Page 34 of Savage Justice

Left with no alternative, I rush to help him. Once the collage itself is safe, it takes just a few minutes to collect up the rest of the debris.

“I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m not usually so messy. Lucy gets a bit enthusiastic.”

“Good. I’m glad. Tell me about your art. You said you were a professional, is that right?”

“Yes. Sculptures and portraits mostly. And I teach at a college, or I used to.”

“Do you sell your stuff?”

“Are you asking as a potential customer? Are you a critic?”

“Fuck, no. Well, I might buy a piece if I liked it, but what I know about art would fit on a postage stamp. I’m interested in you, though.”

“Me? Why?”

“I’m not a guy who likes to fuck and run.”

“Oh. That.” I can’t quite meet his dark-brown gaze. “I was thinking we might try to pretend it never happened.”

He shakes his head. “Not a chance.”

“I thought, with you avoiding me since…”

“I wasn’t avoiding you. I’ve been busy.” He takes my chin between both his palms and tilts my face up towards his. “Never stopped thinking about you, though.”

“We shouldn’t have done what we did.”

“Bollocks.”

“No. Seriously. It was a mistake.”

“I don’t think so. I intend to do it again. And again. In fact, maybe right now…”

“Nico! We can’t.” I shoot a glance at the still-open door. “What if someone was to come in?”

“Is that your best excuse? What about ‘I don’t want to’ or ‘I don’t fancy you’?”

“It was a one-off. I wouldn’t normally behave like that. You must think I’m a… a…”

“A beautiful woman who deserves to be appreciated?”

“Not exactly.”

“Well, that is what I think. So, here’s my question. Are you going to nip over there, close that door and turn the key in the lock, or do we head off to the kitchen to pig out on bagels and gunk?”

“I…”

“It’s a simple enough question, Molly.” His tone has dropped to a seductive rumble. His thumbs caress my lower lip, and he holds my gaze effortlessly. “Door or bagels?”

I hesitate, but only for a moment. “Door,” I whisper, barely able to believe that’s my voice, me saying this thing.

Me doing this thing.

I scurry across the room to the door, take a moment to check the corridor outside and find it deserted. I slide back into the tower room, close the door gently, and lock it. I turn to regard Nico.

He quirks his lip and beckons me with a fluttery motion of the fingers of both hands. I rush at him, swing my legs up to straddle his waist, and clamp my lips onto his.

Mistake or not, I’m in this hook, line, and sinker.

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