Page 3 of Sweet Child of Mine

“No, moy tsvetok. Not until I know you’re okay.”

Moy tsvetok. His flower. He’d called me that in high school before he’d left me. When I needed him most he’d left me. “I’m fine. Just fucking great.” As the hurt and pain of my life after he’d left filled me, I started to laugh louder than before and collapsed backward hitting my back against the bathtub. It sounded like I was about to crash the place down around me.

Nik didn’t bother asking if I was okay again before he barged through the bathroom door in all his naked glory. My laughter died as I gawked at his body. My face was covered with tears, both from pain and embarrassment, and I was naked as the day I was born. I was a mess and in pain, but damn it… the handsome boy had grown into a gorgeous man. Tattoos covered thick, muscular thighs and abs that resembled an old-fashioned washboard, leading down to a long and perfectly thick cock that was pierced of all things. How in the name of all that was holy had I not remembered that little tidbit?

The man in front of me was large and built. Then there was his face. His dark eyes, full lips, stubble, and tattoos that crawled up his neck. I blinked up at him and realized he was nothing short of perfection and I was a hot mess. Life sucked.

“Gavno,” Nik swore as he picked me up into his arms, not waiting for me to ask for help. I wanted to slap his hands away, but my back ached from hitting the tub, my empty stomach was still rolling and I was so hungover I wasn’t sure I could make it back to the bed while staying upright. “Are you hurt?”

I didn’t answer as I closed my eyes and enjoyed what his hot skin against mine was doing to me. Even if I wanted to answer, his voice and sheer presence were scrambling my brain. Working at one of the hottest nightclubs in town as a bartender I thought myself immune to the charms of men. I’d never been the girl that was rendered speechless by a guy. Somehow, I’ve now turned into her, and Nik Baranov was to blame.

He placed me on the bed and then started to inspect my body for any damage. Nik’s hand skated across the skin on my back while I blinked open my eyes. I blinked several more times when I realized that I was face-to-face with his cock. If I stuck mytongue out, I’d get a taste and I was so tempted. It was a thing of beauty that I couldn’t make myself look away from.

Realizing what I was about to do, I quickly pulled back. No, no. no. This was by far the biggest clusterfuck of my life. “I’m fine, Nik,” I lied and covered my face with my hands, totally embarrassed and wishing I could get a do-over. “You should go,” I told him, keeping my face covered.

Nik kneeled in front of me and pushed my hands away. “You don’t remember, do you?”

“I remember,” I answered a little too quickly.

The corner of his mouth turned upward. “Tell me what position we did it in?”

I laughed and winced all at once because the hangover monster inside my head was jackhammering away, probably etching the word “Vodka” onto my skull as a reminder. “Come on. That’s so easy,” I scoffed.

He raised an eyebrow just like he used to when he was calling me on my bullshit. “Then tell me.”

I mentally flipped through every possibility as quickly as I could. Since I was drunk off my ass, there’s a high likelihood I wasn’t on top because I could barely walk. Nik didn’t look like the missionary type of guy either. Two down and only a few hundred to go. “Doggy,” I blurted out. I was almost positive this guy was an ass man. If ass men had a look, they’d be Nik.

The smirk on his face turned into a full-on smile as he shook his head.

“Against the wall,” I said, trying again. When Nik shook his head again, I knew there was no way I could go on pretendingthat I could remember any of last night past Andrei and his stupid bottle of vodka. “Fine. I don’t remember.”

He slid his massive hand against my cheek and cupped my face. “I didn’t think you were that drunk, or else…”

I glanced away, trying to avoid his dark, penetrating gaze. “Now, he has morals,” I mumbled before he could finish the statement.

“Hey,” he said, drawing my eyes back to his. “I always have morals when it comes to women.”

Suddenly, I remembered how vulnerable and naked I was. I’d completely forgotten I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing and had done nothing to shield myself. “Fuck.” I pushed his hand away and scrambled to my feet, taking the top sheet off the bed with me. Wrapping the material around my body, I glanced around the room, trying to find the clothes I wore last night. “Where are my clothes?”

He pitched his head toward the bedroom door. “In the living room.” I rushed toward the door, not giving two fucks about anything except getting my clothes on.

Nik wrapped his hand around my arm and hauled me backward. “Don’t you want a few memories to take with you?” He wore a smug grin on his stupidly handsome face.

I glanced down to where his hand was against my skin. “You want to keep your cock?” I raised an eyebrow as I gazed up into his eyes.

“You’ve become feisty. I like it,” he teased before he released his grip on my arm. It was obvious that he was enjoying every moment of my misery.

I’m all kinds of sideways. “Pretend I don’t exist.” I ran out of the bedroom, scrambling to find my clothes to feel less vulnerable in this situation. Nik leaned against the wall in the living room as I picked my clothes off the floor. I dropped the sheet, giving him a full view since he’d seen it all anyway. “Get your last look.” I yanked the shirt over my head and quickly pulled on my underwear and pants.

Nik was still standing there, arms crossed, looking all kinds of sexy wearing nothing. “Moy tsvetok.” He closed the space between us in three quick strides before taking my chin between two of his fingers. “We aren’t done. Not by a long shot,” he said to me like his word was law and somehow, I was just supposed to agree.

My eyes were locked on his. I couldn’t bring myself to look away, no matter how hard I tried. “We can’t do this again, Nik.”

“We won’t. Next time, you’ll be sober and begging for my touch.” Butterflies started to buzz around my stomach at his words.

I swallowed down every bit of lust this man fueled in me and lifted my chin, ever defiant. I pulled away, moving quickly toward the door, and I glanced over my shoulder. “Forget I exist. Be gone when I come back.”

“We’re not done, moy tsvetok,” he called out as the door closed behind me.

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