagna stiffly, but then her shoulders relaxed as she chewed, and I couldn't help it when I found myself hiding a small smile.

"Do you, uh, often do this?"

I rose a brow, putting lasagna into my plate.

"Cook, I mean."

"It's been a while but, yeah. I do."

Kaya slowly nodded and we didn't speak for a while, comfortably eating. Alright, that's an exaggeration. There was no comfort but just silence and sounds of chewing. It was, if I am to be honest, a little unnerving. 

I watched her eyes flitting around languidly, observing my space and suddenly I felt a twinge of self-consciousness. 

Right then, our eyes accidently met and I rose a brow, "Done looking around my apartment?"

"Not really, no."

"Should I give you a full house tour?" I offered with a fake smile.

She returned the smile, "Would you, really?"

I dropped the pretense, coldly glancing over her, "No."

"That's what I thought." Kaya replied, scoffing and aggressively stabbing the piece of lasanga left on her plate. "Why feed me if you're going to continue being an ass." She muttered under her breath and I blinked, wondering about exactly the same thing. I'd just....done it on a whim.

Thankfully, I didn't have to answer her, saved by the door bell ringing.

I glanced at the clock and then at Kaya who was watching me as she ate, seemingly comfortable where she was. I narrowed my eyes slightly and she smirked.

I sighed and got up, heading to the door and opening it to reveal a familiar platinum blonde haired man. I motioned for him to come in, and he nodded back a silent greeting as he slipped inside.

I didn't get the chance to warn him, and he ventured into the hall, pausing as he saw Kaya presumably. I reached his side and nodded towards the woman who'd stood up, picking her empty plate.

Andrew rose a brow and slowly smiled, extending a hand to shake. "You must be Kaya."

Intently staring at him, the tall blonde smiled briefly and took his hand, shaking it. "And you are..."

I watched silently, the exchange feeling charged with tension, and decided to do the introductions, clearing my throat, "This is Andrew, he helps the cyber team on some cases sometimes." She didn't need to know all the details.

Kaya rose a brow, slowly nodding in understanding as she pulled her hand away, "Uh huh."

I looked at Andrew and a smirk was playing at his lips, the flirty type. I narrowed my eyes, but before I could further say anything, she informed us, "I'll get going. I suppose he was the one you were waiting for." 

Sharp woman that she was, she deduced that on her own. And she was right. It was supposed to be a simply workaholic evening with some good home cooked food until she put a wrench in my plans.

I gave a small jerk of my head as an assent. My eyes followed her as she went to the kitchen, dropping off the plate. 

Andrew peeked into the lasagna bowl, "Did you just have a date with her? I thought I was getting your handmade lasagna. Hm."

I shot him a look, my blue eyes icy, and he grinned, running a hand through his silver hair and offering me a non-committal shrug.

But his words hit me with the force of a brick wall and I had to take a moment to process because holy hell, was that a date?

I walked back towards my kitchen, watching as she put the plate into the sink, her tiny shorts revealing beautiful long legs and—

No. Of course not, neither of us were even aware. This was just two co-workers, two neighbors sharing a meal. Never mind that my eyes slipped to her plush lips and I caught her eyeing me a fair number of times.  I shook my head as if it'd rid me of the cobwebs of Kaya's influence.

Kaya turned around, catching me in the act as I slowly dragged my eyes up her body, unashamed and asserting it. She was truly wearing the most skimpy yet comfortable outfit I could think of. The glimses of smooth creamy skin was making my mouth go dry. And that was so very uncharecteristic of me that I really had to mentally give myself a shake.

A small snicker escaped her lips and she shook her head as if in hopelessness as she came out.

That woman was trouble. All sensual and feminine, and yet she carried herself with a threatening sort of gaze. And it didn't always show. It showed when I baited her, when I accused her and when I really got her grinding her teeth.

I felt Andrew's presence next to me as she came out and nodded at the two of us, "Goodnight." 

She gave me another testy look and then looked away, mumbling, "Thanks again."

I don't know what came over me, but I gave her a vindictive grin in response, "No problem. I like to feed stray cats sometimes."

Kaya paused, her eyes flying to mine as I heard Andrew draw in an awkward breath and muttering a, "Yikes."

I watched as her jaw slightly clenched before she smiled at me and stepped closer. I'd just demeaned her in a roundablut way because God knew she made me want to test her. The lowered lashes and murmured thank you, the shy acts and blush on her cheeks felt practiced. It didn't scream Kaya to me at all. On a whim, I pushed her buttons, and she stepped even closer.

And closer.

And...closer...

Until there were barely inches between us. She tilted her head up, her stunning eyes, those proportionate features staring me in the face as her hand went to my face. She drew a sharp nail down my cheek, eyes staring into mine so confidently, so rife with color. The greens, the blues, the browns, they were all so fascinating and mixed—

I found myself ripped out of the beauty of her eyes when I felt the sting of her nails digging into the side of my neck. I didn't give a reaction, of course, as she broke eye contact, looking at the place where her nails bit into my skin.

She dropped her voice as she spoke, "I told you...." Her sensual voice turned into a whisper, one laden with an emotion I hadn't before seen or heard from her, "I have claws. Don't test me."

I didn't respond, finding myself holding my breath all while keeping a brow raised in a show of amusement. Her lip curled, and she pulled away, but I could still feel the phantom feel of her nails, almost as if she'd managed to break skin, in fact.

She turned away without another word, her body wound up tight, and I could tell her discomfort from the rigidness subtly showing in her shoulders, the way her nostrils slightly fared for a brief moment.

I didn't respond when she slammed the door shut, marking her exit except for slapping the back of Andrew's head without even glancing his way, pushing him around, "Stop ogling her."

"But you were just doing the same." He whined.

I ignored the truth ringing in his statement and gave him a look, pointing to the table, "Go sit and get to work."

Thankfully, he didn't say anything about the interaction with Kaya, but his eyes dipped to my neck, and his lips twitched. "My food?" He raised a challenging brow as he slipped into the chair she'd just emptied.

I rolled my eyes, "I'll make you something, just...." I looked towards the unlocked door Kaya had just exited from and swallowed thickly, "Get to work."

As I stepped away, I saw my reflection in the cabinet glass, and I paused.

Crescent indents and...a bit of blood bloomed where Kaya had just dug her nails into my neck. I licked my lips, tilting my head to get a better view and swallowed thickly because....there was something about this that made the blood in my body rush south. Fuck.

I didn't realize it'd been a couple of moments since I'd been so lost in thought, but then Andrew's quiet voice brought me back to reality, "Just be careful."

My eyes whipped to meet his dark ones.

Andrew shrugged and opened his laptop. 

I ran a hand through my hair, "She's a really strange one."

With a mysterious smile on his face, Andrew didn't even spare me a glance when replying, "So are you. Perfect match, then?"

I snickered.

Not unless she could help me exact revenge.

I had no interest in getting to know her. Being in Kaya's mere presence called on my self-control - both physically and psychologically. Taunting her, riling her up, gave me a strange sort of satisfaction. The woman's plastic smiles were nothing in comparison to her real unfiltered feelings that seemed to rarely peek through.

It hadn't even been a month yet, but I wanted to get under her skin just like how she'd started to pick at mine.

 I didn't need this breach of my privacy. Having had her in my private space made me envision....things.

Shit, I needed a cold shower.

Something like this wouldn't happen again. Us spending time in any capacity that could be assumed as a date. I shook my head. No. Only what was required. What was needed. No need to get entangled more than I required. I wouldn't delibrately sabatoge any progress we'd make towards a tentatively peaceful co-habition.

Or so I thought.

A/N

And here we have the newest chapter, some introductions, some uncomfortable progress, some insight into our man's head.

Hope you enjoyed it! i'm so sorry for being late with updating but I had a crazy schedule, have exams and had the worst living conditions, basically dying with onlly a fan on the top floor in 52 degrees Celsius, so falling sick and managing exams and survival was all a task.

I also couldn't get in the headspace to write. But anyway, I'll start working on the next chapter right away and hopefully you'll have some more the next week.

What are your thoughts about this chapter btw? I'm sorry if it isn't as up to date or good, I feel like I couldn't gibve my best but it's the first draft so I guess we'll move on from that. I hope you're all taking care of yourselves. Do let me know what you thought of the chapter, the character interactions and such int he comments! you know I love those and the votes.

I'm also so happy and thankful that we've reached 10.7k views despite me being so inactive. Truly, thank you for reading and sticking. If you haven't voted yet, just take a moment to go back and do it and let me know who'd a new reader!

Alright then, see you all soon lol!

~Skyler