Page 98 of Dance of Ruin

“One that you get changed with,” Nico growls.

“It’s not something I go out of my way to have happen,” I snap. “But, yes, I’m sure at some point, I’ve changed in the same room as him. And, hello? He sleeps with men, so what the hell is the problem?”

“He doesn’tjustsleep with men.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, that would be putting the ‘bi’ inbisexual.”

“That would be puttinghimin the fuckinggroundif he ever sees you naked again,” Nico snaps.

I cock a brow. “That feelssuperproblematic.”

“What’sproblematic,” he growls, stepping closer, “isanyoneseeing what belongs to me. I don’t care who he fucks. I care about him, or fuckinganyone, seeing what’smine.”

“It’s a professional environment!” I snap. “We arefriendsand coworkers! And yes—at times—thatjobdoes include getting changed?—”

“Idon’t sharewhat’s fucking mine,” Nico spits, a dark glint in his eye as he steps toward me.

I shiver when he surges closer, backing me up into the mirror. His clean, masculine scent invades my senses, making my knees weak as he plants a hand on the glass beside me and leans down, his eyes boring into mine.

“In any case, it’s a moot point,” he mutters. “You’re not going anywhere tonight.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

He just shrugs.

“What, because ofVaughn? Are you fucking serious?”

“Not because of him,” he mutters. “You’re just not.”

My eyes turn angry. “Is that an order?”

He doesn’t respond.

“So, I’m your prisoner now?” I press.

“It’s not safe, Naomi.”

“Why not?”

His jaw grinds. “It just isn't.”

“Not good enough.”

“Too fucking bad,” he snaps.

The tension echoes between us like a slammed door.

He exhales slowly and runs his hand down his face, like he’s trying to keep from exploding.

“There are parts of my world you don’t understand,” he finally mutters. “Tonight, I don’t have the patience to explain them.”

Without another word, he turns and walks back to the doorway, pausing to glance back at me.

“I have to deal with something,” he grunts. “You are not going out.”

Then he’s gone.

I hear him walk through the huge apartment, then the sound of the front door opening and closing behind him.

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