by K. I. Lynn
I’m too attached to Niko’s mouth to understand how we made it up the stairs to his place, let alone to his place, but as soon as we’re through the door, he grabs my ass and picks me up. I love how he can do that so effortlessly. My legs wrap around him, pulling him closer as he slams my back against the wall. There’s fire from his hands on my legs as they make trails under the hem of my dress.
“Fuck,” he hisses as his hips rock into me, fingers digging into my ass. “Are you fucking bare?”
I groan and rotate my hips against him. “Can’t wear panties with this dress.”
He crashes his lips to mine, and I can feel his hand between us. I’m wet, ready, and desperate for him to fill me. A month’s worth of teasing texts has us both so worked up.
“I need inside you, Everly.”
Fuck, the way he says my name.
No pause, clothes still on, he presses his lips to mine as he pushes inside me. Stretching, full and deep, and exactly what I need.
Every nerve ending lights off, sending a spiral of what feels like an electrical charge racing through my body. It feels so good. Too good.
I whimper when he pulls out only to thrust forward, smashing me into the wall, igniting me all over again. My head falls back, and I close my eyes, listening to the erotic groans leaving Niko with each thrust that slams into me harder and deeper.
Everything is Niko. All I feel, hear, and smell is him. My fuzzy mind can only comprehend the pleasure, his cock rocketing me toward a mind-blowing orgasm.
Nothing but carnal bliss as he pounds into me. My whole body tightens, and I scream out. Fire rips through me, whiting everything out as my muscles snap, releasing all the tension in my body.
“Fuck,” he curses as his hips crash into me, his back arches, muscles jumping.
I can feel his cock twitching inside me, coming. Filling me.
His head falls against mine, our breaths harsh. This is what I so desperately needed. Release.
After a moment of rest, Niko pulls back, his hands still holding me up as he steps away from the wall.
“Wha . . .” I trail off, wondering where he’s taking me. His cock twitches inside me again, and I realize he is still hard.
“All-nighter. I’m going to make you come until you pass out,” he says as he lays me back on the bed.
He strips off his shirt, giving me a full view of his chiseled physique. One that I love to rake my eyes over.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll never let you leave,” he growls, making me shiver and clench around him. His head falls back, and a groan vibrates in his chest. “Fuck, baby.”
The fire is back in his eyes, consuming me.
Never leave.
Never, ever leave again.
The need to pee wakes me, and I try to roll out of bed, but a weight around my body stops me from moving. I pick up the arm and turn as I sit up, my head spinning from the movement. I blink, the action taking longer than usual.
The neon light from the bedside clock hurts my eyes, but I’m able to make out that it’s just after four in the morning. Looking over, I have a sense of déjà vu. Niko is asleep next to me, naked as the day he was born. So am I.
“Shit,” I hiss.
Standing up is a challenge, and I’m still too drunk to walk straight. Not being able to walk in a straight line seems to help avoid some of our clothes on the floor, but not all. A pair of jeans almost sends me falling on top of Niko, a guaranteed way to wake him, but I manage to steady myself on his dresser.
Thankfully there is a nightlight on in the bathroom. My mind is hazy, memories of the last few hours nothing but a blur, but I know as soon as I’m done, I have to get out of here.
The déjà vu of the situation doesn’t go unnoticed, even in my current state.
I locate my dress and heels on the floor and pick them up before walking out into the living room.
Somewhere I vaguely remember dropping my clutch. The problem is where. Luckily, I spot it right away, the silver sparkling against his navy blue couch.
My phone still has half of its battery power, and I immediately pull up the Uber app. There’s someone ten minutes away, which is just enough time for me to get my clothes on and get out.
I want to leave him a note, but without my purse, I’m low on options. Carefully and quietly I pull open drawers until I find a thin stack of Post-it notes that can’t contain more than two or three pieces. Niko probably doesn’t even know they are there, buried at the bottom of a drawer.
I’m tempted to put the Post-it on him again, but instead, I choose someplace a little more conspicuous. All I need is a repeat of last time.
Dress on, heels in hand, hair an absolute mess, and with my clutch in hand, I walk out once again on Niko.
I STARE AT MY fridge, at the stupid yellow Post-it note. It reads, “Thanks again.” I’m beginning to hate her notes. At least this time she didn’t leave it next to my dick, but this shit is seriously fucked up. Where is she getting all the Post-its? I don’t even think I have any.
It’s then I remember her conversation with Cam when we moved Everly into her place. She is still a bit weird if she’s carrying them around with her, but I have to admit, I like it. Some of the old quirky Everly is still there.
After filling a glass with some water, I quickly down it and refill it before walking back to my bed. The chime of my phone goes off, but it’s not on my nightstand. I dig around on the floor for my jeans, tossing clothes everywhere until I find it.
A missed call from Cam by the time I’ve got it in my hand. It’s then I notice something is off.
My dick shows and feels signs of usage, but what I’m not seeing is any condoms. No wrappers and no used rubbers anywhere. I’ve never fucked anyone without one. I’ve never even had the urge to fuck a woman without protecting myself. Even with protection, I get tested once a year when I go in for a physical just for peace of mind. The thought of Everly and me, together, with no barrier between us has my dick twitching. I am suddenly pissed I don’t remember fucking her bare. The thought of being able to claim her, mark her in such a way, has me feeling like a fucking caveman. I keep trying to remember.
The memories are there. I remember us coming home, stripping her, and fucking her over and over, but it’s clouded by an alcohol-induced haze.
One thing is for sure—round two didn’t dispel my want for her. It feels like she’s in my blood now, a vital part of my being. Round two secured her spot as more than a good time and worth the risk to my friendship.
I’m not letting her note stop this thing between us.
After slipping back into bed, I pull up my contacts list. I haven’t changed the name yet, so “Alyson” still shows up. I contemplate whether to text or call, and finally hit the call button.
“Mm, hello?” she answers after the third ring, her voice groggy.
“How was the walk of shame this morning?” I ask.
“Not bad,” she says before a screeching yawn comes across. “It was long before the sun was up. The Uber driver was a little creepy with the way he looked at me.”
“Pretty sure you had just fucked-hair. You shouldn’t have left like that, Everly. That time of night, it’s not always safe, and you were alone.”
“Mm hm. What do you want, Niko?”
“Seriously? That’s how you’re going to act?” I’m getting tired of her aloofness toward me and our situation. It still doesn’t stop me from going after her. Somehow I know if I can just break past her walls, her mood will improve. Problem is, it’s hard on a guy’s ego when the chick just up and leaves every single time and acts like you’re the shit on the bottom of her shoe.
At least in bed, she’s honest. The taste of her lips, the feel of her in my arms, and the look in her eyes when she comes all tell me she hasn’t stopped lying. Only it’s not to me; it’s to herself.
“I’m looking for fun, just like you. Nothing more.”
I clench my jaw and close my eyes. She’s not in front of m
e, letting me read her reactions. Then again, that hasn’t helped me in the past. She’s very good at pushing me away.
“I’m not looking for fun, Everly, I’m looking for more than a quick fuck and a sticky note.”
“W-what?” she asks with a stutter. A fucking stutter. There’s Everly.
“You heard me. You. Me. Dinner. Or lunch, I’m not picky.”
“Niko, not to stroke your already humongous ego, but you are fantastic in bed. We had fun. The end.”
“Not the end. I want more,” I say. “More sex, more you. And to find out which of your fucking personalities is the real Everly.”
“Why?”
“Because I liked Alyson, and I have a feeling you were true to me then, even if your name wasn’t.”
She’s silent for longer than I expect. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know that you have feelings for me?”
“Why would you think that I have feelings for you?”
“Because if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have kept up the lie. You wouldn’t have kept contacting me.” She says nothing, so I take that as confirmation. “Soon, Everly. This isn’t over. It’s just starting.”
“Niko, this can’t happen.”
“It already has. Stop fighting it, and just let the cards fall where they do. I’ll see you tonight.” And with that, I hang up. Let her crazy little mind marinate on that for a bit. I’m starting to see that when it comes to Everly, I have to take the choice away from her or she will keep trying to push me away. Not going to fucking happen. New point for me.
The second night with Everly did nothing but fuck me up even worse. Weeks have passed, and every text I send goes unanswered. The last fucking thing I want to do is come across as some needy wimp, but this woman has me so twisted. My whole body aches just to touch her again, and it has never done that before.
Emotions I don’t understand, feelings I’ve never had, and they’re all because of her.
I need another drink. Something to dull this hum running through me.
As I pull up to our usual haunt, I spot a very familiar car in the parking lot. There aren’t a lot of BMW convertibles out here, especially not with that sexy black and red interior.
After parking in the open space next to her, I pull off my helmet and toss it onto her passenger side seat. That way, no matter how it goes in there, she won’t be rid of me when she walks out the door.
I’m prepared for hostile, for her walls. She’s a pro at trying to push me away, but I’m not going to be pushed back anymore. Doesn’t mean I won’t play the game with her. I love it when she’s feisty, and it makes the chase that much more infuriating and the reward sweeter.
She’s sitting at the bar, her back to me, when I walk in. The seat to her left is empty, and I walk right up and slide in. The movement catches her eye, and her head reflexively turns toward me.
I don’t register. It was just a quick glance, but then comes the double take.
“Fuck,” she hisses under her breath and turns back to the drink in front of her.
“Another Sex on the Beach?” I ask, just to tweak her.
She adjusts her position so that she can look at me a little easier. “Raspberry tea, if you must know. How did you even know I was here?”
I raise my eyebrow at her but don’t answer her question. “You’re at a bar, drinking tea?”
“I don’t have to explain.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Besides, it’s a pub and grill. Do you have to sit next to me?”
Fuck. She makes me want to lean forward and take her lips just to shut her bitch up. Horny Everly is so much easier to deal with.
I lean in closer, loving the way she tenses. “Do I make you nervous?”
“No.” There’s a force behind her words, but pink spreads across her cheeks, giving her away.
I place my hand just above her knee, making her jump. “Do I turn you on?” I ask, having more fun than I should be.
Her eyes are slits, but she doesn’t faze me. The deepening pink in her cheeks tells me I’m right.
“Go away,” she hisses as she swats at my hand.
“No.”
“Leave me alone!”
I stare at her. “I don’t think you really want that.”
“Hey! The lady said to leave her alone,” a guy at the other end of the bar yells out.
I like that he’s looking out for a lady, but he’s barking up the wrong tree. “Hey, man, this is between her and me.”
The guy stands, the bar stool screeching against the tile floor. “Yeah? Well, now it’s gonna be between you and me.”
Everly holds out her hand for him to stop. “Thanks, but I can handle him. I don’t need your help.”
The guy rolls his eyes and turns his attention back to the beer in front of him.
I quirk a brow at her. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Seriously? The Red Sox are playing. I need food. Am I not allowed here?”
“Of course you’re allowed here. You should have called me. I would’ve joined you.”
“Yeah, right. That sounds a little too much like a date, and I’m looking for dessert.”
My jaw ticks. She thinks she’s got the upper hand here, but I’ll show her. I lean forward, getting in close to her. So close I can feel her body heat, and I know by her sharp intake of breath she feels mine.
“There’s no dessert here better than me, baby.” I slide my hand up her leg, to the interior of her thigh, and press the seam of her jeans up against her clit for a few quick pulses before pulling away. It’s not something I would ever do normally, but she’s driving me insane. “But you already know that, don’t you, Everly?”
Her lips are parted, and her breath has sped up. “Niko, whatever it is that you think is going on here, it isn’t.”
My eyes drop to her full mouth. I almost groan out loud at the memories of that sexy as hell mouth of hers, and all that it did to me, especially the way it stretched around my dick.
“Yes, it is.”
“It’s not, and the sooner you realize it, the better off we will be.” She rifles through her purse and throws a couple of twenties down.
I tilt my head, watching her. I hear what she’s saying, but her body language is screaming that she’s lying. She fidgets in one spot before squaring her shoulders.
“Enjoy the rest of your night, Nikolas.” And with that, Everly hops off the stool and walks away, cool and calm, as if the idea of us being an us isn’t on her radar.
I don’t bother protesting her exit. She’s back to feigning disinterest in me for more than just sex, like she was that first night that I found out who she was, but I know better now. She can’t hide her body’s response to mine when we are together. I’ll let her run, for now. I know that there is more between us than she wants to admit, but I’m a patient man, and I’m willing to bide my time until I can make her see it too.
It doesn’t take long before I find I’ve broken her to some degree. An hour later a picture comes through my phone. Everly’s jeans are gone, her legs spread, a hand covering her mound.
Everly: You fucking suck.
I smile down at the message, then set my phone back down on the bar. Let’s see how she likes it when I don’t respond.
NIKO: WHY IS IT that even while watching an entire structure burn to the ground this afternoon, all I could think of were your eyes.
I stare down at my phone and the random text from Niko. It isn’t the first text I’ve gotten from him this week, but it is the hardest to understand and I have no idea how to take it. A compliment?
Everly: Ummm I’m not sure where to start with that.
I text back.
Niko: It’s true
Everly: I believe you, but you thought of me while watching a fire?
Niko: No.
I blow out a breath and roll my eyes. Is he drunk again?
Everly: No? That’s what you just said.
Niko: What I said wa
s, while watching an entire structure burn to the ground this afternoon, all I could think of were your eyes.
My chest tightens as I read and reread his words. It’s not like I can let on how affect me, though.
Everly: *Rolling my eyes here* You might be crazy.
Niko: Crazy for you.
I laugh out loud at his text. Oh, he’s breaking me down again. Damn him and his charm.
Everly: LOL Cheesy. Is that all you’ve got?
Niko: Not even close, baby. I’ve got so much more for you. ;)
Niko: I’m off in a few hours. What are you doing tonight?
You, is what I want to respond, but that is not a good idea. He is way too addictive for his own good.
Everly: Actually, I have plans.
Niko: With who?
Everly: Another man, but I’m sure you don’t know him. He’s bald and a little older than I usually go for.
Niko: Your dad?
I roll my eyes as my fingers fly across the glass.
Everly: My dad? My dad isn’t bald. lol I might have to tell him you said that.
Niko: Okay, WTF Everly?
Oops, he may be mad I played with him.
Everly: I have plans with Mr. Clean! I did a little painting last night. I have more to do, but after that, Mr. Clean and I will be getting very close.
Niko: I don’t think you’re funny, little girl. And why are you painting? You can hire someone to do that.
Everly: Because I like to personalize my own space. That’s why . . . and little girl??? Not you too.
I’m getting tired of Cameron calling me that and the last thing I need is Niko jumping on that stupid name as well.
Niko: Yup. Me too. Think you might need to be punished for teasing me. Now that you bring it up, I can think of all kinds of dirty things I’d like to do to punish you.
The way my body heats up reading his words is almost too much to handle. I can’t go down the dirty rabbit hole right now, but I can’t help goading him for more.
Everly: Punished?
Niko: Babe.
Everly: Babe? That’s it? You’re not going to explain?
Well, he’s no fun tonight.
