Chapter 14 – COSIMA #2
Maybe I should stop this, but I don't want to. My hands move of their own accord anyway, tearing at his shirt until buttons scatter across the floor. My nails rake down his back, drawing angry red lines across his skin. He hisses against my mouth but doesn't break the kiss.
"Careful," he growls against my lips. "I just might bite back."
When his hands settle on my hips, he pauses to look down at me, his gaze darkening as he takes me in. A hint of curiosity enters it as he brushes his fingertips over my omega mark on my right hip. “I was wondering where this was. Figures the ice princess would have it somewhere unique.”
"Shut up," I snarl, dragging my nails up his spine just to spite him.
The rumble that escapes his chest is more animal than human. His hands grip my hips hard enough to bruise as he presses closer. I can feel how much he wants this—wants me —and the knowledge sends a thrill through me that I refuse to examine too closely.
"Make me," he challenges.
So I do, capturing his mouth again in another savage kiss. There's nothing gentle about it. Nothing sweet or romantic. This is a battle, like everything else between us, and I intend to win.
His hands slide up my sides, cooling everywhere he touches, but only briefly. I arch into his touch without meaning to, and feel his smirk against my lips.
"Shut up ," I growl again, even though he hasn't said anything. His smugness is radiating off him in waves.
"Still haven't heard you deny wanting this," he purrs.
I grab his stupid red glasses and throw them across the room. "I'm not making out with a man who wears sunglasses indoors," I say when I see the rage flash in his eyes.
Well, one of them.
The other is too glassy and perfect, even if it's nearly the same exact color as his right. My eyes widen slightly as I realize the extent of the jagged scar that cuts down through his eye and all the way through his mouth on the other side.
"You have a glass eye?" I ask, surprised.
"Anyone ever tell you you suck at foreplay, princess?" he asks, pinning my wrists to the bed.
My breath rushes out as he pins me with his body, too, his hard muscle pressing down on my soft curves. I'm squirming against him in spite of myself, my dripping wet pussy grinding up against him, desperate for more than whatever toy he sent his minions out to procure.
Not that I'm going to let him have it.
Alphas take what they want. They're all the same.
Maybe Azarel isn't, but he's always been different.
Weird. Like he doesn't even belong on the same planet.
But I like to know where they stand regardless.
Up here in his tower, Nikolai can do whatever he wants to me, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop him.
Why the fuck do I want to find out if he'll stop?
I know he won't.
He's an alpha.
"It was an observation, not an insult," I say, more breathless than I'd like. "Don't tell me the infamous Nikolai Vlakov is sensitive."
That hits its mark, too. Good. I want him angry. I want to see that carefully constructed mask of control shatter.
Before I can taunt him further, his mouth crashes down on mine. The kiss is bruising, punishing. His teeth nip at my lower lip, then my throat, just not hard enough to draw blood. As if he wants to taunt me with control I lack.
"If you fucking mark me—" I growl, pulling away.
He gives me a lazy grin, flashing a sharp fang. "I didn't."
I wrest my hands free from his grip and shove him off me.
"You're certainly feisty," he says, swiping at the blood on his mouth with the back of his hand.
My hand flies up to my neck instinctively. Did he bite me that hard? But there's nothing there. Not on my lips, either.
“Relax. I didn’t mark you,” he mutters, sounding genuinely irritated as he sinks onto the bed beside me. The bulge in his pants is obvious. So why isn't he being pushier? He's plenty cocky enough to try.
"You sure came close," I say, checking again.
Just in case.
My heart's hammering in my chest as it sinks in just how close he came. Alphas can take everything else from me, but so far, none have tried to lay their mark on me. None have tried to claim me.
Then again, neither has Azarel.
"I may not have a toy yet, but I could help take the edge off," Nikolai says, watching me like a hungry wolf. A hungry arctic wolf, to be specific.
"I'd rather wait for the toy," I say dryly.
His eyes narrow slightly, but to my surprise, he doesn't immediately attack me. Before I can process it, a distant cry echoes through the tower, making us both freeze.
What the hell was that?
" Pants!"
I look up, hearing the frantic shout getting closer, seemingly coming from the direction of the elevator.
" Pants !"
The sound is closer now, more distinct.
And desperate.
Like a ghost rising up the elevator shaft.
"Is there someone in the fucking elevator?" I ask, bewildered.
Nikolai curses under his breath, leaping off the bed and straightening his rumpled shirt as the elevator doors slide open to reveal Lex, who has her hands dramatically clapped over her eyes.
" PANTS !" she yells again.
"Are you fucking serious?" Nikolai snarls.
I grab the nearest blanket, wrapping it around myself as I scramble to my feet. The cool air hits my overheated skin, helping clear my head slightly.
"I tried to warn you I was coming," Lex grimaces. "Ew, god, I hope you weren't?—"
"I wasn't," he snaps.
"But you weren't answering your fucking radio!" Lex cries.
Nikolai lets out a hiss of breath through his teeth and rakes a hand through his disheveled white hair. "What do you want?" Nikolai demands. "If you thought we were fucking and you still blew in here, it'd better be the most important news of your life—and by that, I mean more nukes are dropping."
Lex gestures hastily toward the window. "We've got a code silver."
Nikolai blinks, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What the fuck is that?"
"See for yourself," Lex says grimly.
Nikolai stalks over to the window, and I watch as all the color drains from his face at whatever he sees below. "Holy shit," he mutters.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I join him at the window, clutching my makeshift toga closer. It doesn't take long to realize what they're freaking out about.
The Knight is much closer to the tower than before.
"Wow, he's made a lot of progress," I observe casually.
Nikolai spins on me, his mismatched eyes blazing. "You knew about this and didn't say anything?"
I shrug, affecting an air of innocence. "You didn't ask."
"Didn't ask?" he splutters. "How long has he been doing this?"
"Since this morning, I think?" I tap my chin thoughtfully. "It's been entertaining to watch, actually. Not that there's been anything else to do but look at your shitty art."
" Entertaining ?" Nikolai's voice rises an octave. "He's trying to tunnel his way to the tower!"
"Well, yes, obviously," I say, as if explaining something to a particularly clueless child. "He's not digging his way to the market to find a toy for me, is he?"
I give a satisfied smirk as Nikolai's face contorts with barely contained rage. His scent spikes with alpha pheromones, making my head swim despite my best efforts to appear unaffected.
Fuck , I hate this alpha.
"We'll finish this later," he growls before grabbing his glasses and stalking toward the elevator.
I'm honestly not sure if he means getting me out of my heat, or him fighting with me for not telling him about the Knight. That's one thing I never thought I'd do. Fight with an alpha. At least not in an arguing way. They usually just find some other way to shut me up.
To Nikolai's credit, he didn't hit me.
It's bare fucking minimum, but still. Credit.
I arch an eyebrow, keeping my voice deliberately light. "Will we though?"
He ignores me, turning to Lex instead. "Are you coming or not?"
Lex takes an exaggerated step back. "I'll catch the next one. You're pumping out enough alpha musk to choke a bear, and I just had nachos I'd like to keep down."
Nikolai's jaw clenches so hard I can hear his teeth grinding. Without another word, he steps into the elevator. As the doors slide closed, I catch one last glimpse of his furious expression.
An awkward silence falls over the room as the elevator hums, Lex not-so-subtly mashing the call button to the point I wouldn't be surprised if it jams.
Now that's a thought.
I'm acutely aware that I'm still only wearing a blanket, and that the entire place reeks of arousal—both his and mine. My heat isn't helping matters, making every nerve ending feel like a live wire.
Lex clears her throat. "So... sorry about interrupting whatever freaky shit you?—"
I cut her off by wordlessly pointing at the elevator doors as they slide open again. She takes the hint immediately, slipping inside with one last awkward stare in my direction before the doors close.
Finally alone, I let out a frustrated growl and throw myself back onto my nest. The impact sends Nikolai's scent wafting up from the torn pieces of his coat woven throughout the blankets and pillows, and I have to resist the urge to bury my face in it.
What the hell was I thinking?
On one hand, I should be relieved the interruption came when it did. Getting intimate with my captor is probably not the wisest move, especially when said captor is the most dangerous warlord in the Outer Reaches. Not to mention the fact that I hate him.
My body throbs with unfulfilled need, the ache between my thighs almost unbearable now. I can still taste his blood on my tongue from when I bit him, still feel the ghost of his fangs on my throat.
"Fuck," I groan into the empty room, pressing my thighs together.
This is torture.
Part of me hopes the Knight succeeds at tearing down the tower and puts me out of my misery, because if I'm actually desperate enough to crave Nikolai fucking Vlakov's cock, I've passed the point of no return.