Page 94 of Madness & Mercy
“I’m fine,” I mutter, tugging at the silk tie like it’s choking me. I rip it loose, my fingers dragging down to the top buttons. My hands shake a little.Fuck.I undo the first few, exposing my throat, the edge of my collarbone.
Nico watches every movement like it’s a strip tease meant just for him.
“Why is it so hot in here?” I mutter, barely catching my breath.
He smirks, his eyes dragging slowly from my chest to my throat, like he’s already undressing me in his head.
“It’s the same temperature it always is,” he says.
My skin prickles beneath his stare. My pulse is hammering now, too loud in my ears. I scoff, trying to push him back with attitude alone.
“You always stare like that?” I ask, forcing bite into my voice. “Or is it just when someone’s about to pass out in your designer suit?”
He stands up from the table and takes a step closer, closing the space between us inch by inch.
“Only when they look like they’re about to fall apart,”he says.
I try to laugh, but it comes out shaky.
“Arrogant bastard.”
His eyes drag down my throat, lingering at the part of my shirt still clinging to damp skin.
I should move. I should say something sharp, something cruel to regain the upper hand, but I don’t.
Because when he leans in close enough that I feel the heat of his body against mine, I can’t think at all.
“You’resweating.”
His fingers ghost just above my chest, not touching, because that would be too merciful.
“Tell me,” he breathes, his eyes locked on mine. “Is it fear, or is it something else?”
My breath stutters.
“Fuck you.”
He smiles like I just said yes.
“You keep saying that,” he whispers. “But you keep looking at my mouth.”
My spine hits the wall behind me,hard.When did I back up? I don’t remember moving.
He presses one hand beside my head, caging me in. The other hovers at my jaw, just a breath away.
“You’retrembling,”he says. “And I haven’t even touched you yet.”
My whole body feels like it’s on fire.
“What do you want from me?” I rasp, hating how raw it sounds.
He leans in until his lips brush my ear, so soft it feels like a kiss.
“Everything,”he murmurs.
Then he pulls back just enough to look into my eyes. “But I’ll settle for hearing you beg.”
“Was this your plan from the start?” I murmur, trying so damn hard to lookanywherebut those eyes.“Dragging me here just to fuck with my head? To seduce me?”
