Page 64 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

“I don’t do horses. You know that,” she spat back defiantly.

“Well, you could always learn,” I teased her with a smile.

“Why won’t you just do somethingwith me? What’s so important on your computer right now, anyway?”

“Work. Work is important.”

“Well, I can’t do my job right now, so I need something to do. Idle hands and all that,” she tossed off, rising from her spot on the floor to sit in the chair opposite my desk. She rested her elbows on the desktop, her chin held in her hands, looking as pitiful as ever.

“I could always tie your hands up. Better yet, I could tie you to that very chair and make you sit there while I work. You know… maybe this is a good idea, now that you mention—”

“Wait, wait, wait. Hold on there, buddy. I never agreed to that,” she quickly interjected.

“I don’t know. The idea has merit.” I had no real intention of doing such a thing, especially without her consent, but fuck, was it fun to mess with her.

“Niko, I’m serious. I’m bored. I’m going stir-crazy. Can we go back to Seth and Angela’s?” she asked, her eyes bright with imminent excitement.

“No, we’re not going back to their house.”

“Why not?”

“Ye-bat‘, because I said so, Maddy. Please stop testing me.”

“But it’s so much fun!”

“Enough, Maddy.”

“You’re no fun.”

“And you can’t seem to be serious.”

“Yes, I can.”

“Then prove it. Go read your book.”

She thought about my words for a moment. Then a smile curled the corners of her lips.

“Fine, then,” she shrugged, standing from her seat and immediately pulling her shirt up and over her head, revealing the fact that she wore nothing beneath it.

“Maddy, what the fuck are you doing?” I asked her, sighing heavily as I rubbed the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

“I’m going to read my book,” she answered, turning her back to me, bending over, and pulling her leggings and panties down. She kicked them off to one side before sashaying her way back to her little blanket nook. This time, however, she laid the blanket out on the floor and sprawled out, fully nude, and completely unabashed.

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Well, you’re being annoying.” She rolled her eyes, having the utter audacity to stick her tongue out at me. I had half a mind to tell her exactly what I thought she could do with that tongue.

I tried to focus on my computer screen, but the allure of her naked body just lying there, ready for the taking, was too much to bear. With a heavy sigh, I shut down my computer, having resigned myself to playing with the brat in front of me instead of the ledgers that could wait until later.

“Fine. You win.” I signed begrudgingly, but deep down, I was ready to get my hands on her again. She was the ultimate distraction. I found my thoughts never strayed away from her for long, the memory of her skinunder my fingertips, the sounds she made, and the way her body moved beneath my own, too much to resist.

“Really?” she all but squealed, sitting up and immediately tossing her book to the side. “What are we going to go do? Are we going to Seth and Angela’s?”

“No, princess, we aren’t leaving the property.” I leveled her with a look, praying she would hold off her bratting until my plan had actually begun.

Immediately, she pouted, and I rolled my eyes.

“Pouting will get you nowhere, Maddy. Don’t even start with me. I promise I will make it worth your while.” I said, rising from my seat and walking towards her. She had pulled the blanket up off the floor, covering herself with it.

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