by Apryl Baker
His dark eyes burned with an intensity that scared Lily a bit. She’d never had anyone look at her like that. Those eyes held a promise. All she had to do was accept it. Could she do it?
“Will you tell me exactly how you plan on helping me?” She needed to know the specifics.
“We’re going to go slowly, Lily. First, you have to be comfortable with me, so you and I are going to spend a lot of time together. You’ll be as comfortable with me as you are with Boy Wonder and Mike.”
“Hardly.” She couldn’t repress the giggle that slipped out. She was too nervous. “Neither of them have designs on my virtue.”
He smiled, really smiled, and she couldn’t help but admire his dimples. Nikoli had a nice smile when he wasn’t trying too hard. It was honest. “Once you start to get used to me, we’ll move on to something basic.”
“Like?”
“Like putting your hand in mine. I won’t do anything except let you set your hand in mine. You can snatch it back without fear.”
“So you’ll let me touch you instead of touching me?” She’d never tried that before. Adam had always forced her to let him hug her.
“It’s all about control, Lily,” Nikoli explained. “Everyone has been forcing their touch on you, and I won’t do that. I may do a few sneak attacks, but I’m going to let you get used to touching me, become familiar with how my skin feels against yours. Once that happens, then I’ll touch you. Trust me, Milaya, you will learn to love the way I touch you.”
“What does that mean? Milaya? It’s Russian?”
“Yes, it’s Russian,” he said.
“So?” she prompted. “What does it mean?”
Nikoli wasn’t ready to tell her yet what it meant. He wasn’t even sure himself why he called her that. It meant sweetheart. He’d never in his life called a woman sweetheart. It slipped out around this one, and it unnerved him a little.
“What it means doesn’t matter.” He brushed the question aside. “Are you ready for this, Lily? Really ready for it? I want you to be sure.”
“I…I don’t want to live like this anymore, terrified, unable to show anyone how much I care about them. I can’t even hug my mom.” She twisted her fingers, her anxiety easy to read. “Even if things don’t turn out with Adam, I want to be normal again, Nikoli. I want to have what everyone else has—someone who loves them, a family. I need to be able to touch someone in order to get that. ”
Nikoli watched her. So many emotions ran rampant on her face. He couldn’t even begin to fathom all the pain this woman had gone through, but here she sat, stronger than most. Yeah, she had a hang-up, but she was trying to get past it. She wasn’t taking it lying down anymore. To face your fears took more courage than people ever gave you credit for. He’d faced a few demons himself, so he understood. Lily wasn’t just special; she was extraordinary.
“Then you’ll have it, Lily. I promise.”
“What about you, though?” she asked.
“Me?”
Lily grinned, her inner devil shining through, and Nikoli frowned. What was the minx up to?
“Well, you did say you wanted to improve people’s perception of you. If you plan on doing this, it means you can’t go out and have sex with whomever. If you want people to believe we’re dating, then you are going to have to conform to my standards.”
So the little minx had a devil in her after all. Two could play this game. He pushed her. He scooted until his thigh was pressed firmly against hers. She sucked in her breath. “As I told you earlier, Lily. I won’t need anyone else. I’ll have you.” Before she had time to respond, he leaned in and softly brushed his lips against hers. It was over and done before she could freak. He stood up and walked over to the row of window overlooking the Boston skyline. He needed to give her a moment and to get his own emotions under control.
Lily’s hand shook as she brought her fingers up to touch her lips. She couldn’t believe he’d done that! He’d told her he wouldn’t touch her this soon, and he’d gone and done it anyway.
“You said…”
“I did say.” He turned to face her. “My goal is to help you, Lily, make you comfortable with me, but I also want to touch you, very badly. It’s why I’m over here right now. I want to bend you over that couch and fuck you so hard, you’ll feel me inside you for a week, but I’m controlling myself.”
Lily’s mouth formed a silent O. She hadn’t expected that. He was honest, if nothing else. “How can I trust you, though, if you can’t even keep your word for one day?”
“Lily, I promised we’d take it slow, get you comfortable with me, but part of that includes my sneak attacks. My lips feathered over yours, not even a touch really. I will do it again and again. Get used to it.”
She swallowed. He meant that. He was going to do it again. Her insides tightened, but not in fear. Her hands were shaking, yeah, but there was more than fear there—she felt excitement, anticipation. Why did his touch, even the promise of his touch, do this to her? No one, not even Adam, had ever made her feel like this. Maybe the manwhore really was that good. She laughed, thinking about what Janet would have to say on the matter.
“Something funny?” he asked, his voice low and rough.
Lily looked up and her laughter died. He looked hard, determined. Not the laughing man of before. He looked more like the dominant males she secretly loved to read about, and it made her mouth dry. Dear Lord, what was she getting into? She almost called it off right then and there, but forced the words back. If she didn’t take a chance, then she’d never know. This man—not the boy from before, but the man in front of her—could give her back her life. Instinct told her this, and she wasn’t going to give up the chance for normalcy.
Not that she’d tell him that, though. “I was just thinking about what everyone’s going to say when the manwhore goes straight. Do you think you can handle the ribbing?”
“Connoisseur of women, Lily, connoisseur of women.”
“If that gets you through the night,” she said, shrugging. “At least you’re not hooking on the corner…”
He spewed the water he’d just put into his mouth, and Lily laughed. Oh God, she was going to have to tell Janet about this one for sure.
“You are going to pay for that one, Milaya,” he promised. “I may spank you.”
“No, you won’t,” she said, laughing. “You just told me you don’t hurt women.”
“I never said it’d hurt, did I?” His eyes glittered with intent, and Lily’s own widened.
Her own doubts crowded back in, and she pushed them down. This man could be more dangerous to her than anyone else. He struck a chord in her, and it scared her, but she refused to be a coward anymore.
“No touching, remember?”
He grinned, a slow, lazy smile that put her on alert. “Oh, but when I do touch you, Milaya…”
Lily took a shaky breath. She needed to get out of here, before they both did something she wasn’t ready for. “I think we should probably go back to campus now.”
Nikoli chuckled. “Running already. You realize I’m not going to let you escape so easily next time?”
“I’m counting on it,” she said and meant it. She needed him to not let her run. Maybe it was what she’d needed all along.
“Come on, Lily Bells, let’s get you home.”
Chapter Ten
Lily felt like crap, but her growling stomach roused her out of bed. She didn’t even bother changing, she just took care of business in the bathroom and washed her face. Lily headed to the cafeteria dressed in her favorite penguin pajama pants and an old AC/DC t-shirt. Stifling a yawn, she grabbed a bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt covered in granola, along with a glass of OJ. She plopped down at the first table she came to and rubbed her eyes. They felt blurry and gritty from her lack of sleep. Her only plans for today were to eat, then go back to bed for a couple more hours, and then possibly she’d deal with Nikoli.
Just thinking about last night twisted her stomach into knots. She
still couldn’t believe Adam had done that, said those awful, hurtful things to her. Never would she have thought him capable of being so cruel. She tried to tell herself it showed he cared enough to be jealous, that she might have a shot at winning him from Sue, but it hurt too much. Lily didn’t know how long it would take her to forgive him, but it wasn’t going to be soon. It might actually help, too, if Nikoli’s plan worked. If she stayed away from Adam, and spent her time with Nikoli, then it might drive him crazy enough to realize she was more than just his best friend.
If Nikoli’s plan worked, and that was a big if.
Her phone buzzed and she looked down to see Adam’s face on the screen. She hit ignore. Too early to even try to deal with that.
“You look like hell, Lily.”
Lily let her head fall on the table. Mikey. Of course. Adam probably sent him to feel out how mad she was.
“Well, thank you, Michelangelo,” she grumbled. “Make me feel all awesome, why don’t you?”
He plopped down across from her, and his plate of steaming eggs and waffles made her grimace. How anyone could eat something that heavy first thing in the morning was beyond her. Just gross.
“Soooo…”
Lily grimaced, and he laughed, but then his face got serious. “Adam got so drunk last night, I thought he might have alcohol poisoning.”
“Is he all right?” she asked, alarmed. She might be mad and hurt, but she didn’t want him hurt too. Well, not much.
“Sleeping it off, but he told me some stuff,” Mike said. “I’m sorry for what he said, Lils, and so is he.”
She sighed. “Sorry doesn’t cut it this time, Mikey.”
“I know, but you realize he only said those things because he was jealous, right?” Mike shoveled eggs in his mouth and swallowed. Man didn’t even chew. Lily screwed up her face. “All he could go on about was you and Nikoli. He wants to beat the crap out of him.”
“Yeah, well, it’s none of his business, especially after what he said to me.”
“Janet said you left with Nikoli last night.” Mikey put his fork down and stared at her. “Lily, Nikoli…”
“Is none of your business either,” she said bluntly.
“I just don’t want you to do something stupid out of spite.” Mike turned his full attention on her. “You’re like a sister to me, Lily, so I have to put my two cents in. Your eyes are bruised and hurt, so I don’t know if you’re thinking straight. Nikoli is, he’s…”
“I know all about him. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Adam. Stay out of it. I’m a big girl. I know what I’m getting into.”
Mike stared at her for a long moment. “Lily…”
“I mean it, Mikey. Leave it alone.”
“Leave what alone?”
Lily groaned at the sound of Nikoli’s voice. She groaned again when he sat down right beside her. He scooted until only an inch separated them. Her palms started to sweat, but she forced herself to sit still.
“Nothing,” she said and sat up. Nikoli was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a Metallica t-shirt. His hair looked rumpled, and his black eyes twinkled. Those full lips of his were turned up in a half smile.
“Dushka…”
“What does that mean?” she asked suspiciously.
He grinned wolfishly. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I know what it means in English.” Her eyes narrowed.
“But it doesn’t mean that in Russian.” Nikoli popped a grape in his mouth.
“Why is your English so good?” Mike asked curiously. “Didn’t you grow up in Russia?”
Nikoli nodded. “Yes, but my father spoke English. I speak it as well as I do Russian. Now, dushka…”
“No,” Lily interrupted. “Stop right there. Do not call me dushka. Ever.”
“You don’t even know what it means.” Nikoli laughed.
“I know what everyone else will think it means, and that’s more than enough for me. No dushka. Promise!”
“No more dushka. Katyonak instead.”
“Note to self, pick up a Russian to English dictionary.”
Mike shook his head, barely containing his laughter. Lily shot him an annoyed look, which only caused him to cough to try and hide his choked laugh.
“What’s up, guys?”
Lily closed her eyes as no less than three of Adam’s football buddies took a seat at their table. They leveled a look that promised pain at Nikoli, which he ignored completely. Instead, he focused on Lily, and she tried to scoot farther away from him. He only followed. She frowned at him and he simply smiled in response. He did warn her he was going to push her, but she thought he’d give her at least a day to come to grips with it. She should have known better.
“Breakfast?” she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Milka, you are going to fall off the bench if you scoot any farther.” Nikoli laughed.
“Maybe you should back off then, Nik.” Menace laced every one of Brian Greggory’s words.
“No, it’s fine.” Lily waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it, Brian.”
“If he’s bothering you…”
Nikoli lazily plopped another grape into his mouth. “I’m not bothering her. The fact is, she and I are going to be spending a lot of time together, so get used to it.”
Brian narrowed his eyes, and Lily could see they’d never believe she’d willingly go out with Nikoli. “He’s right,” she said. “You see, we have a bet.” She felt Nikoli go completely still. He had no idea what she was up to, but a plan was forming, and she rubbed her hands together gleefully. This could turn out in her favor after all.
“A bet?” Mikey asked curiously, still shoveling food. She caught a glimpse of waffle and made a face.
“He wants in my pants, and I want his car.”
Six pairs of shocked eyes gazed at her.
“Never going to happen, Lily Bells.” His car? She’d lost her damn mind!
“Never say never, Kincaid.” Lily grinned impishly up at him, and Nikoli almost laughed with her. Almost. His baby was going nowhere. She could get that out of her pretty little head right now.
“You want the ’Cuda.” Luther sat down next to Nikoli, rubbing his eyes.
Lily nodded, and Nikoli wanted to throttle her. No way in hell was she getting his car!
“He looks worried,” Mikey observed.
“He does,” Luther agreed. “I have a hundred bucks that says she gets the car.”
Nikoli sent Luther a glare hot enough to singe what little hair was left on his head. They were betting on his car? His baby?
“So what does this bet entail?” Mikey asked.
“I personally don’t think our manwhore here can go without sex,” Lily said casually. “If he slips up during the next three months, he forfeits his car.”
Nikoli focused on the woman next to him. He zoned out all the people around him and looked directly into her laughing blue eyes. She was going to pay for that. “And as I said last night, Milaya, I won’t need to slip up with you in my bed.”
Mike growled something unintelligible, and the other guys got pissed off looks. Nikoli ignored them. “That’s the second half of our bet. She has to keep out of my bed for three months, or I win.”
“I want the car more than I want you,” Lily told him.
“We’ll see, Lily Bells.” Nikoli grinned. “Speaking of our bet…are you ready to go?”
“Go?” She frowned. “Go where?”
“You’ll see.” He stood up and waited for her.
“I’m not dressed.” Her eyes were wide and slightly fearful when they looked up at him.
“You look fine for what I have planned.” He couldn’t keep the evil grin off his face. Time for a little payback. “You won’t be keeping those clothes on for long anyway.”
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “I want medical reports. Who knows what you might have.”
She did not. He narrowed his own eyes. “We discussed this yes
terday, dushka.”
“And I told you not to call me that!” she yelled. The guys sitting across from her were chuckling, and she turned her furious gaze on them. “The next person who laughs will not get tutored this year.”
That wiped the smirks off their faces.
The girl had more fight in her than she realized. It was what he was banking on. She just needed to keep her fingers off his car. Seriously, where had that come from?
“Ready?” He kept his expression as mild as he could, but from the look of irritation on her face, he knew he’d failed and let the smirk out.
She stood up and grabbed her bowl to dump off at the bins. “I really need to change…”
He shook his head. “Nope, no time. I might even let you drive my car if you get your butt in gear.”
Mike snorted milk through his nose at the look of excitement on Lily’s face. “What’s with you and his car?”
“Ohmygosh…it’s a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda!” Her blue eyes lit up like Christmas. “Do you even know how rare that car is?”
“When did you become a car buff?” Mike frowned.
“She’s been a car buff since before she could talk.”
Lily’s entire body froze and she flinched at the sound of Adam’s voice. Nikoli moved closer, and for once, she didn’t move away from him. He didn’t think she was even aware of how close he was, but Adam noticed. His eyes narrowed.
“Seriously?” Mike asked. “Why did I not know this?”
“Who do you think fixes my car?” Adam set his tray down. “Lily, can we talk?”
“She was just leaving.” Nikoli’s voice was cold.
“Lily?” Adam stared directly into her eyes, and she flinched again.
