Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I wouldn’t know.”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean, unlike you, I haven’t kissed anyone other than my fiancé.”
His lips spread into a cocky smile that I hate, but there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. I don’t have to sit meekly by, though. All my life, every choice I should have had a say in has been decided for me. Now, I’ve been ordered into a marriage. My life has been completely changed forever. Niko’s? It hasn’t. He was still dating Katherine when I was going solo to my senior prom.
“But if it was as good as you say, I may try kissing some other men to see if you’re telling the truth. That way I can judge for myself.”
“If you do that, you’ll be signing someone’s death warrant,” he says, his features suddenly very intimidating.
“I’m sorry?” I respond, thinking I had to have heard him wrong.
“If you let any man touch you, I’ll kill them and make you watch.”
Shock hits me. For a minute, I think he must be joking, but the longer I stare at him, the more I’m sure he’s not. “You can’t be serious.”
“Try me.”
“That’s insane,” I argue, shaking my head in disbelief.
“It’s how I deal with things in my world. You need to get used to it.”
“It’s not normal. It’s crazy.”
He shrugs.
“That’s not normal, Niko. I mean, what if I demanded you kill Katherine because you kissed her?”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
“Of course, it doesn’t,” I snap, letting out a bitter laugh.
“You and I are at an understanding.”
“If by understanding you’re saying I’m ready to leave you sitting here and never see you again then you are a hundred percent correct,” I grumble. He stands up, takes my hand, and pulls me up to him. “What are you doing?” I whisper, looking around because I know we’re drawing everyone’s attention.
“You’re not going anywhere. You made a fatal mistake, Emilia.”
My breath lodges in my throat as I look up at the man I’m engaged to and wonder if I should scream for help. “I-I made a mistake?”
“You let me know you wanted me.”
“I did that?” I ask, the words faint because I feel like I’ve entered a parallel universe—one where an alternate me made really stupid decisions that I never would have.
“You did.”
“I don’t remember doing that.”
“You can deny it, but we both know that’s what happened. Then, you gave me your lips and melted in my arms. That sealed it for me.”
“Sealed it?” I squeak. It’s dawning on me that I’m in big trouble here.
“You’re mine now, Emilia. We are getting married and you’re the only woman who I will be kissing from here on out.”
“What do you expect me to say to this, Niko?”
“Whatever you want. It’s not going to make a difference. You and I are going to happen, regardless of what you say.”
“Doesn’t it matter that this isn’t what I want at all?”
“You do want it, Em. You want me.”
I shake my head no rather vehemently. “I don’t,” I deny, but deep down inside of me, I know he’s right. It’s a fact that I’ve never admitted to anyone but myself, but it is definitely true. I do want him. I want his kiss. I want all of him.
Even if I shouldn’t.
“Don’t make me prove you a liar.”
“You can’t, we’re in a public restaurant,” I whisper, coming back to reality with a thud. “In fact, I think it would be best if we sit down. We’ve become the center of attention.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he responds.
“Niko, everyone is staring,” I admonish.
“Then, let’s give them something to see,” he all but growls.
Before I can respond he pulls me even closer, and then, his lips are lowering on mine. He’s kissing me in the middle of the hottest restaurant in town, with close to a hundred—if not more—people staring at us. It would be best if I pushed him away and left him standing there, while I run far, far away. I don’t do that.
Instead, I welcome Niko’s kiss and hold onto him for dear life, completely blind to anything but him and the sensations he’s building inside of me.
CHAPTER 18
Niko
“Three days in a row. Should I be concerned?”
I smile as Emilia walks into the room. She’s just wearing jeans and an old, faded T-shirt, but I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman in my life. Her dark hair is brushed until it gleams and is in a ponytail high on her head. Even so, it still hits along the middle of her back. I’ve never paid much attention to a woman’s hair before, but with Emilia’s, I want to sink my fingers in it, while using my hold to control her. My preoccupation with her is starting to get out of control. Our kisses have awakened a beast inside me that evidently, has been sleeping my entire life.