Page 60 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

“And you’re incorrigible.”

“You are far too demanding for someone in your position.”

“Oh,you’reone to talk, Mr. Dommy-dom man.”

“I have half a mind to drag you back downstairs for your lip, princess.”

“Oh, this is not princess time. This is Maddy time. Get it straight.”

Both of us leaned over the table, palms pressing into the wood as we stared each other down. Breath panting, and eyes glaring, neither of us was about to back down from the fight.

“I hate to interrupt—” Jax began, and Igrowled. “But Maddy has a point. We could take her out, take the armored SUV so we can get her there in tinted windows. You know that Seth’s property is well-kept and safe. It wouldn’t be a huge deal. We could be in and out of there with no one the wiser. Hell, Seth is a buddy of Carrick’s. And while the man has his faults, Carrick knows how to choose a friend.”

Jax had a point, much as I was loath to admit it.

“Wait. You guys have an armored vehicle? Why the hell would you need something like that?” Maddy asked incredulously.

Jax chuckled. “Some habits die hard, Maddy. Niko always feels safer when he’s surrounded by a quarter inch of hardened steel and polycarbonate.”

“Not to mention several of us have done security work on and off since we moved here. You can never be too prepared,” I added with no small amount of annoyance. Her questions were beginning to irritate me.

I took a deep breath, taking a moment before meeting Maddy’s gaze once more. She was fierce, totally in her element in this. If I weren’t so frustrated with her, I’d be turned on as hell.

Oh, who the fuck was I kidding? Iwasturned on as hell.

“You will wear what I tell you, do what I tell you, and listen when I tell you. Do you understand me?” I finally agreed under much duress and with great effort.

“Oh, it’ll be fine, Niko, don’t you worry your precious little head about it.”

“Maddy, I’m not kidding around. This is serious!” I shouted, making both her and Jax jump. “This is yourlifeat risk. I’m not a fan of this plan, butifwe are going to do it, and that’s a bigif,we are going to do it my way. And only my way. No backtalk. No negotiations. My way, or you stay here. Do you understand?” With my finger in her face, I stared her down, needing to know that she truly understood my words.

“I promise, Niko,” she said confidently and sincerely.

“I mean it, Maddy. No bratting. This is not the time. If you step one toe out of line, I will haul your ass back here and lock you down in that playroom until you truly learn how to listen.”

Any other submissive I had ever met would have lowered their eyes, becoming as submissive and as small as possible. But not Maddy. Not my girl.

Her eyes met mine with confidence, assuredness, and pure honesty.

“I promise, Sir. You have my word.”

And for once, I knew I truly did have her word.

“My bro-skis! What up?”Seth called out as we parked our two SUVs in his long driveway. It was a long trek from the main road to his home out in the boonies of southern Kansas City. He had a hidden gem of a property. Thirty acres, surrounded by nothing but woods, and a mile-long driveway to the main road. It was honestly one of the safer properties around here, and similar in some ways to our own.

The shorter man, in all his Irish glory, wore a greenplaid kilt as he stood on his wrap-around porch, greeting us with open arms.

“Seth! Dude! Is your wife around?” Jax asked, bolting from the car and racing up the stairs towards him.

“Ang is inside,” he answered, holding his arms out for a hug from Jax, but Jax just ducked under his arm and raced inside to see Angela, Seth’s wife.

“Where is he off to so fast?” Maddy asked from her seat as I opened her door and helped her out.

“Jax and Angela, Seth’s wife, share a love for all things tech. Jax is going to spend the next thirty minutes nerding out with her about something or other, if I had to wager a guess.” I led Maddy up to the front of the house, my hand on the small of her back. It was a small gesture, but it beat the urge to hold her to me. This new feeling of protectiveness was one I had not wagered on.

“Who do we have here?” Seth asked, looking Maddy up and down, taking the measure of her in a totally non-creepy way.

“She’s a friend of ours,” I answered, hoping that would be enough, but knowing that it wouldn’t be.

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