• 30
??
The door clicked shut.
It was quiet.
I looked up at him, breath uneven, my heartbeat in my throat. He didn't say anything at first. He just looked at me, first at my legs, then my lips, and then his jaw clenched.
It was like he was deciding whether to kiss me or kill someone.
"Nico..." I whispered.
His voice was dangerously low.
"You're driving me insane."
"I didn't—Nico, I didn't know he was going to show up. Nessa—"
"I don't give a fuck about him," he said. "Or Nessa. Or her stupid matchmaking."
He leaned in closer. Close enough that my breathing stuttered.
"I care," he murmured, "that he came for you."
I swallowed hard.
"I wasn't going to go with him..."
"Then why didn't you say no?"
The disappointment alone felt like a knife.
"I froze," I whispered. "It was awkward. I didn't want to be rude."
He scoffed quietly, staring at my mouth again.
"You think telling a stranger no is rude," he said, "but letting him stand there like he has a chance with you isn't?"
My face heated. God, I couldn't believe I was reacting like this.
"I didn't think—"
"That's the problem," he whispered, leaning closer, "you don't think when it comes to me."
I gasped when his thumb lifted to trace my lower lip. His touch made every nerve in my body light up.
"Nico..."
"Say it again," he murmured.
"S-say what?"
"That you didn't want him."
I blushed. Hard.
"I didn't want him."
His jaw clenched, like my answer physically hit him.
"Good."
He dragged his thumb across my lip again. I squeezed my legs together. I swear I was going to melt.
He stared at me like he was trying to read my soul.
"What would you have done," he whispered, "if I didn't show up?"
"I—I don't know."
He shook his head once, sharply.
"Wrong answer."
I swallowed. "I wouldn't have gone with him."
His eyes darkened.
"Again."
"I wouldn't have gone," I breathed. "With him. Ever."
"And who," he murmured, "do you want?"
My entire body shivered. I knew the answer too well.
"You," I whispered.
His hand slid to my waist as I leaned toward him in the driver's seat.
"And who do you belong to?"
"Nico..."
"Say it."
My chest rose and fell. I knew the answer he wanted, and I liked that he needed it from me. Every nerve ending in my body burned. He looked at me like my answers were turning him on more than any touch could.
"You," I whispered, voice trembling.
He groaned under his breath. The sound vibrated through me. The way he sounded did something to me.
"You're going to fucking end me," he whispered.
And then his lips were on mine.
I gasped into his mouth, my hands flying up to his neck. He pulled me closer, his body flush against mine, his kiss deepening until a soft sound slipped from my lips. I enjoyed every moment of kissing him. He knew exactly how to kiss me.
He kissed me deeper, angrier, like he was claiming every inch of my mouth. I allowed him to.
Then he pulled away, leaving me breathless. Shit.
"Buckle," was all he said. I did.
And we drove to his place.
The car ride to his building was silent. Not the awkward kind. The kind where every breath felt too loud and every heartbeat felt like it was happening in the wrong place.
When he parked, Nico got out first. He walked around the car and opened my door for me. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. His eyes were enough.
I stepped out, my legs still unsteady, and he placed a hand on my lower back as we walked toward the entrance.
Two security guards stood near the lobby doors. They looked at us, then immediately looked away.
My cheeks warmed instantly. They knew?
Everyone in this building seemed to know something was going on.
I kept my eyes forward and followed Nico into the marble lobby, trying not to look like someone who had almost melted in his car.
The elevator doors opened as soon as he approached, like the building itself recognized him.
We stepped inside.
The doors slid shut. Silence pressed around us.
My breath stuttered, but before I could speak, Nico reached forward and pressed the emergency stop button. The elevator jolted softly into stillness.
Oh my God?
He turned to me.
The look on his face stole every thought from my head. His eyes were dark and unsteady, like he was fighting something inside him and losing.
He stepped toward me slowly.
I stepped back until my spine touched the mirrored elevator wall.
He placed one hand beside my head, leaning in close enough that I felt his breath brush the shell of my ear.
"I don't like when you test me," he said quietly. His voice was low enough to feel along my skin.
God, since when was Nico this intimidating. I sucked in a sharp breath. "I didn't mean to."
"Yes, you did," he murmured. "You came outside with another man. You let him bring you flowers. You looked at me like you didn't know who you belonged to."
My chest rose and fell too fast. "I told you. I didn't know."
He lifted his other hand and brushed my hair off my shoulder, his fingers grazing my collarbone. Every inch of me tightened. I looked at his perfect face, his tattoos on his neck.
He tilted my chin up gently, making me meet his eyes.
"I know."
That one word felt like a touch.
His jaw flexed. "Why?" he asked, sliding his thumb across my lower lip, "do you keep pretending you don't want me?"
"I'm not pretending," I whispered. "I just... don't know what this is."
His forehead touched mine for a moment, as if he needed the contact to breathe.
"This," he murmured, "is me losing my mind over you."
His mouth met mine before I could even process the words. The kiss was slow, deep, consuming, like he had been holding it and finally let it break free. I melted into him instantly. His hands slid to my waist, pulling me against him, and I felt the soft groan he tried to swallow.
He was hard, really hard.
He kissed me harder. The elevator felt too small.
When he pulled back, I was breathless. Oh my. Why does he keep undoing me like this.
"Do not test me again," he murmured. "I'll lock us in this elevator for a month... just you and me, if you do."
My stomach flipped. Not in fear.
In heat.
God help me, I wanted him to. I wanted everything about him. The power he held over me... I never even imagined it.
The elevator hummed back to life as he pressed the button again.
I wasn't sure if I should be scared or turned on. I was both.
We rode the rest of the way up in silence.
When we got to his penthouse. He pulled me closer.
"Only I get to touch you. Only I get to have you. Only I get to hear those sounds you make."
My head spun. He kissed my neck, my jaw. I was melting in his hands.
"Nico," I whispered into his lips, "I— I have to tell you something."
He froze just an inch away.
"What?"
I swallowed.
"Nico... I'm—"
I hesitated.
His brows furrowed.
"Daria?"
My heart raced so hard it hurt.
"I'm a virgin."
He stared at me like the world stopped turning.
His grip tightened on my waist—then loosened gently, like he was afraid of hurting me.
His mouth parted slightly.
"W-what?" he said quietly.
I nodded, cheeks burning.
"I've... done some stuff," I whispered. "But not sex. Not before. Not with anyone."
He exhaled shakily, forehead pressing to mine.
"You let me touch you like that," he said softly, "and you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't know how," I whispered. "And I was scared you'd stop."
His head shook.
"Baby," he murmured, "I wouldn't have stopped. I would've ruined you."
My breath caught.
"But now that I know..." he whispered, lifting my hand to lips to place a kiss, "I'm going to take my fucking time."
His thumb brushed my cheek, tender but possessive.
"I'm going to teach you everything," he said. "Slow. Sweet. Until you're begging me."
I shivered so hard I almost slipped from his grip.
"Say you understand."
"I—I understand."
He kissed my jaw.
"Say you're mine."
"I'm yours," I whispered, trembling. I don't know what that meant yet, but I said it anyway.
He groaned and kissed me again, deeper, slower.
"And I'm going to make sure every part of you knows it too."
The votes are helping boost us so much?? thank you generous babies!!