Page 44 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

It was all I could do not to quiver with anticipation as I hooked my fingers inside the waistband of those boxers and pulled them down slowly, revealing the chiseled V shape of his obliques, then a tuft of dark hair, and finally slipping down to free his cock to spring to attention. I couldn’t help the way my eyes widened in excitement as his boxers joined the rest of his clothing on the floor.

“Hungry, aren’t you, princess?” He teased as his cock was revealed. I licked my lips before I could think better of it.

“Ravenous,” I all but purred.

“It’ll have to wait.” He snapped his fingers sharply, pointing up; a direct indication for me to stand once more. I thought about giving him some snarky response, but thought better of it, choosing instead to stand silently. His words from our negotiation flitted through my mind.“Bratting is about balance. It’s about respecting the boundaries, but playing within them.”

I could play.

I could play the game as well as he could.

Chapter 12

Maddy

“Be still.”His voice pulled me from my musings, the heat of his body warm against me as he shifted closer.

“It’s my turn now, princess,” he murmured as he guided my arms up into the air and indicated with a glance that I was to keep them there. His hands slid back down the length of my arms, slipping over my breasts and down my sides to find the hem of my tank top. He tugged it back up the path his hands had just traced, pulling it over my arms and tossing it to the floor. Deft fingers made quick work of my bra clasp, and soon it joined my shirt, leaving me naked from the waist up.

I suddenly felt much more vulnerable, finding myself unable to figure out why. He’d already seen all of me, for fuck’s sake. But somehow, standing there in the middle of the room being inspected by his hungry eyes, I felt more naked than if I had been surrounded by strangers. I started to cross my arms, but he shook his head and gently pulled them back up over my head.

“Ah ah, beautiful. You are not to move from where I place you without permission. Do you understand?” I nodded, blushing.

Now it was his turn to kneel before me, unbuttoning my jean shorts and slipping them over my hips, leaving me only in the lacy thong I’d picked out for the occasion; one of the very few nice things I’d been able to bring, although at the time it had been a ridiculous addition. I was glad to have it now, however.

Glancing down at him, I couldn’t resist my bratty nature. “You look really good on your knees for me. A girl could get used to this.” I grinned as I saw his shoulders stiffen, and he looked up at me with a dangerous light in his eyes, which I promptly ignored. “Oh yes, look up at me just like that.”

With a growl, he gripped the delicate fabric of my panties in both hands and pulled, ripping it into pieces like tissue paper. “Hey! That was my best thong!” I screeched, but further protestations died on my tongue as he stood and grabbed my chin in an iron grip, staring down into my eyes with a look that brooked no argument.

“I’ll buy you another pair, princess.” I nodded helplessly, or at least tried to as he held my chin. “Now, are you going to behave?”

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my lips, and I shrugged noncommittally. “I don’t know… are you going to make me behave, Sir?”

He shook his head with a grin of his own, and let go of my chin. “Lie down.”

With a mischievous look, I dropped to the floor, laying down on my stomach as he had commanded.

“Christ, I’m going to have my hands full with you,” he muttered. I smiled into the floor.Game. Set. Match.

“Like you’d want it any other way?” I muttered quietly, the sound muffled.

He sighed in frustration. “Lie down on the bed, on your back.”

I thought better of pushing him further, choosing to listen and lie back on the bed. After all, bratting was about finding the right times and the right ways to push the limit while still staying within the boundaries we had set. Our negotiations replayed in my mind as a gentle reminder. I did not want this to end before it had truly had time to begin. I made a mental note to thank Jax in a much bigger way for lending me that book.

Any further thoughts of thanking Jax melted away as he crawled on top of me, lifting my arms above my head and holding them in his grasp as he leaned over me, kissing my lips lightly. He nipped and nibbled at my lower lip as I writhed beneath him.

“Please,” I whispered against his lips, craving more and not wanting to wait a moment longer for whatever came next.

“Stay right here. Do not move. Understood?” His rough command hit me like a tidal wave, urging me to obey, and yet that spark of fire that burned between us beckoned my sass forward, right where it belonged. Lips trailed over my collarbone and up the length of my neck. My back arched until I pressed into him, my head nodding in agreement.

“Not good enough, princess. I need your words,” heteased, the sharp prick of his teeth grazing over the pulse point in my neck until I gasped.

I had a choice to make: obey, or poke the bear further. Balance was key, which meant continuing wouldn’t kill me… hopefully. I nodded my head again, pushing my luck further and praying it was the right decision. Immediately, his teeth bit down into the curve of my shoulder above my collarbone. I hissed, kicking my feet as the pain spread.Thatsurely left a fucking mark. But why did the very thought of his marks on me make me wet as fuck?

“Yes, Sir,” I hissed out, arching up into him.

“Good girl.” His words vibrated against my collarbone, his growl turning me on further as he kissed his way down to my breasts. “I want to teach you about pleasure.” His fingers suited his words, lightly playing over my nipples, teasing them to stiff peaks.

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