Page 106 of The Failed Audition

“I don’t see what it matters if you’re naked.”

I exhale a tense breath. “Because I’ll be distracted.”

“By your own body?”

I scowl.

“You said it.”

“Byyoustaring at my naked body.”

His lips curve upward, in a charming smile. “I’m not going to tell you that I’ll look away because that’d be a lie.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Can you hurry with your thoughts?”

My jumbled, tangled, helplessly confused thoughts.Ask something important.Everything feels important, so that really does not help my case. “Where is she now?” I manage to say.Good one. You’re doing good. Or well. Whatever.I kind of want to shut off my brain now.

“Yekaterinburg. It’s where she grew up.”

So she’s most likely with her family, at least those who aren’t in the circus. “Is she coming back ever?” I ask.

“No. She wants to live in Russia.” He watches my arms vibrate with the chill, concern narrowing his eyes.Stay strong, Thora.“I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a boyfriend or a fiancé. Or even a husband by now.” He doesn’t pale or cringe or recoil by these facts.

“It doesn’t bother you—”

“Why would it? I’m with you.” Intensity still permanently latched to me, he removes his boxer-briefs, the last article of clothing. I breathe shallowly and seem to tremble more.

This is such a weird conversation to be undressing to. And I’m really to blame for that.It needed to be said.True. It’s better with this knowledge.

He steps closer to me, until his body pins mine against the sink. “Anymore thoughts?”

With that one action, they’ve all escaped. I strain my neck just to see his hard, masculine face, flooded with desire. My arms are still crossed, pulling my shirt closed, despite being unbuttoned. He can’t kiss me in this position. He’d need to back up so he can lean down, and it’s frustrating on all accounts. I should’ve left my high heels on.

But he waits. For me. To say that I have no more thoughts.

“Why are you so patient with me?” I whisper.

“Because every part of me wants to take care of you.” One of his hands drifts to the back of my neck, the other beneath my wet shirt, around my hip. “And to do that, I’d slow down to your speed.”

“And what’s your speed?” I ask.

“Much faster.” He watches my reaction as he dips his hand beneath the band of my panties. My mouth opens in a heady breath. “Harder,” he says lowly. His fingers brush the inside ofmy thigh before he pulls off the fabric. “Deeper.” He peels the wet shirt off my arms, my lungs expanding in a strong breath.

The inhale lifts my chest, both barbells prominent, both pierced by him. It makes the throb in the hard bud feel more like pleasure than pain. He soaks in my body, every inch of skin with the most consuming gaze. After the sopping shirt hits the ground, we’re both left bare against each other.

He makes the two guys that I was with seem like boys. Nothing as sexual, as arousing, as this. And all he did was undress me.

I tremble. This time, not from the cold.

Very swiftly, he lifts me around his waist, and his lips and tongue make skilled work on my neck, sucking the most sensitive part. I grind forward, my nerves lighting and dizzying me. I clutch him tightly, my arms not even close to wrapping around his frame. I bury my head into his muscular chest, protected, small.

“Just…no sex tonight,” I whisper.Not after that conversation.I don’t want to equate the first time toher.

He kisses my lips and then says, “Okay.”

For a brief moment I wonder if he’s really okay with it. Then he dominates every movement, doing whatever he pleases while I relax into the moment. And I realize, he’s going to make it okay by doing so many other things.

His fingers slip inside of me. God. The fullness blinds me, and I cry into skin. We’re in the middle of the bathroom. Not even against the wall. He easily holds me, driving his two fingers deeper, finding a spot that—

“Nik…” I gasp into another cry, spidering him with the hardest grip. It collapses his breath for a second. Then he lowers his head to suck my neck again, like I’m his play toy that he wants to pleasure. I throb. I pulse. I ache. Actually craving for his cock—actually wondering what he’d feel like.

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