Page 89 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

She fits in perfectly just about everywhere,I thought to myself.

“I appreciate that, Sully. But what Maddy and I have going on isn’t a relationship.” I sighed, strumming my fingers along the top of my desk.

“Uh, yeah, okay,” he chortled sarcastically. “Whatever you say, bro.”

“I’m serious, Sully. Maddy and I — it’s just casual. It’s not a relationship.” I doubled down on my protestation, Deacon’s words still ringing in my mind.

“Dude, you can say that all you want, but you can’t fake chemistry like that.”

“Chemistry doesn’t mean we’re in a relationship. Correlation does not equal causation,” I sputtered indignantly.

“Niko, let me level with you for a second,” he said, leaning forward until his elbows rested on my desk.

“Alright,” I grumbled.

“I’ve watched over the years. You were one hell of a Marine. Hell, you beat my ass into submission more than once back in our days in the Corps. Even more so after,honestly. You keep this whole house afloat all the time. This place wouldn’t run without you. You’re the captain of this ship, you could say.”

“Pretty sure that’s the Navy, Sully, but go on.”

“Outside of all of that, I’ve watched you waffle between two versions of yourself. Either you find a submissive to play with for some limited time under a dynamic contract, or you mope around here all rigid and fussy-like. You’re a real grumpy gus when you don’t have a submissive.”

“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” I attempted a half-hearted smile.

“No, it’s not harsh. It’s honest.” He leveled me with a serious look. That wasn’t common for the man. Not since we got out of the service. Hell, unless we were out on a mission, he was usually a big old softie. The sudden change took me by surprise. “The point I’m trying to make is that since Maddy arrived, I’ve seen a different side of you. You’ve been happy. She isn’t just some submissive you found in the local dungeon. This isn’t just a contract between the two of you.”

“Yes, actually, it is. We negotiated and agreed to keep things casual.”

“Pfft. Casual, my ass. She pushes your buttons and —”

“Exactly. She pushes my buttons, which is fine because this isn’t long-term. That’s the whole point. It’s temporary. A way to fill the time while we’re both stuck here.”

“Brother, I love you. I truly do. You have been family to me for a long time now. But I’m going to be straight withyou. You’re lying to yourself. What you have with Maddy isn’t casual. Not by a long shot. She pushes your buttons. And you need those buttons pushed. She keeps you on your toes. Hell, every one of us can see the chemistry between you two. The way you two push and pull against each other… it’s like waves on the shore. She’s the yin to your yang. The jelly to your peanut butter.”

“The jelly to my peanut butter?” I scoffed.

“Well, yeah. She’s sweet and tart.”

“And what? I’m creamy and full of protein?” I bristled with a short-lived laugh.

“I mean, I was gonna say you’re nuts, but whatever outruns your bear, man.”

“Outruns your bear? Seriously, Sully?”

“You’re right. No one can outrun a bear. The point here is that she’s perfect for you.”

“No, she’s not. She’s sassy and pushes me at every turn. She can’t hold her tongue for anything, and she purposely sets out to drive me mental.”

“And weren’t you the one who moped around here for weeks talking about how every submissive you found at the club just bent over at the slightest push from you? That they just folded under your dominance? How they didn’t let you handle their bratting?” His brow lifted high on his forehead as he made his point.

“I…” I began, but my words faltered as I realized what he was saying. Really realized it. He was right. Ihadsaid that. And Maddy was giving me everything I had ever wanted from a submissive.

“But it’s not just that, Niko. She fits you. She brings out the best in you. And if you don’t think thatthis knee-jerk reaction to protect her at all costs, this possessive attitude you’ve been walking around with for weeks, isn’t a clear sign that you want to make this more than just a contract — well, then you’re lying to yourself.”

I sat there in silence, mulling over his words. It felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me.

“Listen, I’m not trying to tell you what to do here.”

“It wouldn’t matter anyway,” I muttered under my breath.

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