The Drazen World: Dominate (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Tara West Page A

open someone’s arm.” I jammed a bloody finger toward her jewel-encrusted, leathery collarbone. “But since you’re a miserable old hag, you’d prefer to make everyone around you miserable, too.”
    One corner of her top rubber lip turned up in a snarl. “Tramp, you have no idea whom you’re talking to.”
    As if I gave two fucks. “ Bruja .” I laughed harshly before turning on my heel and waving her off as if she were no more significant than a piece of hay sticking out of a manure pile. “ Hasta luego .”
    Fuck her and fuck this town. One day I’d have all these stuck-up assholes bent over my desk, and they’d be taking my Texas-sized grudge right up their asses. Until that day came, no way was I playing it cool, no way was I playing it safe. They’d gotten the wrong Latina if they thought Ariana Delarosa Alvarado was going to play by their rules.
    I dug into my shopping bag. “Sorry, Savannah,” I mouthed as I took the tissue paper out of the present I’d bought for her and wrapped it around my arm.
    The lady behind the counter had packaged the bracelet nicely in a beautiful aquamarine bag and silver, sparkly tissue. I still couldn’t believe how much I’d spent for two Goddess Collection bracelets. Luckily, I was using Savannah’s money. 
    I crossed the street to where Dr. Brad Thorensen, aka Nordicgod, was texting in his convertible, totally oblivious to the fact that I’d just been sliced open.
    I jerked open the door and sat in the passenger seat.
    “That was quick.” He set down his phone, flashing a fried chicken and cornbread smile. The kind of smile that had almost made me want to fuck my new neighbor’s brains out the first night I met him. But that was two weeks ago. My tastes had since evolved. At least, that’s what I kept trying to tell myself.
    “I told you it wouldn’t take long,” I grumbled, squeezing my arm tight. It was throbbing pretty badly as blood continued to ooze around the tissue.
    He frowned, nodding at the injury. “What happened there?”
    I glared at the woman in the Mercedes convertible, who flew past us, her stiff hair hard-on not even bending in the breeze. She shot me the middle finger before nearly plowing into the back of a flower delivery truck. Was I evil for being disappointed when she didn’t crash? 
    “That bitch cut me open with her bag.” I gestured at the retreating car, hissing as the rip in my skin widened.
    “Let me see.” He slipped off his sunglasses and held out a hand. I still couldn’t believe a guy with such thick fingers was a heart surgeon, which made me wonder if he had another thick appendage on his body.
    I reluctantly gave him my arm, twisting it so he could get to my elbow. “Aye!” I screamed as he ripped off my paper bandage. “Watch it!”
    “Damn, Ariana.” He let out a low whistle. “You’re bleeding everywhere.”
    “Wow. You a doctor or something?” I flinched when he touched the skin flap. That bitch had butchered me.
    He raised his brows, wrinkling his forehead and marring his otherwise smooth perfection. “Glad to see the loss of blood hasn’t affected your wit. Hold still.” He grabbed gauze out of his glove box—because, you know, everyone keeps spare gauze in their glove box—and wrapped it around my arm.
    I looked away as he tightened the makeshift bandage. Not because I didn’t find Brad’s baby blues attractive. Quite the opposite. Something about the intimacy of his touch sent a jolt straight to my lady parts, turning them to liquid lava.
    I wasn’t supposed to be sexually attracted to my neighbor. The guy was like ten or fifteen years older than me, even though he didn’t look a day past thirty. Dr. Brad Thorensen was too sexy for words. He had beautiful blue eyes, sun-kissed brown hair, a strong, square jaw, and a ripped chest. But if we ended up fucking, and things turned awkward (as they usually did once I explained my bedroom rules), I’d have to deal with him for the next two months.