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“Was?” he asks darkly.
“Am,” I whisper.
A slow smile pulls at his mouth, one that is as blinding as it is terrifying, and before I know it, his lips are on mine. His kiss is fierce and unrelenting, just like this side of Nikki I hadn’t known before. And though in the beginning I’m startled by this foreign sensation, I can’t help but give in.
He’s Nikki. He’smyNikki. The only man I’d ever allow such liberties because he owns my body just as he owns my heart.
His lips part over mine, his tongue skimming the seam of my mouth. At first I’m confused about what he means to do, but as he brushes his tongue against mine, my entire body hums, a terrifying sensation enveloping me. One that threatens to overwhelm me withfeeling.
Yet just as the kiss starts, it’s over. He tears himself from me, his breathing accelerated, his features contorted in pain.
“Nikki?” I ask softly, bringing my hand to my lips.
“I’m sorry.”
“I—What happened? Was it…bad?” I barely utter the last word as hopelessness forms inside of me.
“Bad? What? No. It wastoogood,Luce. But I’ve been living for the past two years on your memory alone and that kiss… If we don’t stop, we mightneverstop, and it’s not the time for that. Not only do we have something to do, but…” he scrubs his face with his hand. “You’reyou, and that means you deserve more than just a quick tumble in the hay. You’re also hurt.” He shakes his head. “God, I’m a fucking idiot,” he curses out.
I watch him in confusion, not understanding half of what he’s saying.
“So you didn’t dislike it?” I ask, needing direct confirmation.
“I loved it. Like I loveyou,” he says, his piercing gaze meeting mine just as his hand comes up to caress my cheek. “Was it your first kiss?” he inquires before I can recover from his confession. His voice is tense, almost as if he’s already hating my answer.
I give him a slow nod.
He lets out a relieved breath.
“Good. Good,” he repeats, more to himself. “You saved those lips for me, didn’t you, Luce?”
I’m so embarrassed, I try to avert my eyes, but he won’t let me, tipping my chin up so all I see is him.
“Tell me you saved your lips for me,” he rasps, his hungry eyes on my mouth.
“Yes,” I whisper.
He smirks.
“You’re telling me everything I need to hear, Luce.” Leaning further in, his mouth stops next to my ear. “Me too.”
I don’t get to question him on what he means as he points to the time.
“We need to leave,” he says, taking my hand in his. “Lead the way, Luce.”
I give him a smile, once more marveling at the fact that he’s really here, with me. It was something I would have never dared hope for, yet something I wished for ardently.
Nikki makes the entire situation easier by telling me he brought a car.
“How did Sergio allow you here?” I ask in confusion as we take the short drive to the closest village.
“He doesn’t know who I am—yet.He thinks I’m here for a business meeting, but that isn’t until later. His staff provided me with a room at the house and more or less left me to my own devices after they told me he was busy.”
“I’ve never known him to be this careless.”
“It’s not that he was careless, it’s that the cover story I made up is too goodnotto believe. I wouldn’t risk your safety for anything, Luce.” He gives me a wide grin, and in that moment he looks young and boyish, almost like he did two years ago.
“What happened to you, Nikki? What happened after you left?” I make the courage to ask. His features darken instantly, and he averts his gaze.
