Page 85 of No One’s Daughter

“Like what, exactly?” I feigned ignorance, forcing steadiness into my tone.

“You like that I don’t fall at your feet like every other man.”

“So what exactly do you call what you’re doing now?”

He chuckled, dark and deliciously tempting. “If I was on my knees for you,” he whispered against the nape of my neck, pausing, waiting for me to picture it. “You wouldn’t be forming sentences.”

Oh God.

My body reacted instantly.

Traitorously.

I tightened my jaw.

The music carried on around us, the world shrinking to something tight and charged. The worst part of it all was that I wasn’t so sure I’d win anymore, or whether I even wanted to.

Much to my dismay, Nikolai reappeared with drinks in hand as he slipped neatly between us, one arm slinging over my shoulders, the other hooking easily around Davien's neck.

“Well,” he declared, pressing a drink into my hand, “this is interesting.”

Davien stiffened a fraction.

“It was,” Davien muttered and I swore I saw disappointment on his face, but Nikolai just laughed.

The three of us tangled in something that resembled dancing, the music cracking on, glasses appearing and disappearing between hands as the night blurred at the edges.

And still, throughout it all, Davien flirted.

And I flirted.

And the lines began to blur, my body clearly not understanding that this was a game.

“I’m going to find the bathroom,” I said, already stepping away before either of them could respond.

I wasn’t throwing in the towel. I just need a little break. A chance to breathe. To cool down.

“Left, then down the corridor,” Nikolai called after me.

I nodded, weaving through the dim space, until the noise dulled behind me. I pushed into the bathroom, splashed cold water over my wrists and fixed my hair, staring at my reflection for a moment longer than I meant to.

What was I doing?

I should just put an end to this.

Let him win.

It’d be easier than wherever the fuck was happening now.

But that stubborn part of me refused to let him win. I mean, how could I? He’d never let this go and would remind me about it forever.

I just needed to remind myself that this was a game, nothing more…

Right?

Right.

I almost tripped over my own feet on my way out, expecting the hallway to greet me in silence, only to find him.