Chapter Seventeen
EVA
As my tears finally subside, I wipe my face and sit up on the bed. I acted crazy, like a freaking madwoman. Kicking Nycto out of his own room was pure insanity. I don’t know why he left the way he did. Maybe it was out of shock at my incredibly childish tantrum. I didn’t think he would be the type to give in so easily, but I was embarrassed with myself that I turned into this hot mess and took my emotions out on him.
Waking up during the night to find my hand gripping his cock was not only mortifying but highly arousing. Feeling the thickness of him in my grip instantly sent a wave of desire through me. The desire to start stroking, to straddle and press my body against his and wake him up was so strong.
But I couldn’t.
He didn’t know where my hand and body had wandered during the night. At least, I hope he didn’t. The fact he was practically naked under the sheets had my skin flushing like fire. I’d pulled away from him slowly, trying to keep myself under control.
Last night was the hardest night of my life. I was turned on by a man I shouldn’t want. Nycto is bad for me, of that I am sure, but every inch of my body was screaming for him. After I kicked him out, I went back to sleep. When I rewoke, he was gone. For some reason, I felt relief. Complete comfort in the fact he’d gone for the day, and I didn’t have to face him.
When he opened the door to the bathroom, it was like all the air had been sucked from my lungs. He stood there, his toned abs taut, droplets running down to the perfect V, narrowing into those black briefs. The water sliding down his tattooed chest made him look like something from some sexy commercial. His hair was a little disheveled from sleep, his tattooed biceps were bulging as I watched in awe, and my entire body broke out in heat.
Nycto is a fucking marvel to look at.
I thought he would be stunning under his clothes, but that word doesn’t describe him well enough.
The way his shirts cling to him, I had some idea, but I never thought in my wildest dreams seeing him practically naked would soak my panties instantly, or in this case, his briefs, which I’m wearing.
I find him so undeniably attractive that my chest hurts. Seeing him without clothes literally makes my heart ache, among other things.
I try to deny it.
I try to get mad at him.
I try to fight it by pretending everything he does infuriates me.
Don’t get me wrong. His period comment was out of line, and it did anger me. But I was more riled up because I want him so damn bad. How do I tell him my sensual thoughts for him are driving me crazy? That I ache every time he looks at me? But it can’t happen. I can’t let Nycto distract me from what’s really important.
Ivy. I must get out of here and find my sister.
Standing from the bed, I straighten myself out. As much as I want to stay and find out what this chemistry is with Nycto, I can’t leave Ivy out there to fend for herself. I must escape.
So, I walk over to the closet and open the right side. The wooden box is still sitting proudly in its place. Nerves filter through me. If Nycto left the key in his jeans last night, where I could have easily taken it, then maybe the key in this box is exactly what I think it is.
There’s only one way to find out.
I open the box and pull out the filigree key. A sense of hope floods through me as I take one last look around the room in which I’ve been held captive for who knows how many days.
Finding the courage I need right now, I take a large inhale of air.
When we went out into the clubhouse last night, I noted the exit is on the right, out of the hallway and to the left. If I plan it correctly, I can make an escape with no one even noticing me leave.
I glance at the heels I came here in. Should I put them on or go barefoot? Heels will make far too much noise, and I’ll be stomping around in Nycto’s boots—that’s if I don’t trip over them. Barefoot it is. My stomach tightens. If I get caught, I don’t know what Nycto will do to me, but I can’t sit around waiting any longer.
I have to try.
As I step up to the door, the key in my hand shakes. I place it into the lock, my heart rate through the roof. I try to turn it, but it doesn’t budge. I jiggle a little more, but movement vibrates back through the metal opening. The key is forced backward and falls on the floor at my feet. I gasp as the door flies open, and Nycto steps in, his eyes hard as he takes in my shocked expression.
My eyes fall to the key on the floor.
He follows my line of sight, and my lip trembles.
Panic washes over me as a low growl rumbles from Nycto’s chest, and a vein throbs in the side of his neck as his eyes meet mine.
This is it—I’ve finally broken him.
Fight or flight, Eva?
I lunge forward, racing for the open doorway, but he’s too damn fast. I let out an ear-piercing scream as his arm wraps around my waist, and I’m yanked back inside his room. Nycto kicks his door shut with his foot and pulls me further inside. I throw my feet out and scratch, clawing at him, trying to get away, but he shoves me up against the wall. His body pushes hard against mine, trapping me in, and he grabs my wrists, pinning them.
We pant heavily. He has me locked in his grip so tight it hurts. His darkened eyes glare at me, and I whimper, unable to move. My heart pounds so hard it feels as though it’s going to burst through my chest. Tension ripples through us as I push against him, trying with all my might to get to freedom, but he simply presses harder, his grip tighter, stronger on my wrists. As I struggle, I feel his cock straining against his jeans.
I curl my lip, let out a growl of my own, and scream at him, “I hate you!”
Nycto rocks his hips into me, and my clit throbs with desire. My eyes bore into his as the chemistry between us ignites. We pant like the air has become thinner.
“I hate you,” I whimper. The words are far less believable this time.
He licks his bottom lip. “I hate you, too,” he growls out. Then his lips slam against mine. Forceful. Hungry. Passionate.
My tense body erupts in a flaming explosion of want. No, not want. Need. My lips tingle as he takes possession of my body and me. I have no control, so I relax into him, my mouth opening and my tongue battling his.
My hands ball into fists as I fight the urge to touch him, but his grip on my wrists is firm, and he possesses me regardless. The atmosphere changes, and the temperature skyrockets. My entire body is imploding.
He bites down on my bottom lip while grinding into me with his cock. I whimper against him. I no longer have any desire to move away. I’ve never been ravaged like this in my life. Kissing Nycto is so much better than I thought it would be.
His hand leaves my wrist and slides down to grip my thigh. Nycto pulls my leg up to wrap around him, and I moan into his mouth as his hard cock and the fly of his jeans presses right against my pussy. One hand now free, I reach up and thread my fingers through his hair, pulling him to me. Wanting him closer. Needing him closer. His tongue collides with mine, the kiss strong, rough, but full of desire. All this pent-up sexual tension, all this rage we’ve both been harboring, all this hidden emotion I’ve been trying to bury rushes to the surface at once.
I can deny this all I want. Can deny wanting him, needing him, desiring him. I might tell myself I hate Nycto, but I know he saved me. He might be keeping me captive, but I’d rather be here with him than with some unknown buyer who has God knows what intended for me.
Nycto is no superhero, but he may be my kryptonite.
His mouth leaves mine, and his lips trail down my neck, his teeth grazing along my sensitive skin. My head falls back against the wall with a thud as I pant for breath. He sucks on my skin, his cock rocking against me again, and I whimper. He lets out a deep throaty groan, then bites my neck, hard . I cry out as I press my pussy against him, needing the friction.
“Fuck, I hate you,” he murmurs.
A smile crosses my face as I let out a small laugh.
Nycto lifts his head, his iridescent eyes shining back at me.
I see how ridiculous I’ve been.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
His movements still. “You don’t hate me?” he teases.
My fingers play with his hair. “I want to. You can’t even fathom how much, but obviously… I can’t.”
Nycto leans in, pressing his lips to mine in a softer, more casual kiss. I pull him to me, my tongue gently entwining with his. The kiss is slow, the calm I need after the ravaging from moments ago. My stomach flutters with butterflies, my lips tingling.
He lets go of my thigh, and I slowly lower my leg to the floor. Nycto’s hand slides in around my waist, pulling me off the wall and against him.
Both my arms wrap around his neck as we lock in another kiss.
His arms tighten around my waist, and he lets out a small groan in my mouth as he pushes against me. He slowly pulls back, pressing his forehead against mine. “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you, chiquita . ”
I try to fight my grin, but it wins out. “That was even better than I thought it would be.”
“Is that right?”
“I mean… just because you look like a sex god doesn’t mean you are one.”
He pulls back from me, and his eyes fall to the key on the floor. “Why, Eva?”
I slump as guilt flows over me. The reason is twofold. Guilt for trying to leave… and guilt for not wanting to leave. I’m being torn in two.
With a sniffle, I bend down and pick up the key from the floor. “When I found this, I thought it might be a way out. I found it yesterday. I wasn’t sure whether it was for the door or not. After we had our fight this morning, I had to try. Nycto… I really need you to find Ivy. It’s tearing me apart inside. I can’t bear the pain anymore.”
He reaches out and takes the key from me with a long, drawn-out exhale. “This key… it’s a part of my past. Something I want to tell you about one day, but trust is important to me, Eva. I can’t let you in if you’re going to run out on me.”
I hear what he’s saying, and I know he’s right. I can’t deny there’s something between us, but Ivy has to come first, especially when she’s God only knows where having God only knows what done to her.
“I don’t want to run, Nycto, but I’m so scared when I think about Ivy. The thoughts of her being treated like… oh God, I can’t even voice the words. It’s driving me insane. You must see where I’m coming from?”
Nycto threads his fingers with mine and pulls me over to the bed. “Sit with me.” The serious nature of his tone is concerning. He turns, facing me, a heavy expression on his face. “There’s a reason I’m here, chiquita . I have some news for you.”
I sit taller as my insides quiver in anticipation, and it’s not the good kind. “If it’s bad, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.” He swallows, which only serves to make me even more nervous. “Oh God, is she dead?” I blurt out, tears filling my eyes.
He grips both my hands. “Fuck no, Eva. We found her.”
My heart stops, then pounds so hard I see stars.
My breathing is so frantic I have to close my eyes to stop the blackness from taking over.
Tears overflow and flood down my cheeks. A small squeak comes from my mouth as I rush forward into Nycto’s arms, burying my face in his neck. He’s found Ivy. Maybe he is a superhero. My emotions are all over the place. I want to get lost in him right now.
Maybe I’ve been seeing him all wrong.
His hands smooth up and down my back as I cry into his shoulder.
“Thank you. Thank you, Nycto. When will you be getting her?”
Smoothing some hair from my face, he pulls back from me. “That’s the thing, Eva…” My chest tightens, dreading his next words. If he can’t get to her, I don’t think I can handle it. “I wanted to make sure she was okay first. Make sure whatever she went through, she could handle seeing you.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
Something crosses his face—a pained expression or maybe something else. I can’t quite decipher it. “She’s here… at the clubhouse.”
My eyes widen as I jump from the bed in excitement. “Holy shit, is she okay? Did they hurt her? Where has she been? How did you save her? Does she know I’m here—”
“Whoa, slow down, chiquita . ” He stands as I bounce on my toes while glancing at the door. Knowing she’s out there has my skin tingling. “She’s aware you’re here. She’s desperate to see you too. She’s fine. The man who held her didn’t hurt her. He had her locked in a room. That’s all I know. We brought her in yesterday—”
“ Yesterday ? Why am I only being told this now?” Anger flares through me as I glare at him.
“Like I said… we needed to ensure she was okay before we brought you two together.”
“I need to see her.” I head for the door.
He stands, walking with me. “Eva…”
“What?” I snap at him.
“Please understand I was trying to protect you. Both of you.”
“Just take me to her, Nycto.”
He wavers but walks to the door and inserts the key. “I don’t want you to leave the clubhouse, Eva.”
I scoff. “That’s not your decision to make.” I push past him, opening the door and letting myself out of his room for the first time.
That felt so fucking empowering.
He follows me, and I enter the hall, but my power trip evaporates as I realize I don’t know where Ivy is . I exhale grumpily and turn toward Nycto, who is assessing my every move.
“What now, Eva?”
I roll my eyes and jut out my hip. “Just take me to Ivy.”
“That’s not the way to ask for something.”
“Can you take me to Ivy… please .” My tone is totally sarcastic, but I don’t care, and I cross my arms over my chest.
“Of course, chiquita . Whatever you wish,” he mocks, equally sarcastic.
I might revisit hating him again after all.
But I’ll worry about that later.
Right now, I need to see my sister.