Page 29 of Touch Me Not: Anniversary Edition

“Me?”

Lily grinned, her inner devil shining through, and Nikoli frowned. What was the minx up to?

“Well, you did say you wanted to improve people’s perception of you. If you plan on doing this, it means you can’t go out and have sex with whoever. If you want people to believe we’re dating, then you’re going to have to conform tomystandards.”

So, she had a devil in her after all. Two could play this game. He decided to push her limits just a little. He scooted until his thigh was pressed firmly against hers.

She sucked in her breath.

“As I told you earlier, Lily, I won’t need anyone else. I’ll have you.” Before she had time to respond, he leaned in and softly brushed his lips against hers. It was over and done before she could freak. He stood up and walked over to the row of window overlooking the Boston skyline. He needed to give her a moment and to get his own emotions under control.

Lily’s hand shook as she brought her fingers up to touch her lips. She couldn’t believe he’d done that! He’d told her he wouldn’t touch her this soon, and he’d gone and done it anyway.

“You said…”

“I did say.” He turned to face her. “My goal is to help you, Lily, make you comfortable with me, but I also want to touch you, very badly. It’s why I’m over here right now. I want to bend you over that couch and fuck you so hard, you’ll feel me inside you for a week, but I’m controlling myself.”

Lily’s mouth formed a silent O. She hadn’t expected that. He was honest, if nothing else. “How can I trust you, though, if you can’t even keep your word for one day?”

“Lily, I promised we’d take it slow, get you comfortable with me, but part of that includes my sneak attacks. My lips feathered over yours, not even a touch, really. I will do it again and again. Get used to it.”

She swallowed. He meant that. He was going to do it again. Her insides tightened, but not in fear. Her hands were shaking, yeah, but there was more than fear there—she felt excitement, anticipation. Why did his touch, even the promise of his touch, do this to her? No one, not even Adam, had ever made her feel like this. Maybe the manwhore really was that good. She laughed, thinking about what Janet would have to say on the matter.

“Something funny?” he asked, his voice low and rough.

Lily looked up, and her laughter died. He looked hard, determined. Not the laughing man of before. He reminded her of the dominant males she secretly loved to read about, and it made her mouth go dry. Dear Lord, what was she getting into? She almost called it off right then and there but forced the words back. If she didn’t take a chance, then she’d never know. This man—not the boy from before, but the man in front of her—could give her back her life. Instinct told her this, and she wasn’t going to give up the chance for normalcy. Her fear had held her back long enough.

“I was just thinking about what everyone’s going to say when the manwhore goes straight. Do you think you can handle the ribbing?”

“Connoisseur of women, Lily, connoisseur of women.”

“If that’s what gets you through the night,” she said, shrugging. “At least you’re not hooking on the corner…”

He spewed the water he’d just put into his mouth, and Lily laughed. Oh, God, she was going to have to tell Janet about this one for sure.

“You are going to pay for that one,Milaya,” he promised. “I may spank you.”

“No, you won’t,” she said, laughing. “You just told me you don’t hurt women.”

“I never said it’d hurt, did I?” His eyes glittered with intent, and Lily’s own widened.

Her doubts crowded back in, but she pushed them down. Nikoli struck a chord in her, and it scared her, but she refused to be a coward anymore.

“No touching, remember?”

He grinned, a slow, lazy smile that put her on alert. “Oh, but when I do touch you,Milaya…”

Lily took a shaky breath. She needed to get out of here, before he decided to take this any further. She didn’t know how much more she could handle tonight. “I think we should probably go back to campus now.”

Nikoli chuckled. “Running already. You realize I’m not going to let you escape so easily next time?”

“I’m counting on it.”

She needed him to not let her run. Maybe it was what she’d needed all along.

“Come on, Lily Bells, let’s get you home.”

Chapter Ten

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