Page 28 of Where the Wicked Reign

Unfortunately.

Before I could get a word out, the intruder pulled out a Zippo lighter, illuminating themselves.

“Nico,” I ground out. “What the fuck are you doing in my apartment? If this is another strike on your part in our ridiculous war—” I pulled up short as I took in the look all over his face. There wasn’t that usual self-satisfied smirk. His striking sapphire eyes weren’t gleaming with mischief or malice.

No, he looked… haunted.

“We need to talk,” he told me.

“And you thought breaking into my home was the best way to do that?”

“You wouldn’t have let me in if I’d buzzed up. Besides, I couldn’t risk anyone seeing me coming to you tonight, hence me needing to cut the power so I wasn’t picked up on surveillance.” He pulled out his phone and dialed quickly. In the next second, he was speaking down the line, “Turn it back on. I’ll let you know when I’m about to leave.” He pocketed his phone in his leather jacket and a few moments later, the lights came back on, the apartment whirring back to life.

His gaze darted all around my bedroom.

The large king-size bed over on the far wall opposite with a chic tufted headboard, a cloud-like ivory duvet with plush turquoise accent pillows, along with draped fairy lights.

There was an oversized reading nook over by the window crowded with soft pillows in my favored turquoise and blush, peonies in crystal vases surrounding the area.

His gaze darted to my modern glass vanity with the chic crystal knobs, looking over the jewelry trees and little boxes of varying sizes, ornate perfume bottles.

“What?” I demanded when he arched an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“I didn’t expect it to be so… cutesy.”

“Ididn’t know that word was part of your vocabulary.”

“Seems it is when it comes to you.”

“Don’t flirt with me. I’m still deciding whether to put a bullet in your body.”

Your sexy-as-fuck body.

Stop it.

“If you think that was flirting, you’re in for a treat. As for shooting me, I’m armed. You won’t make it to that nightstand safe in time.”

I stared at him curiously.

“Your gaze keeps darting over there,” he explained. “You were either considering retrieving your gun or a box of condoms.”

“Definitely the gun,” I ground out.

He ran his gaze over me in just my black silk slip. “I imagined turquoise with it being your favorite color.”

“You shouldn’t be imagining me in my sleepwear at all.”

“And yet.”

“Urgh. Pass me my robe.”

“What?”

I gestured at the hook on the back of the door where my satin black and silver floral robe was hanging.

He turned and lifted it off the hook, then walked to me instead of just tossing it over.

I tensed with his every step closer.

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