It had been a week since Holsten's run in with Jo. It had been something that crossed his mind sporadically but other than the fleeing thoughts, he hadn't acted on it. He may not be the best when it came to women outside of in the sheets but he wasn't completely stupid. He knew when to wait it out and not push the limits. Either way, his mother had pushed for him to spend time with the family. That was exhausting enough as it was.
He'd been with his family the previous night, being stuck at a big dinner with his brother's fiance and her new family. Socializing and putting on the mask of a proper gentleman had left him needing some serious relaxation and downtime. He'd give home to his flat, had a cigarette or two, and indulged himself in some bottle of fancy flavored firewhiskey some of his brothers had raved about. The extra spicy drink had been just what he'd needed but it had also assured the fact that he was still asleep by late afternoon. The sound of pounding on his door was perhaps the worst way to wake up after a night of drinking alone.
With a frustrated groan, he'd rolled out of bed and pulled on yesterday's trousers and shirt. He didn't bother to button up the shirt, assuming it was the landlord coming to discuss something with him. Why he had to pound on his door, he didn't know but he loved toward the door in a daze anyways.
"Do you really need to pound on my door like that, Marcus?" he asked as he opened the door, his hair a mess of his usual waves and sleep still evident in his eyes shifting to surprise when he realized it wasn't his landlord but Jo instead.
He couldn't help the smirk that formed on his lips at the sight of her, well aware that his cared chest was on display. He was a fit man but his career had left its mark on him in the form of a myriad of scars, some big and some little. The single tattoo of a Phoenix was still there on his left pec, the other tattoos hidden beneath his sleeves and on his back. But she'd seen all those before so it didn't really matter if they were covered now.
The shock of seeing her standing there wore off quickly enough as he opened his door further and stepped aside so that she could come inside. "If you'd have owled before I'd have made myself more presentable," he said, still smirking, "But I guess you're used to seeing me in less."
He'd been with his family the previous night, being stuck at a big dinner with his brother's fiance and her new family. Socializing and putting on the mask of a proper gentleman had left him needing some serious relaxation and downtime. He'd give home to his flat, had a cigarette or two, and indulged himself in some bottle of fancy flavored firewhiskey some of his brothers had raved about. The extra spicy drink had been just what he'd needed but it had also assured the fact that he was still asleep by late afternoon. The sound of pounding on his door was perhaps the worst way to wake up after a night of drinking alone.
With a frustrated groan, he'd rolled out of bed and pulled on yesterday's trousers and shirt. He didn't bother to button up the shirt, assuming it was the landlord coming to discuss something with him. Why he had to pound on his door, he didn't know but he loved toward the door in a daze anyways.
"Do you really need to pound on my door like that, Marcus?" he asked as he opened the door, his hair a mess of his usual waves and sleep still evident in his eyes shifting to surprise when he realized it wasn't his landlord but Jo instead.
He couldn't help the smirk that formed on his lips at the sight of her, well aware that his cared chest was on display. He was a fit man but his career had left its mark on him in the form of a myriad of scars, some big and some little. The single tattoo of a Phoenix was still there on his left pec, the other tattoos hidden beneath his sleeves and on his back. But she'd seen all those before so it didn't really matter if they were covered now.
The shock of seeing her standing there wore off quickly enough as he opened his door further and stepped aside so that she could come inside. "If you'd have owled before I'd have made myself more presentable," he said, still smirking, "But I guess you're used to seeing me in less."