Page 25 of The Sinner's Touch

“Kade?”

“I called him a prude last night when he got all embarrassed over your closet.” Laughter bubbled up at the memory of his face. “He was like a virgin on prom night.”

Nikoli chuckled. “I would have paid good money to see that.”

“I told you we should have cleaned out the closet.” Lily picked up some of the bags and moved to the kitchen. Nikoli rolled his eyes and did the same, leaving Angel to follow them.

“You just miss all those silk bindings.” Nikoli moved up behind Lily, and Angel noticed how he didn’t touch her for amoment. It was odd, like he was giving her time to get used to him. When he leaned down and placed a kiss on her neck, she tilted her head and closed her eyes.

“Perhaps you miss being tied to the bed.” She let out a wicked little laugh herself when his breath hissed out.

“Yeah, maybe we’ll collect a few things before we go.” Nikoli’s eyes had gone all sleepy with desire. His arms swept around her, and he nestled Lily under his chin.

“Still a manwhore.” Lily shook her head in mock disgust.

Nikoli let out an outraged gasp but hugged her tighter. “But you love your manwhore.”

“Yes, I love you.” She leaned into him, turning her head up so he could kiss her properly.

Angel turned away and walked into the living room, leaving them alone for a few minutes. Manwhore? Well, some of the college girls called him that, but she hadn’t been aware Nikoli knew about it. Angel sat back down on the couch and picked up her pizza to munch on while they played lovey dovey. To be that young and in love. She smiled, remembering the first few months of her and Kade’s relationship.

“Sorry.” Lily came and sat on the couch with her. “We can get carried away sometimes. How are you, really?”

Angel didn’t know Lily all that well. She’d only met her twice, both times when Nikoli dragged her to the bar. Sweet girl who had Nikoli wrapped tightly around her finger. No small feat in itself.

“I’m good, I promise.”

“Did Nikoli tell you that I was kidnapped myself?”

“What? No, he didn’t.”

“They thought it was the serial killer, but it turned out to be a stalker I didn’t even know I had. I was terrified, trapped in a trunk, no phone, no way to get out. Then when the car wrecked, all I remember is the pain and the realization I’d never see Nikoliagain. I wasn’t fine after it. I told everybody I was, including the manwhore over there, but it wasn’t true. I was scared all the time, and the nightmares…” She shook her head and closed her eyes for a minute. “I still have nightmares.”

“I’m so sorry.” Wow. She’d never known that. Angel remembered Nikoli coming in and saying something about an accident, but he hadn’t said a word about an abduction.

Lily smiled warmly at her, and Angel understood why Nikoli said everyone loved this girl. He’d come into her bar one night, ranting that he couldn’t even get close to the girl without everyone blowing up his phone warning him off her. The kindness in Lily’s eyes said more about her as a person than most people’s actions did. She was a sweetheart. How Nikoli managed to land her was beyond Angel. The boy was a manwhore in the truest sense of the word, or at least he’d been before Lily.

“The reason I’m telling you this is because I understand some of what you’re going through, and if you need to talk, I’m here. Or I can recommend a good therapist for you. She’s excellent. Helped me a lot.”

“You mean the quack who adores me?” Nikoli came back into the main room and plopped down between the two of them.

“She’s not a quack,” Lily admonished. “She just thinks you have severe commitment issues.”

“I do not.”

Lily gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. “Nikoli, how many poor girls did you chew up and spit out since you came to BU?”

His expression turned wary. “That is something we’ve agreed to disagree on, Lily Bells.”

“You are the manwhore of Boston University.” Angel grinned when his expression soured.

“I am not a whore. I am a connoisseur of women.”

Lily and Angel both burst out laughing at his haughty reply. He looked so pious.

“Besides, I’m committed to you, aren’t I?” he challenged.

She leaned her head against his. “Yes, you are, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have issues. Especially after what happened between you and Kade.”

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