“Not interested,” I mutter as I swivel to face my computer monitor again. “And you can take your coffee.”
“Nah, I got it for you. Keep it.”
“I don’t want it.”
Despite the way I feel his stare burning into the side of my face, I don’t turn to meet it, eyes glazing over as they remain fixed on my screen.
“Well, I’m not taking it back, so you can drink it or let it sit there and get cold,” he states matter-of-factly. “Up to you.”
“I’m not drinking it.”
“Fine,” he shrugs.
“Fine,” I grit out, gnashing my molars.
Matty moves away from my desk, stepping around to his own and taking his seat across from me. As if this situation wasn’t already untenable, the fact that our desks face one another only makes it worse. Whenever I look up, he’sright there, the glowof his computer monitor reflecting in his eyes and making them appear even bluer than they already are.
Maybe I should talk to Cam or Avery about moving our desks apart. I’d planned on keeping Cam at arm’s length, given his former Guild affiliation, but Avery and I are friendly enough. Surely she’d understand why I can’t stand to look at Matty’s stupidly handsome face, knowing what his people did to ours. Or maybe not, since she looks at Cam every day with fucking hearts in her eyes.
He does get somewhat of a pass since he’s half shifter, though. Cam’s entire life was based on lies, and once he found out the truth, he quickly realigned his loyalties. He helped us take down The Guild, so I have to respect him for that. I’ll also respect him in here, as my boss, and outside of here, as Avery’s mate. Doesn’t mean I’ll forget where he came from. Hunters killed my mate, and cozying up to one would only defile his memory.
I barely even knew Dylan, but the fated bond between us was strong. I’d never felt bliss like when it snapped in, nor loss like when it was torn away. We only had minutes together beneath the full moon before the gunfire started, but Dylan didn’t hesitate to throw himself in front of me to take a bullet, saving my life at the cost of his own. The last word on his lips was ‘mate’.
I draw a deep breath, rubbing a palm against the center of my chest as if that’ll make the ache go away. The mate bond was ripped away when Dylan drew his last breath, and I’ve felt hollow ever since.Incomplete.That’s why I’m here, working for the hunter taskforce– because nobody should have to experience the excruciating pain of finding and losing your mate in a single night, and the best way to honor Dylan is by preventing any remaining shifter hunters from reassembling.
“So, do you like art?” Matty asks casually.
I frown as I glance up at him. “Huh?”
He cards a hand through his chestnut hair, a smile curving his lips. “I noticed you changed your desktop background.”
“Creeping on someone else’s computer is bad etiquette in IT,” I reply bluntly, dropping my gaze to my computer screen.
Matty hisses in a breath through his teeth. “Shit, is it? I didn’t know, I’ve never really worked in IT before. Well, not formally, anyway. I’ve always liked computers, so I’ve dabbled…”
“It’s Banksy,” I blurt, just to shut him up.
“What?”
“My desktop background.” I look up at him, meeting those striking blue eyes. “It’s a popular Banksy piece.”
He grins. “So youdolike art.”
I huff an irritated sigh, looking back down at my computer again.
“I’ve been looking for stuff for the walls of my dorm room, but I can’t really figure out what styles I like,” he says, blowing right past my obvious dismissal. “I ordered this poster of an abstract art piece, but the colors are really bright and clash with one another, it almost hurts to look at it. Think I’m gonna return it for something else, I’ll look into Banksy…”
“New rule,” I cut in, glaring at him over the top of my monitor.
Matty snaps his mouth shut, lifting his brows.
“No talking.”
He snorts a laugh. “Well that’ll make it hard to do our jobs, won’t it?”
“Fine, no talking unless it’s work-related,” I grumble.
“Okay,” he replies slowly, drawing out the word. “Can I get your phone number, then?”
