Page 99 of Bound By Revenge

“That,” she says, gesturing between us. “Stop saying things that make me want to kiss you. Do you have any idea how hard it is to control myself around you? Twenty-four-seven? What am I supposed to do, Nik? Just let myself get dick-whipped?” She throws her hands up, exasperated. “I don’t have time for that. So stop. Just stop. I’m so damn tired of resisting you.”

Her words knock the air out of me, leaving me stunned. Breathless. I stare at her, searching for something to say, and then it spills out before I can stop myself. “Then don’t.”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Shut up.”

“Come here and make me,” I dare her. I beg her.

“That’s probably a bad idea,” she mutters, her voice shaky. “Unless we’re ready to… you know. Go all the way.”

My chest tightens, and I exhale heavily. “Kiska…” The word comes out like a prayer. “I can’t think straight—can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t fuckingbreathe—without dreaming about you. About having you. All of you. But it’s your call. Because if we go there—” I pause, my throat tight as I force the words out. “If you come to my bed, there’s no going back, you hear me? You’ll be mine.Forever. So think carefully. Choose your next words wisely. Don’t—” I swallow hard, my gaze locked on hers. “Don’t play games with me.”

The air between us hums with tension, every breath crackling with unspoken words. Slowly, she lifts her hand, her fingertips tracing the edge of my lips. I stay perfectly still, not daring to breathe. Then, too soon, she drops her hand and shakes her head.

I let out a heavy sigh.Too bad.

“I…weneed to sleep on it,” she finally says.

I tilt my head, studying her. “A goodnight kiss, then,” I barter, my voice rough, a little desperate.

Her lips twitch into a soft smile, and she bites her bottom lip, thinking it over. After a long pause, she nods. Something in my chest loosens as she steps closer.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to resist you when you smile at me like that,” she whispers, so quiet I almost miss it.

I frown slightly, puzzled, but before I can say anything, her lips meet mine again, soft and achingly sweet. The kiss undoes me, and my hands find their way into her hair, pulling her closer, deepening it. For a moment, nothing else exists but her.

And then, too soon again, she pulls away, leaving me dizzy and raw.

“Sweet dreams, Nik,” she murmurs, her voice like a caress, before walking away, leaving me standing there, hard and wanting.

Chapter 38

Kat

I’m shockedto find the penthouse crawling with people at the crack of dawn.

The place is alive with activity, the energy palpable. Nik’s men are everywhere, moving with purpose, their footsteps echoing down the hallways. They barely glance my way as they rush to carry out whatever orders he’s given them. It’s almost like I’ve wandered into a hive of very dangerous, very well-dressed bees.

I don’t bother trying to figure out what’s going on. I head straight for Nik’s office—no point looking anywhere else. The door is wide open, so I step inside without knocking.

Nik looks up from behind his desk, his surprise melting into a soft smile. The sight of him nearly steals the air from my lungs. He’s devastatingly handsome in a black cashmere sweater and jeans, his sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms that are unfairly distracting. His hair is an artful mess, like he’s been raking his hands through it all morning.

“You’re up early,” he says, his voice smooth but tinged with surprise.

“Not as early as everyone else, apparently,” I reply, nodding toward the bustling hallway. “Did you even sleep?”

“Enough,” he says with a casual shrug, lifting a steaming mug of coffee to his lips.

“What does that mean? How many hours are we talking about here?”

He shrugs again, his expression unreadable. “Less than I wanted, but probably more than I could afford.”

I shake my head, feigning disapproval. “Well, it’s obvious you’ve got a lot going on.” I gesture vaguely toward the controlled chaos outside his office. “So I won’t waste your time. Just give me my marching orders, boss, and I’ll stop bothering you.”

Nik’s eyes soften as he comes around his desk, stopping just inches away. Without a word, he pulls me into his arms. His warmth envelops me, and I sigh, melting into him like I belong there.

“You could never bother me,” he murmurs.

I scoff, burrowing closer. “Oh, please. We both know that’s a lie.”

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