by Shandi Boyes
“And. . .” Nikolai draws out his one word as if it's an entire sentence.
My pulse thuds in my ears when he saunters around the table and heads in my direction. His swagger is pompous and reeks of attitude. I’m certain a man of his stature, much less looks, wouldn’t lack confidence, but I’m still stunned by the sheer amount of self-assurance beaming out of him. He is so cocky, I doubt he needs assistance with his latest debacle. We just walked straight into his trap, gifting him a new set of toys to play with.
My breaths turn ragged when he stops to stand in front of me. His eyes are even more exquisite up close, as are his sculptured face and shirtless torso. The three-day old stubble on his chin can’t dampen the razor-sharp cut of his jawline, and his lips appear as soft as a cloud.
When he leans in to sniff my hair, Mr. Fletcher signals for the guards to move in. I raise my hand into the air, requesting for them to stand down. Years of studying criminal masterminds awards me with the knowledge that this is a tactic Nikolai uses to siphon out the weak. If I fail this test, he will move on to the next set of pawns waiting in the wings, contending for his attention.
Furthermore, I’m not afraid of him. He intimidates me more than any man before him, but there’s something deep in his eyes that stops fear from being my first response.
The scent of cigarettes and alcohol lingers in Nikolai’s wake when he drags his nose down my neck before trailing it along my collarbone. His attention not only mists my skin with sweat, it moistens my panties as well.
I pop my eyes back open when I lose the heat of his touch. He stares straight into my eyes, his gaze unwavering and without reservation. I've always wondered what victims of crime felt in the hours leading up to their assault. Now I know, because I just experienced it firsthand.
While tracing his index finger over the goosebumps mottling my wrist, Nikolai’s eyes stray to Mr. Fletcher. “If you get within an inch of her, I’ll cut off your cock and feed it to you.”
Since his eyes return to mine so quickly, he fails to see the response his warning elicited from Mr. Fletcher. I guess a man who dishes out threats like Halloween candy doesn’t need to see Mr. Fletcher’s response to know it exists. He can smell the fear leeching off his skin. It's potent and strong, nearly as intoxicating as Nikolai’s ruggedly virile scent lingering in my nostrils.
My pulse quickens when Nikolai pinches my chin to return my eyes to his. His heavy-lidded gaze is more intimidating than any I’ve seen. His eyes are icy, pulse-quickening, and terrifyingly delicious.
"And don't think I won't know if he touches you, Justine." He purrs my name in a throaty rumble, making it sound more feminine than it is. “I smelled your purity. I’ll know if it changes.” He whispers his last two sentences as if they were only intended for my ears.
I nod, spinelessly agreeing with his assessment. It isn’t because I’m fearful Mr. Fletcher will lose a beloved member of his body. It's because Nikolai’s statement was laced with so much confidence, I’m not willing to test its accuracy. Nikolai’s eyes expose that he’d rather slay a man than be seen as a fool.
Nikolai smiles an unabashed grin, pleased by my cowardly agreement. When he takes a step back, I secure my first breath in what feels like several minutes.
"Let's get this wrapped up. I have crack to be snorting.”
He stalks to the other end of the room by walking backward, his eyes never leaving mine.
Excited at the prospect of securing him as a client, Mr. Fletcher and the junior associates jump to his demand, neglecting to notice he didn't disclose whose chest he'd be snorting crack from. They flurry around the room, oblivious to the fact Nikolai's eyes are filling in the gaps his mouth failed to speak.
Although his forthright eyes relay every thought streaming through his roughish mind, he articulates his notions out loud, ensuring I can’t mistake his eyes’ silent admission. “Don’t make plans this weekend, Ahren. Your calendar just got blacked out by the man determined to read your wicked thoughts.”
He smirks a grin I’ve only seen once before. It was when I went head to head with Satan.
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Acknowledgments
This is the part I find hardest when writing a book. The people to thank. Firstly, to my mom, who reads every single one of my books in draft format. To Nicki, my new editor, thank you for making my book extra shiny. To Lindsi, who squeezed me in for a last-minute proof, and to Bec for recommending her. Even with a book being read a hundred times, sometimes mistakes still slip through the cracks. We’re human. It can happen, but the above people helped make it less likely.
* * *
To the readers who have been with me from the beginning… thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys have inspired me to write almost 37 books in four years! That’s crazy—totally unheard of. My Aussie heart is in awe of the support I’ve received. And finally, to my family, for always being there when mum/wifey tunes you out so she can listen to the voices in her head. My husband’s simple reply when I told him I wanted to write a book turned into something much greater than either of us were anticipating, but it has enriched our lives so much.
I wouldn’t be me without him, just like I wouldn’t be a writer without you, so thank you again.
* * *
Cheers
* * *
Shandi xx
Also by Shandi Boyes
Perception Series
* * *
Saving Noah (Noah & Emily)
Fighting Jacob (Jacob & Lola)
Taming Nick (Nick & Jenni)
Redeeming Slater (Slater and Kylie)
Saving Emily (Noah & Emily - Novella)
Wrapped Up with Rise Up (Perception Novella - should be read after the Bound Series)
* * *
Enigma
* * *
Enigma (Isaac & Isabelle #1)
Unraveling an Enigma (Isaac & Isabelle #2)
Enigma The Mystery Unmasked (Isaac & Isabelle #3)
Enigma: The Final Chapter (Isaac & Isabelle #4)
Beneath The Secrets (Hugo & Ava #1)
Beneath The Sheets(Hugo & Ava #2)
Spy Thy Neighbor (Hunter & Paige)
The Opposite Effect (Brax & Clara)
I Married a Mob Boss(Rico & Blaire)
Second Shot(Hawke & Gemma)
The Way We Are(Ryan & Savannah #1)
The Way We Were(Ryan & Savannah #2)
Sugar and Spice (Cormack & Harlow)
Lady In Waiting (Regan & Alex #1)
Man in Queue (Regan & Alex #2)
Couple on Hold(Regan & Alex #3)
Enigma: The Wedding (Isaac and Isabelle)
Silent Vigilante (Brandon and Melody #1)
Hushed Guardian (Brandon & Melody #2)
Quiet Protector (Brandon & Melody #3)
* * *
Bound Series
* * *
Chains (Marcus & Cleo #1)
Links(Marcus & Cleo #2)
Bound(Marcus & Cleo #3)
Restrain(Marcus & Cleo #4)
Psycho (Dexter & ??)
* * *
Russian Mob Chronicles
* * *
Nikolai: A Mafia Prince Romance (Nikolai & Justine #1)
Nikolai: Taking Back What’s Mine (Nikolai & Justine #2)
Nikolai: What’s Left of Me(Nikolai & Justine #3)
Nikolai: Mine to Protect(Nikolai & Justine #4)
Asher: My Russian Revenge (Asher & Zariah)
Nikolai: Through the Devil's Eyes(Nikolai & Justine #5)
Trey (Trey & K)
K: A Trey Sequel
The Italian Cartel
* * *
Dimitri
Roxanne
Reign
Mafia Ties (Novella)
Maddox
Demi
Rocco
Clover
Smith
* * *
RomCom Standalones
&nb
sp; Just Playin’ (Elvis & Willow)
Ain't Happenin' (Lorenzo & Skylar)
The Drop Zone (Colby & Jamie)
Very Unlikely (Brand New Couple)
* * *
Short Stories
* * *
Christmas Trio (Wesley, Andrew & Mallory -- short story)
Falling For A Stranger (Short Story)
* * *
Coming Soon
Skitzo
