Page 72 of Bound By Revenge

It’s over in a second, but when I pull back, the wide-eyed surprise on his face makes me grin.

“What was that for?” he asks, his tone curious but far from annoyed.

I shrug, still smiling. “You’re too hot sometimes. I couldn’t help myself.”

His chuckle is low, warm, and just slightly caught off guard.

Untangling myself from him, I grab his hand, lacing my fingers with his as we head back to the car.

The drive home is quiet, save for his good-natured grumbling about my music choices. Apparently, pop bops aren’t Nik’s thing—who knew?

When we return to the penthouse, a pang of disappointment settles in my chest. I don’t want the day to end, and the thought of parting from him feels heavier than it should. But he has work to do, and I won’t ruin what’s been a perfect day.

As we step out of the elevator, I glance at him carefully. “So... what’s the plan for us moving forward?”

He groans dramatically, his smile still lingering as he leans his head back, closing his eyes for a moment. “Can we worry about that tomorrow?”

I laugh softly, nodding. “It’s your call. You’re the master of my destiny, remember?”

His chuckle rumbles through the foyer as he steps toward his office, but he pauses, turning back to look at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow,kiska.”

The warmth in his voice and the softness in his eyes stay with me long after he disappears from view, wrapping around me like his embrace.

Chapter 29

Nik

The following morning,the unexpected invitation catches me off guard.

In hindsight, though, I should’ve seen it coming. Kat has a knack for making a great first impression.

At first, I decide to wait for her in the kitchen, knowing my maddening houseguest tends to make a beeline there first thing in the morning. I picture her sleepy-eyed and soft-spoken, the curve of her lips as she greets me, the way her fingers might brush mine over coffee.

But as an hour drags on and the kitchen remains empty, the quiet becomes unbearable.

I retreat to my office, determined to make use of the time. I sit down, stare at the screen, fully intending to work. Yet no matter how hard I try, my thoughts refuse to settle. I reread the same paragraph four times, and each time, the words dissolve into meaningless shapes on the page.

I rub a hand over my face, exhaling harshly as I admit the truth: my distraction has a name.

Kat.

I can’t stop thinking about her. The sound of her laugh yesterday—so raw, so unguarded—plays on a loop in my head.The way her lips parted as she laughed, the way her head tilted back, exposing the delicate line of her neck. The vulnerable, secret side of her I hadn’t seen before. A side I hadn’t known I needed to see.

With a frustrated sigh, I abandon all pretense of work and leave my office.

Before I realize it, I’m standing outside her door. My hand hovers over the handle as I hesitate, the weight of what I’m about to do lingering heavy in the air.

This is the point of no return.

And then I push it open—slowly. Silently.

The gap widens, and my breath catches as I peer inside.

At first, all I see is a cloud of white blankets sprawled haphazardly across the bed. Then my eyes adjust, and I find her.

The sight stops me dead.

She’s stretched out under the covers, her head tilted slightly to the side. Her lush lips are parted just enough to make my chest tighten. Her breathing is soft and steady, her body rising and falling in a rhythm that feels hypnotic. Dark waves of hair spill over the pillows, framing her face like an inky halo.

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