Chapter 24 Mick POV My heart starts to hammer in my chest. I feel like I'm having a damn heart attack every time she's near. I ran a hand through my hair, making sure it wasn't stiff from any lingering gel or wax, then turned with a practiced smile, only to see Kai stepping out of Chloe's apartment instead. My hammering heart stopped as the scent of sex lingered onto Kai, who was only in shorts and slippers, holding a shirt and dabbing sweat off his body with a bright red towel. "What the..." Kai's eyes went big when he noticed me. Just beyond him, still in Chloe's apartment, was Darren, strutting around the apartment like it was his own, only wearing boxers. He had a mug of something steaming in his hands and a towel draped around his neck. "Mick! You, uh, you got home late. Cindy said you wouldn't make it for tonight." "A spot opened up on a flight," I told Kai, trying not to show my annoyance with him. I suspected Darren and Chloe had a thing for a while. He spends a lot of weekends in her place and doesn't come out until mornings. Seeing Kai come out of the apartment with Darren there too, it threw me off. Especially with the thick scent of sex still clinging to him, and scratch marks down his back. "What are you two doing at Chloe's?" I asked. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, uh, just hanging out. I got to go. I'm helping DJ tonight," Kai quickly moved past me, skipping the elevator and going straight for the stairs. The door wasn't even shut yet when I saw his tails breaking free. I must have flustered him. "Mick?" Darren was at Chloe's door now. "Welcome back. We thought you weren't going to make it." His smile was friendly, but his eyes were guarded. He was using his massive build to block my view into the apartment. I could hear water running in the shower, and I definitely smelled Chloe's scent on him along with the thick sex scent. "Do you make a habit of walking around a mated wolf's place in just your boxers?" I looked pointedly down at his shorts, scowling when I saw his bulge. There were wet spots on the dark fabric. I may not have a wolf, but my nose wasn't lying. "Mated wolf," Darren scoffed. "I wouldn't worry too much about Chloe and the whole being mated bull shit. I know what you're thinking man, and it isn't like that. She was letting off steam. That's it." "Letting off steam? With both you and Kai?" "Hey, man. I don't like your tone right now. It's none of your damn business. Chloe is in the shower so I'm going to see you downstairs. If you still feel like this is your business, then we can talk later." "I think I would rather talk to her," I moved my foot in the path of the door when he tried to close it. "Man, I'm telling you it's none of your business. You're just going to piss her off again. Leave her be." That little comment didn't help the foul mood I had building inside me. Chloe is usually pissed at me for some reason or another. I could go out of my way to be nice and strike up a conversation, but we usually just end up fighting. There was one night, almost six months ago, when she didn't fight with me for once when I approached her, but she was heavily wasted and didn't remember a thing the next morning. It crushed me a little, but she was suffering from betrayal pains so badly that night, I couldn't find it in me to blame her for getting black out drunk and not remembering the moment we had together. "I'll leave her be after I talk to her." I glanced down at his bulge again. "Fine," he waved me in like he owned the place, then went to stand against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, looking annoyed that I was there. I looked around the living room from the couch, impressed with the airy feel of the place. My apartment is not decorated, everything is the same as the day I moved in. Chloe made herself at home. There were tie-dyed blankets on the backs of the couches, and a bohemian tapestry on one wall. She had crystals and giant rocks covering an entire bookshelf. The windows were covered with flowing curtains tied back with flower garland. My eyes lingered on her dining room table. There was a purple mask with black feathers sitting on a towel, the steaming coffee cup Darren was holding earlier next to it with a sponge sticking out of the top. When I craned my neck, I saw the purple sequined silk of the mask and a few of the feathers were covered in jizz. "What the hell were you doing with that mask?" I looked at Darren stunned. "None of your damn business. What the fuck, dude? Why do you care so much right now?" Why do I care so much? Chloe hasn't shown an interest in me, and I can't even say that we are friends. We are neighbors, and acquaintances at best. Even if we did share a moment six months ago that she had completely forgotten about, and even though I sometimes get little tingles from nerves when we accidentally touch, why the hell do I keep caring so much about a woman that wants nothing to do with me? I don't have time to reason an answer, because Chloe soon comes out of the steaming bathroom, looking all kinds of maddening in just a towel. Fuck, not ever have I had a partner look as gorgeous as her, even in the most expensive lingerie. It irritates the shit out of me that she is walking around like that knowing Darren was still in her home. She didn't seem to care. She just looked irritated at seeing me. "To what do I owe this pleasure," she had that overly sweet, mocking tone that made my scowl deepen. She grabbed an apple from the kitchen and stood by Darren, both of them practically naked. That irritating anger was eating away at my chest again. "What were Kai and Darren doing over here?" Title: Addicted to You Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance, Billionaire, CEO, Modern, Romantic, Hidden Feelings, Mansion, Office, Meet Again Status: ongoing In "Addicted to You," a captivating romance unfolds between Audrey and Floyd. Despite Floyd's arranged marriage and family struggles, he continually comes to Audrey's rescue after their one-night stand that has left her secretly pining for him for eight years. As their paths intertwine in unexpected ways within the backdrop of a luxurious mansion and high-stakes office dynamics, hidden feelings resurface, igniting a tale of love, loyalty, and second chances. This modern romantic narrative by CrushReel delves deep into themes of forbidden love, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships in the world of billionaires and CEOs. What sets "Addicted to You" apart is its deft exploration of the characters' internal conflicts and the magnetic pull drawing them together despite external obstacles. Experience the emotional rollercoaster as Audrey and Floyd navigate their undeniable connection amidst societal expectations and personal dilemmas. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a story that goes beyond conventional romance tropes with its rich character development and intricate plot twists.