Touch Me Not

by Apryl Baker

  “She is,” he agreed and leaned back against the couch. He heard the shock of their indrawn breaths and saw it on the faces around him. The horror on Boy Wonder’s face made him smirk. Adam didn’t like Lily being with him one bit. Too damn bad. Boy Wonder didn’t deserve Lily. No one did. She was too good for all these assholes, including him. His own thoughts stopped his thought process. Shocked didn’t even begin to describe what he felt right now. He wanted to frown at his own self, but he kept his face neutral and amused. He liked calling her his girlfriend, liked that she belonged to him. Something inside of him cracked open and pleasure leaked out. He didn’t like it, not one bit.

  He lifted his eyes and saw his buddy Craig in the corner not paying attention to anything but the girl all up in his business. Cute blonde, big boobs, and Craig’s hands were full of her ass. Just the sight made him start to get hard. He let out a slow breath and looked down at Lily nestled between his legs, her head only inches from his cock. He got harder thinking about her mouth wrapped around him, her nails digging into his ass as he pushed deeper into her mouth, making her take all of him. Fuck, he needed to get laid.

  But he couldn’t. Dammit. It had been weeks since he’d had sex, all because of the woman sitting in front of him. He needed to alleviate the pressure. He wrapped her hair around his hand and marveled at how soft it was. Slowly, so as not to startle her, he pulled the heavy mass of black hair back and started to braid it, an idea forming in his head. They would go back to the penthouse in the city when she was done here and he would push her, push her the way he’d wanted to for weeks. He was going to touch her, kiss her, to show her that his touch brought only warmth and desire. Plans began to form, and his smile was slow and full of the promise of naughty thoughts.

  So caught up in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed the last two opponents taken out and the group around them disperse. All that was left were Mike and Adam. Even Luther had gotten up and headed somewhere. Lily sat peacefully, letting him braid her hair. He’d done it several times over the last three weeks, so she was used to it. Adam and Mike were just staring, their faces masks of shock and disbelief. He sighed. Why had none of them ever pushed her? They were supposed to care about her, yet they had let this go on. In two months he’d made more progress than either of them had in years.

  “Lils?”

  “Hmm?” she answered Mike, leaning her head against Nikoli’s knee, thoroughly relaxed. She loved when he braided her hair. Her mom used to do it when she was little, but it never felt like this. Nikoli made each movement feel like a caress, like a gentle touch she felt everywhere, even though he only held her hair.

  “You got gems for sale?”

  She perked up at the mention of the form of money used for their online social game. Mikey had been hinting for a week or so he might be doing some big spending. He always bought from her because she always had a lot of gems. She bought and sold gems at a discounted rate. It had made her a small fortune in the game and kept her bank account healthy.

  “How many you need?” she asked, sitting up a little straighter.

  “Five thousand at least, maybe more later in the week.”

  “What the hell do you need five thousand gems for?” she asked, trying to calculate how much it would cost.

  “Gems?” Nikoli asked, his voice a little sharp.

  Lily ignored him and focused on Mike. “Well?”

  “I bought Janet a ring,” he confessed sheepishly as he pulled a tiny black velvet box out of his pocket.

  Lily squealed and jumped up, ignoring Nikoli’s grunt when he was forced to let her hair go. “Let me see,” she demanded and held out her hand. Mike laughed and put the box in her outstretched palm. Lily opened it and gasped with delight. Inside lay a simple diamond engagement ring. It wasn’t huge, but it was elegant, and so very Janet. She would adore this.

  “It’s beautiful, Mikey,” she told him and handed it back to him. “You did good.”

  “I hope Jan likes it.” He shoved the box back into his pocket. He sounded so nervous, and Lily couldn’t help but smile.

  “She’ll love it,” Adam assured him. “Don’t worry so much, bro. It’s not about the ring anyway.”

  “Adam’s right,” Lily agreed. “She loves you, so she’ll love the ring.”

  “I guess.”

  Lily and Adam both laughed at Mike’s nervousness. They knew how anxious he could get over things he really cared about.

  “Now, why do you need so many gems?” she asked.

  “Well, I thought I’d do a surprise wedding for her,” Mike said. “I want to plan it for the day after I propose to her. I thought it would be special for us to get married in-game to celebrate.”

  “That is so sweet.” Lily smiled.

  “Wait, hold up a sec,” Nikoli interrupted. “You’re talking about VSL? Virtual Social Life?”

  “They are.” Adam laughed at Nikoli’s shocked expression.

  “You play a sex game?” Nikoli demanded, and Lily cackled like a crone. He sounded outraged.

  “It’s a little more than just a sex game,” Lily told him. “It’s an online world.”

  “Essentially, Lily Bells, it’s a game to meet and fuck,” Nikoli disagreed.

  “Maybe for you,” she said. “I have fun there going to clubs, exploring new places, and hanging out with my friends.”

  “Do I know you there?”

  “I don’t know,” she teased. “Do you?” Her grin only widened when his eyes narrowed. She was enjoying watching him struggle with this more than she should.

  “What’s your username in-world?”

  “Uh-uh.” She shook her head. “Not telling.”

  “Dushka…”

  “I asked you not to call me that.”

  “Tell me your name, and I won’t ever call you dushka again.”

  “Nope,” Lily said. She watched his expression harden and felt the first flutter of nerves. It wasn’t apprehension, it was more of anticipation nerves, thinking of how he was going to react. She loved the feeling, loved that it could push her fear away and let her just feel. Nikoli was accomplishing what everyone else hadn’t been able to. He was healing her. The thought brought a smile to her face until she saw his black eyes narrow further. Oh, this couldn’t be at all good.

  Nikoli worked to get his expression under control. He hadn’t been able to suppress his surprise upon learning his sweet, innocent little Lily played a sex game. It was true, there were a lot of other things to do in VSL, but he had yet to meet a single player who didn’t have virtual sex. They did other things, sure, but sex was a big part of it too.

  Why wouldn’t she tell him her name?

  “Are we friends there?” he asked, his voice calm and even. Lily only smiled, not answering the question. He knew Mike played, and they’d hung out a few times, but Lily? Mind. Blown.

  “Mikey?” Lily tilted her head to look at Mike, the question plain on her face.

  He laughed. “Don’t worry, Lils, my friend list is hidden.”

  “You know I am going to figure this out,” Nikoli promised, his smile feral. Lily’s eyes grew wider and even Mike looked a little alarmed. As well he should. Nikoli could make his life hell in that game, and Mike knew it.

  “Don’t worry about the gems. I’ll take care of the wedding,” Lily said, sliding farther away from Nikoli. He snorted. As if that was going to save her.

  “Weddings in VSL are expensive,” Mike protested.

  “Couple people owe me some favors,” she said, waving his protest away. “Remember when Jan and I helped with the Sabotages’ wedding? Jan showed me exactly what she wants for her own wedding, right down to the dress and the cake design. I got it handled, Mikey.”

  “What about the theme?” Adam piped in. “You can’t reserve the venue till you get the theme down.”

  While the three of them discussed various in-world venues, Nikoli made up his mind. He’d been using kid gloves with Lily up until now, but he was going to push her today. They we
re going to the penthouse and she was going to get her first lesson in feeling his hands against her naked flesh. He felt his entire body tighten just thinking about running his hands over her.

  “Lily Bells, you almost ready to go?” he asked, interrupting their conversation. He needed to get her moving. “I made a reservation at Mason’s, and you and I both still need to get cleaned up if we are going to make it.”

  “I don’t know if I have anything to wear there!” Lily gasped.

  “Don’t worry, I bought you something,” Nikoli assured her, “but we need to get going soon.”

  Lily frowned and Nikoli ignored it. One thing he had discovered was Lily was very uncomfortable accepting gifts from him. She didn’t want him to spend money on her, another first for him. He’d only spent money on one other girl before, and only because she’d demanded it. The experience had soured him. Lily was different, though. She made him want to get her things, just to make her happy. It was cute when she’d frown and say he shouldn’t have. Another sign he was getting in too deep, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  “How did you swing reservations at Mason’s?” Mike gawked at him.

  Nikoli shrugged. Mason’s was one of Boston’s most exclusive restaurants, and it usually took months to get a reservation, but Nikoli knew the owner. Mason’s teenage sons were fans of Nik’s games. They always got pre-release copies, and Nikoli got reservations when he needed them, no questions asked. An idea popped into his head, and he grinned a Cheshire cat grin.

  “What are you up to?” Lily demanded.

  Nikoli laughed. “Tell you what, Mike. You give me Lily Bell’s in-game name, and I’ll make sure you get a reservation at Mason’s for the night you pop the question. I’ll even pay the bill. You order whatever you want. It’s on me.”

  Mike’s mouth dropped open, then slowly closed. He got all bug-eyed and he started to sweat. Nikoli wasn’t playing fair, and he knew it. Mike would want the very best for Janet on the night he proposed. Nikoli was betting his need to make the night special for her would win out against a simple name.

  “Don’t do it, Mikey,” Lily said. “Stay strong.”

  “It’s Mason’s, Lils,” he pleaded. “Do you know how much that would mean to Janet?”

  “I’ll even make sure they do something special for her, a desert or something no one else can order,” Nikoli threw in.

  “Not fair,” Lily snarled, and Nikoli laughed. She’d gone from smug, to worried, to outright pissed off.

  “Mike,” Adam interrupted them. “Think it through. Do you honestly think he can follow through on that promise? Seriously, unless he’s Mr. Money Bags, there’s no way he can do it.”

  “If Nikoli says he can do it, then he can,” Lily defended. “He never makes promises he can’t keep.”

  A burst of pleasure shot through Nikoli at her quick defense of him, but it also alarmed him. She was starting to mean more to him than she should. He had no clue how to stop it, aside from walking away here and now, but he couldn’t do that. He’d tried several times, but the thought always made him nauseated.

  “Cassia,” Mike blurted out. “Her name is Cassia.” He shot Lily an apologetic look. “You can put him on iggy, Lils, but this is Mason’s we’re talking about. I had to.”

  Cassia? Nikoli thought about everyone he knew in-game, and the name brought up a blank. He didn’t remember ever meeting a Cassia. “Do you have me on iggy?” he asked suspiciously. If she had him on ignore, she’d damn well take him off the list.

  “No,” she said, her eyes shooting daggers at Mike. “We just don’t hang out with the same people.”

  “Well, Miss Holmes, we are going to hang out together in-game,” he promised. “No running, no hiding, and no iggying me.”

  “You’re a bigger manwhore in-game than you are in the real world. Why would I want to hang out with you there?”

  His eyes narrowed and he started forward, his intent clear. Lily let out a small squeal and ran, laughing as she went. He caught her around the waist and swung her around, coming to a stop when her back rested against the wall. His hands braced on either side of her, palms flat against the wall. There was only an inch of space between them. He watched her pupils dilate, but not in fear. In anticipation. He stayed perfectly still so she could adjust to the situation.

  “Care to call me that again?” he asked, his expression hard.

  “You mean manwhore?” she whispered.

  “Yes, dushka, I mean that.”

  “Aren’t you a manwhore?” she asked, her expression innocent.

  “No. I. Am. Not.” He closed the space between them, his body pressing against hers. He felt her tense, but he refused to move away. She needed to get used to the feel of his body against hers.

  Adam growled behind them, but he paid Boy Wonder no mind. He knew Mike wouldn’t let him do anything stupid. Nikoli focused his attention on the woman in front of him.

  “Nikoli,” she said softly, “I…”

  “Shhh, Milaya.” He leaned in, touching her nose with his. “Relax, baby.”

  Her breathing hitched up a notch and Nikoli let his own out, mingling with hers. She shuddered, and he closed his eyes, feeling it go through him. God, what he would do to bend her over something right now. He couldn’t, though. He took several deep breaths and pulled his head away from hers. Lily’s eyes were glazed and flared with lust. The almost sleepy look she gave him made him hard instantly. Fuck. He needed to get this under control, but hell, he didn’t want to.

  He leaned in, letting his lips rest softly against her cheek, letting her feel the warmth against her skin. She whimpered, and he pressed his body harder against hers, his lips trailing butterfly kisses from her cheek over her jawline and up to her earlobe. His tongue swiped the soft flesh, and then he pulled it into his mouth, sucking on it gently. Lily let out a low moan, and he smiled. Yes, she was ready to be touched. He bit down softly, and a full body shudder went through her.

  “Time to go, Milaya,” he told her and stepped away from her. He took her arm and pulled her against him, his arm wrapping around her. It was as much to keep her from falling as it was to show Boy Wonder over there who she belonged to. Mostly for Boy Wonder’s benefit, he admitted.

  Lily didn’t say a word, just let him lead her out and into his car. The fact that she hadn’t flinched away from him in terror hadn’t been lost on either Mike or Adam. Mike had looked grateful, but Adam had been pissed off. Boy Wonder was starting to see what he had lost out on. It was what Lily wanted, but Nikoli found the thought of her with Adam made him want to punch something.

  Yes, he had to get control of this, even if he didn’t want to.

  Fast.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lily picked at the sheer black lace of the dress. It was so short it barely covered her bottom. A black choker encircled her neck, and strappy black heels made up the rest of her ensemble. Never in her life had she worn something this revealing. It made her uncomfortable, but more than that, looking at herself in the mirror before they’d left, she’d felt sexy for the first time in her life. And all that was due to the man sitting across from her, thanking the waiter for their food. She murmured her own thanks when he set her tilapia down in front of her.

  “You okay, Lily?” Nikoli asked, and she looked up to see a hint of concern in his eyes.

  “If you don’t count the fact I’m practically naked, then yes, I’m fine,” she said, cutting her fish.

  “Don’t be a prude,” he laughed. “You look beautiful.”

  “You’re not the one showing off your naked ass, are you?”

  “Want me to?” he countered, grinning. “I’ll be more than happy to drop my pants in here so everyone can get a good look at my naked ass.”

  He stood up, and Lily hissed, “Don’t you dare!” She shook her head when he sat back down. He delighted in upsetting her. “Are you and Luther ready for the race next weekend?” They’d been gearing up for the race in Miami since she’d started datin
g him.

  “Yes,” he said. “Luther still wants to add a few things, but I don’t want any electronics on that car. That is where we got caught with our pants down last time.”

  “No, just let her run,” Lily agreed. The Mach 1 didn’t need electronics. They’d equipped it with a nitro system, but other than that, she was good. Let everyone else get taken out because of their electronics. If someone was going to beat Nikoli, they’d have to do it the old fashioned way—by racing.

  “Want to come?” Nikoli asked softly, and Lily’s eyes shot up to his face. Had he just asked her to go to Miami with him?

  “I…”

  “I remember you told me your dad never let you go to this kind of race, and you’ve put as much time into getting the Mach 1 ready for this race as Luther and me. I thought maybe you’d like to be there to see her run.”

  She stared. He was inviting her to go away for the weekend. Sure, Luther would be there, but she was betting Nikoli wasn’t going to be sharing a room with him. Could she do that? Could she go away with him and not give in to what she wanted to do more than anything else?

  “You don’t have to answer now.” He smiled his snake-charmer’s smile. “You can tell me tomorrow.”

  She smiled hesitantly in return. This was the Nikoli everyone else didn’t see. The guy who was sweet and kind and charming. Oh, he could be charming in the manwhore way, but this charm she’d only seen him use on her. The kindness in him was her downfall, and she knew it.

  “So, tell me about VSL and how you ended up on that type of game.” It wasn’t a request, and Lily heard the command in his voice. She started to automatically answer, but stopped herself. She’d gotten in the habit of following orders, and she didn’t like it. The fact that she trusted him enough to do as he asked irritated her and overwhelmed her at the same time. It was very confusing. She and Rebekha had had several conversations about this very subject. It worried Lily that she was turning into one of the women she read about in books. Rebekha had assured her she wasn’t, had in fact pointed out how much stronger she’d gotten over the last month. She wondered what Janet would say…Janet would tell her to run screaming. She wasn’t into being a submissive any more than Lily was. Although, Lily admitted to herself, she found herself wondering what it would feel like to do just that with Nikoli. She’d mentioned to Rebekha that she’d been thinking of this, and Rebekha had neither encouraged her nor discouraged her. She’d told Lily to trust herself. Lot of help her shrink was.