Chapter 28
Kinsley
No Touching
Turning my eyes toward Nikolai King, my heart hammered inside my chest. Looking down at my shirt, I giggled. There was no way it was going to fit him.
Alek leaned over and read my card. “Oh, I’m totally moving so I can see this. Well, kitten, better get a move on. Either way, you’re losing a piece of clothing.”
“I can read, thank you very much.”
I flicked my eyes back to Alek, groaning. How was I going to accomplish this task without exposing myself entirely?
“We’re waiting,”
Sarah sang out.
“Maybe she’s a little shy. It’s okay, we’re all friends here. Trust me, we’ve all seen it,”
Jenna said, trying to sound sweet.
The smile on her face was fake and didn’t reach her eyes. She’d surprised me in the bathroom with her attitude. The fact that she belittled me in front of everyone and was now acting like we were besties straight-up pissed me off.
Maybe it was the two glasses of wine from earlier and the shots of whiskey I’d had, but I stood up with a plan in mind to put this woman in her place.
An idea came to me almost immediately. It was going to require assistance from Ivan. I leaned over and kissed Alek’s cheek.
Whispering in his ear, I asked, “Do you mind if I borrow Ivan for something?”
“Not at all. I can’t wait to see how you make this work. Would you like me to read it out?”
“Yes, please,”
I said, and his face softened, taking me by surprise.
“I dare you to switch shirts with the person sitting directly across from you. Make it show-worthy.”
I kept my eyes on Jenna and watched her huff and sit back. Nik grinned like a Cheshire cat. His green eyes danced wickedly, and there was a darkness in the undercurrent of his demeanor.
I stood, as did Alek; he moved to an empty chair so he could have a front-row seat. Turning to Sarah, I smiled and said, “I need to borrow Ivan for a minute. I’ll give him back, I promise.”
I didn’t wait for permission because, truthfully, I didn’t need it. Alek had already given me the green light, although he had no clue what I was going to do. All I could do was hope it wasn’t going to get me into trouble.
I stepped toward Ivan. His eyes were strangely curious as they studied me. Using my body, I pushed my way between his thick, muscular legs and stood in front of him.
His hands rested on his thighs, and I leaned in and trailed my hand up his, caressing his arm in the process. His skin was warm to the touch, and I sighed at the feel of him under my fingertips.
I lowered my voice and spoke in the most seductive tone I could muster. “Ivan King, you have something I need.”
He leaned back, his eyes pinning me in place. I didn’t know what had come over me, but an exchange was taking place between us. I could no more stop it than I could a bullet.
“Is that so?”
My eyes moved to his tattoo. Like his brothers, a skull was present, intricately woven into the blade of a large dagger, and looked as dark as the man before me. Outlining it with my fingertip, I shivered.
“Yes, and it’s so specific, that not a single man in this room could help me but you.”
His tongue flicked out and wet his lower lip. I was mesmerized by the movement.
“Then, by all means, take what you need.”
The rich baritone of his voice had me trembling. My nipples hardened as I thought about what I was going to ask him to do. I leaned forward, trailing my hand across his pecs.
Sarah’s face erupted in confusion as she tried to figure out what the hell was going on. I could tell she was unsure if I was trying to make a move on her man or if this was part of the game.
If the moment hadn’t felt so intense and Ivan’s gaze didn’t leave me shaking like a leaf, I would have laughed at the absurdity of that idea. Something told me that this man didn’t belong to anyone, especially not a girl he’d just met.
Once more, I was captivated by this giant. I stood in front of him, feeling alive and powerful. Adrenaline pumped through my body. My hand trailed down his chest, and he flexed his muscles.
I sucked in a breath, and even though my hand trembled, I glided it down his stomach to his blade. In a flash, he darted his hand over mine as a low growl emanated from him. As I turned my gaze to his, a hunger stirred inside me. With a flutter of my lashes, I softened my eyes, giving him a smoldering look.
“But it’s what I need.”
My voice was light and airy. I tapped into techniques long buried and nearly forgotten. An innocent smile played upon my lips, and his eyes were drawn to them. He hadn’t stopped me, so I pushed forward with my idea.
A low moan escaped my lips as I unsnapped the buckle, igniting a cascade of electric sensations that coursed through my body. I gasped as I pulled the blade free from the sheath. It was magnificent, rugged, and all him.
It was heavy, and I held it reverently in my hands, turning it over. I put my finger to the tip and tested the sharpness. Lethal. My knees shook. From blade to tip, it was longer than my forearm.
My gaze lifted to his face. I held it out to him, and he took it. His hand brushed against mine, and his eyes burned through me. It was so quiet in the room I could hear my uneven breathing. I pulled on the bottom of the tank top.
“Sorry, Alek. I know you bought this special for me,”
I called over my shoulder, looking at Alek as he watched me with his brother. Wetness pooled between my legs, and the heat spread throughout my body.
“No worries, I’ll buy you another one.”
He nodded, giving me permission.
“Ivan, would you please cut my—”
Before I could finish my sentence, his blade was slicing through it. The sharpness cut through the material like it was paper. Cool air rushed between my breasts, and then I felt the sharp metal tip as it came to rest at the hollow of my neck. I threw my head back.
A small hiss escaped me, and my body trembled against his. The blade to my throat was almost erotic, and I couldn’t think straight. He trailed the tip down my chest, circling first my left breast and then my right one through the shirt. I moaned, embarrassingly, and gripped his forearms.
“Tha-thank you,”
I mumbled.
I stepped back before I did something I’d later regret. I had the strongest urge to kiss him deeply. My breast tingled from the earlier attention, and I longed for more of the same. I avoided Sarah’s eyes, which burned into me as she once more tried to figure out my angle.
I turned, feeling Alek’s gaze, and lifted my eyes to his. His expression was curious and dark. I could see the question that had formed. It was written all over his face.
Who the hell are you?
Feeling more confident by the minute, I repeated the words he uttered on the dance in my head. He had all but told me exactly the type of man he was with them. My body moved on autopilot as a thought whispered in my ear.
Show him.
I sauntered over and stood in front of Alek, ensuring he had enough room to rise from his chair and walk around me. Something told me he would want to. I was only slightly aware that my body was moving into inspection position as I presented myself to him on a silver platter, so to speak.
I ignored the sharp intake of his breath and stood straight, legs apart. Instinctively, as if I did this move every day, I rounded my shoulders and back. Ensuring that my neck was straight and aligned with my body, I gracefully moved my hands. The final step was to clasp them behind my head.
Keeping my eyes forward, I waited, my heart beating hard. He stood, and I remained still, feeling like I was having an out-of-body experience. My nipples were hard now and ached fiercely.
As he walked around me, my body hummed in anticipation. I gulped when he rounded and stood in front of me. His eye twitched, and his hands clenched at his sides.
“Did you need to ask me something, kitten?”
“Yes, Sir,”
I breathed, not recognizing myself. “Do you mind if I take my hair down?”
He didn’t answer except to reach up and move my hands away from the back of my head. His skilled fingers worked to remove my tie, and my hair cascaded down my shoulders and fell around my breasts before I moved my hands back into position.
He leaned down and growled in my ear, “You and I are going to have a long conversation later. Understand?”
I nodded.
“Use your words, malyshka,”
Nik commanded, breaking the tension.
“Yes, Sir,”
I responded quickly, letting out my breath.
“I get first glance,”
Alek growled.
My lips turned up in a small grin. I had a feeling he would want to see my breasts first. He looked like a man possessed. Like he was struggling to decide whether to throw me over his shoulder and take me to my room or allow me to continue.
I kept my eyes forward. “Sir, you may look, but no touching.”
He smirked, moving one finger from the center of my forehead and then down my nose. As he got to my chin, he pushed my head back. I trembled. His finger traced down my neck, and then his hand wrapped around it. He squeezed the sides and stepped closer.
“Kitten, every time I’m around you, you seem to surprise me. Who the hell are you?”
I moaned low, feeling lightheaded with his gentle squeezes on my throat. He let go, and then his fingers traveled lower. I could feel the ends of my hair tickling the back of my thighs. Then he pushed the right part of the cut tank top to the side.
“So fucking beautiful,”
he breathed, pushing the other side open.
My face flushed in embarrassment, but I didn’t want him to stop. Almost forgetting what we were all doing—which was just playing a game—I was startled when I heard Ivan clear his throat.
“You may proceed,”
Alek said, releasing me.
Turning my attention to Nikolai, I took a step in his direction. I couldn’t help but smirk. The grin on his face was so wide, he was flashing a dimple. He looked smug and confident. I wanted to unravel him too. I could feel the icy stare from Jenna and turned to her.
Plastering a fake smile on my face, I said, “I’m going to need your man. However, what I take from him, I won’t be giving back. It’s just a game, and we’re all friends, right?”
Nik leaned forward, rolling in laughter. I pushed hard against his chest and climbed on his lap, straddling him. He instantly stopped and grabbed my hips, drawing in a surprised breath.
“Careful, little girl,”
he growled.
I raised my eyebrow and grasped the bottom of his shirt. Letting my fingers linger on the waistband of his jeans, I trailed them over his lower stomach, loving how it flinched under my touch.
Leaning in, I growled, “Mine.”
I pulled his shirt up and over his head.
God, it smelled so good. It was both stimulating and soothing at the same time. I brought his shirt up to my nose, letting his scent cover me. I rubbed the soft material against my cheek. His breath was ragged as his fingers caressed my collarbones.
“My turn,” he said.
I squeezed him between my thighs, and his jaw clenched as I slapped his hands away.
“Not yet.”
I traced his tattoo before leaning in. I settled my pussy over his hard cock. My eyes fluttered closed at the contact.
He hissed, and I opened my eyes. “I take back my earlier comment, Crow.”
He smirked at the use of his nickname. I’d heard the boys using them earlier at dinner, and it felt right flowing from my mouth.
“I think I can see now why she drops everything for you.”
Squeezing him tightly, I rubbed against him a few times.
“Kitten,”
Alek warned.
Flattening my chest to Nik’s, I pulled the material out of the way right before I made contact. Slowly, I rubbed my nipples against his chest, feeling them pebble and grow hard with the friction.
“Fuck,”
he groaned, throwing his head back.
I allowed him to peel the shirt away from my body. He ran his hands up and down my back, and goose bumps erupted over my arms. The heat from his body seeped into mine, and I rocked against him.
I heard Alek and Ivan saying something, but I tuned them out. After a minute, he grabbed my upper arms and tried pushing me back. I dug in harder. My fingers tangled in his hair and my lips fell to his ear.
“No touching,”
I whispered.
His grip on my arms tightened and then relaxed as I moved back on my own. I stared into his green eyes as he looked intently at my hard nipples. Feeling shy, I went to cover my breasts. Gone was my bravado, and back was modest Kinsley.
“No, I will look at you,”
Nikolai ground out, peeling my hands back.
“The card didn’t say anything about looking.”
I pushed back against him, feeling the smooth, taut skin of his chest.
Pulling my hair forward so my breasts were covered, I brought his shirt up and yanked it over me inside out. Climbing off his lap, I smiled as he caressed my ass. As I took my seat, the smooth texture of the soft leather couch had a cooling effect on my heated thighs.
I pulled Nik’s T-shirt up to my nose and breathed in his scent, but when I caught his eyes, I had to look away. Stark hunger stared back, and a shiver of fear ran through me. Alek still had a turn to go. I was consumed with a rush of emotions.
Did I seriously let the Blade cut my shirt from me, present myself to the Reaper for inspection, and rub against the Crow? Who is this girl sitting next to Alek on the couch?
Alek picked a card. “I dare you to give the person sitting to the right of you a hickey. What do you say?”
His gaze shifted as his blue eyes flicked to my neck first.
Fixating on me, he traced his eyes over the curves of my body with an appreciative hunger. Leaning closer, he brushed his lips against my ear, his warm breath caressing my skin. As he gently intertwined his fingers with mine, a rush of anticipation deepened with every touch.
“I…I teach dance on Monday,”
I stammered, remembering the time I had hoped he left one and was disappointed when he hadn’t.
He pulled me to my feet, placing me in front of him. He stared up at me, desire burning in his eyes.
“Alek,”
I whispered as he leaned in and pulled up Nik’s shirt a little way.
He kissed my navel, and heat flooded my cheeks. But that was nothing compared to the heat that spread between my legs at the feel of his tongue on me as he licked up my body. My hands gripped his shoulders tightly when his tongue flicked out and over my right nipple. He took it in his mouth and gently sucked on it before pulling it with his teeth.
“Oh my god,”
I gasped, my stomach dropping.
He chuckled and moved to the swell of my breasts. Taking the side of one of them in his mouth, he sucked hard. His soft beard tickled my skin, sending shivers through me. After what seemed like forever, he pulled away and eased his finger over the mark.
He pulled the shirt back down and chuckled. “Sit, Kinsley.”
I nodded, completely at a loss for words.
“Let’s all take a break, get something to drink, and recommence,”
Nik suggested, standing to stretch.
I turned to Alek. “I’m going to freshen up, fix this shirt so it’s right side up. I’ll be back.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond, just took off down the hall as quickly as I could. I needed a minute to myself. The wooden floor was cool against my bare feet, and the muffled sounds of the group faded as I slipped into my room. I gently closed the door behind me and let out a long breath.
Unable to help myself, I lifted Nik’s shirt and stared down at the mark Alek left on me in wonder. I felt like I had changed in some small way, as silly as that was. Then I realized, I had.
It was baby steps, for sure, but I didn’t feel panicked in any way. I felt stronger. To the outside world, getting a hickey wasn’t even worth mentioning, but I’d done something ordinary girls did every day.
I smiled, feeling bold and, dare I say, happy. I went out on a date, danced with three handsome men, and was enjoying spending time with them all. Maybe not Jenna, but it was great having Sarah here, and she looked like she was having so much fun.
Is this what normal feels like?
Alek wanted to talk later, and I knew I’d have to deal with him. I’d all but outed myself. But he hadn’t carted me off and demanded answers, so there was that. I wasn’t sure what story I’d present—definitely not the truth.
It wouldn’t matter after this weekend, anyway. I had no plans to take things further with him. I was dipping my toes in the dating pool. If I could make it through game night, then normal dating would be a breeze. I turned my attention back to the red mark, looking at it again in wonder.
“Hey, do you have a minute?”
Jenna asked as she and Sarah waltzed into my room. I quickly pulled Nik’s shirt down.
“That was intense,”
Jenna said. Her tone was contrite and not like it had been before. I wondered if Nik said something to her.
“It was nothing. It’s just a game,”
I said, trying to brush it off.
“Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to come across so rude. I was surprised to see Alek with someone. I’m a little protective of them all. I’ve known the Kings for over a year now. Can you forgive me?”
She looked down, and her face was flushed.
I knew I had a choice to make. If I was going to stay the weekend, I’d need to be at least in a civil place with her.
“No worries. Let’s start fresh,”
I offered, hoping I was making the right decision.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. Now I’ve got to go find Nik and let him know we’ve made up. He’ll be so proud of me.”
Jenna made her way out, looking lighter. I turned to Sarah and found her staring after Jenna with her brow pinched in confusion.
“That was weird. What is she, a child who needs approval? Oh well. You have been hiding some serious talents from me. What did you do with my bestie?”
She started to pull up my shirt, and I swatted her hands away.
“No, seriously, that was so hot. I may need some tips.”
She flopped on my bed.
“Don’t be silly. You have more practice than me,”
I said, joining her on the bed.
“Are you calling me a slut?”
She giggled.
“Never, but are you having fun?”
“God, yes. If that man doesn’t blow out my back tonight, I’m joining a nunnery. I just need to get me a sexy card.”
“Be careful, take it slow.”
I chewed on my bottom lip.
“Promise me you’ll stay the weekend. I’ve not had this much fun in a long time, and I want to spend as much time with that man as I can,”
Sarah said, brushing my hair back.
“I’ll stay tonight, for sure. I wish the hike was tomorrow instead of the winery.”
I hugged her, thankful Alek had brought her.