Page 64 of Sweet as Sin (Bad Habit 1)
Nico tilted my face up with a knuckle beneath my chin. His eyes were warm and soft, his voice even softer. “Make me.”
Still smarting from the encounter with Miss Thing, I reluctantly rose up on my toes and gave him a dry little peck on the lips.
“Yeah? That’s all I get for bein’ so right? A grandma kiss?” He clucked in disapproval.
“Try not to break your arm patting yourself on the back, there, loverboy,” I said tartly.
Nico gathered me in even closer. His chuckle was a deep rumble in his chest. “Love it that you’re jealous over me, baby. But you don’t have to be. I’m all yours now.”
I might have harrumphed, but I loved hearing him say he was all mine.
Too bad it wasn’t true.
“Nico.”
We turned to find Brody, white faced and nervous, standing in the doorway.
“What’s up?”
Brody cleared his throat. He glanced at me, and I knew. I just knew it was bad, before the words were even out of his mouth.
“Got a situation, bro.”
Nico tensed. He stepped in front of me protectively. “Yeah? What?”
The sound of the air-conditioning kicking on seemed unnaturally loud in the brief silence that followed. “Think you should come see for yourself.” Brody looked at me again. I went cold with fear.
“Stay here.” Quiet and firm, this was directed at me. Nico should have known better.
“No.”
“Baby—”
“No.”
“Uh, Kat?” Brody chimed in. “I, uh, think that might be the best thing.”
I glanced at him. “Well, then. Definitely no.”
“What the fuck is up, Brody?” said Nico, bristling.
Brody cleared his throat again. “Got a visitor.”
For a moment there was no reaction. Then, as if he suddenly understood, Nico muttered, “Fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair. He turned to me, his eyes dark. “Need you to stay here, baby.”
“Nico—”
“I’m askin’ you to stay here. Please. Go up to the bedroom and wait for me there.”
We stared at each other. In his eyes I saw the conflict, the anger and frustration. I wondered if he could see the disappointment in my own. Without thinking, my hand lifted to the charm resting at the hollow of my throat. Nico’s eyes followed the motion, then flashed back up to mine.
To trust, or not to trust? That was the question.
Well, I’d come this far. If our relationship was the Titanic, I’d find out soon enough if we’d just hit the iceberg or were still sailing out on the open sea.
“Okay,” I said softly. “I’ll be upstairs.”
I specifically didn’t say I’d be going to the bedroom.
