This is the first time I’ve seen the omega in him, really seen the same traits I have reflected in this man, and it does something to me and my little battered heart.
“You have never bothered me, Niko.” I sigh as I reach out to push a few blond strands of hair behind his ear. “I came out here because I heard you and was worried.”
He scoots closer, so close his knees are touching my bare toes. “Yeah?”
I nod.
“It was the Russian, wasn’t it?”
I snort and shake my head. “It was the series of loud thumps followed by the Russian. Sounded painful.”
“Maybe,” he says as he shrugs and lifts his hands to grab onto the legs of my sweats. “I have a hard head.”
“I believe it.” I giggle a bit because he’s cute but I can’t help but hope it’ll drown out how loud my heart is beating as it races in my chest. “I don’t want you sleeping out here anymore.”
“Truck?”
“No.”
He straightens up, his fingers walking along the cotton material as he puts himself eye level with my chest. His gaze doesn’t stray from mine, though. “Caroline and Tessa?”
I roll my eyes and scoff, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Gonna leave me for the good weed?”
“Never.” I freeze as Niko’s palms slide over my hips and he flexes his fingers against them, his face serious and almost sternas he pulls me forward just a bit. “I’m never leaving you, Liv. Promise.”
“Okay,” I whisper as I swallow hard.
“Not even for the good weed.” A huge grin splits his handsome face as he squeezes my hips once more and hops to his feet. “Even that eventually goes bad.” Niko presses a kiss to my forehead then darts around me and leaps onto the bed.
I blow out a breath and clutch my stomach, fighting the urge to touch the spot he kissed, then pull the door closed.
“Oh, this is nice.” I turn to see Niko sprawled on his stomach, his face buried in the pillows while his hands and feet point toward each corner of the mattress. “Is this shit memory foam?”
“Yes.”
“Oh yes, Liv,” he mumbles. “So goddamn good.”
Thank god he can’t see me.
Not only is my face most likely beet red, but what he just said and how he said it has me squeezing my thighs together. Tightly. This man does something to me I’m not sure anyone has before, and I really don’t know what to do with that.
It’s a little scary, if I’m being honest.
“You coming?”
I blink a few times as I lift my eyes to the bed and despite the violent butterflies taking flight in my belly, I can’t help but smile.
Niko is under all the blankets, laying on his side with his back against the wall, and he’s holding the covers up waiting for me. There’s just enough space for me to curl up next to him, and he even has his arm stretched out under my favorite pillow so I can.
Nodding, I flip the switch and kill the big light then try to calm my nerves as I climb into bed next to him.
But that’s what does it.
The second I’m under the pile of fuzzy fleece, Niko wraps me in them, pulling me against his chest and tucking my face in thecrook of his neck. He tangles our legs and wiggles around a bit before he takes a deep breath then sighs in contentment.
Hecalms my nerves.
Being close to him, touching him, breathing in his lavender embers scent.
