Page 107 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

“You lied to me?”

“No, you idiot. I was lying to myself. And I thought I was doing it for the right reasons.”

“And what reasons would that be?”

“You know, you’re terrible at following directions,which is doubly surprising as you’re both a veteran and a Dominant. You give orders, but you never follow other people’s orders.”

“Answer the question.”

“Case in mother fucking point Niko. The reason I thought I was doing the right thing by lying to myself is because I didn’t want to cross your boundaries.”

“My boundaries…”

“Yes. You told me, quite clearly, that you wanted to keep this casual. That it was just a bit of fun to pass the time while I was stuck here.”

“You wanted the same thing.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Yes, it damn well is. We agreed.”

“Exactly.Thatis the point. We both agreed to this. Because it’s what we both wanted. But that changed. For me at least.”

“It changed?”

“Yes. I’m not sure when or how it did, but it changed. I was lying to myself by saying that all I wanted was to fool around, to play this game of a dynamic with you. And before you say anything, I know that a dynamic is not a game. But you get my point. I thought it was what I wanted. And Iknewit was all you wanted. So, I wouldn’t allow myself to even entertain the idea of there being something more. But guess what? I didn’t really get to have a say in that. Because you had to go and be all…you…and make me fucking fall in love with you.”

My heart, which had been pounding with the anger and adrenaline that filled me, suddenly stopped dead in my chest as I processed her words. I couldn’t seem towrap my head around it. I finally found my voice, although it was little more than a strained whisper.

“What did you just say?”

“My god, do you need hearing aids? I said I love you, you big, snarky asshole.”

“Just shut up and say it again,” I urged her, needing desperately to hear the words.

“Well, which is it?” She said, finally offering the smallest hint of a smile. “Do you want me to shut up, or to say it again?”

I crossed over to her finally, kneeling on the floor before her so that our eyes were level with one another.

“Say it again,” I repeated, this time much calmer, much kinder. “Please.”

“Since you asked so nicely,” she began, her hand touching my jaw. “I love you.”

“That’s what I thought you said.” My hand wrapped around the side of her neck, needing to touch her. Her pulse thundered wildly beneath the pad of my thumb, matching the rhythm of my own beating heart.

“Well, cat got your tongue there, buddy?” she said, the sparkle reigniting in those ocean-blue eyes of hers.

“Not in the slightest. Just needed a moment to make sure it was real.”

“You don’t believe me?” she said, one eyebrow arching high on her forehead.

“I guess I just never thought the woman who stole my heart weeks ago would actually love me back.”

“Shut up and say it again.”

“You little minx.”

And with that, I stole her lips in a kiss, one that sealedthe truth we had both finally been honest about. Honest with ourselves, and with each other.

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