Page 99 of Sweet as Sin (Bad Habit 1)
“Hundred-thousand-dollar security system and I have to get a fuckin’ dog,” muttered Nico. His hand around my hip tightened. His other arm wound around my waist.
“Your system’s one of the best, Mr. Nyx, but no system is foolproof. Especially if you know the disable code.”
A horrible possibility struck me. “Do you think it could be someone from the security company? How else would the intruder know what to enter?”
Officer Reynolds shook his head. “Can’t rule out any possibility, but I doubt it. More likely the company was hacked, or you were. Or it could be someone who knows you well enough to know what numbers you’d choose.”
His steady, penetrating gaze held mine while that sunk in.
Someone who knows you. My body erupted in chills.
Officer Reynolds promised to be in touch as soon as they looked at all the videotapes and assured us again there would be a unit at the end of the driveway just outside the gate. He shook hands with Nico, then left, along with the others.
Leaving Nico and me alone in the vast, house-with-a-million-perfect-hiding-spots house.
“There’s nobody here but the two of us,” Nico assured me gently. He hugged me close and kissed me. I snuggled against his chest.
“The two of us and your shotgun, you mean.”
“Well, technically, if you’re gonna count the guns . . . ” I glanced up to find him smiling grimly at me. “There’s quite a few of us here.”
Oddly, that made me feel better. Up until that moment, I’d never had a fondness for guns.
“I suppose it makes sense, you being from the sticks and all.”
“You callin’ me a hillbilly, darlin’?”
I didn’t have the energy to banter, so I just shook my head and hid my face in his chest.
Nico immediately became serious. He took my face in his hands. “No one is ever gonna hurt you, Kat. Not while I’m around. I’d die before I’d let anyone hurt you. Understood?”
I nodded, loving the possessive look in his eyes. We stared at one another for a moment, until Nico suddenly bent and swept me into his arms. He walked us through the foyer and began to ascend the stairs.
“Not the elevator? Brave man.” I kissed his neck and rested my head on his shoulder.
He pretended to have trouble breathing. “I need the workout.”
This time I bit his neck. A laugh rumbled through his chest. He carried me all the way to the bedroom without passing out, a feat I had to admit was impressive, then laid me down on the bed. He pressed a tender kiss to my lips. “You gonna be able to sleep?”
“As long as you’re right next to me.”
He smiled, pulling his T-shirt over his head. His jeans came off next, along with his boxers, and I was treated to the sight of a body that could have made the David weep with jealousy.
“I’ll always be right next to you, baby,” he promised, then proceeded to remove all my clothes. When I was naked, he pulled me against his side in bed, adjusting the covers over us. I snuggled against his warmth, drawing strength from his solidity, from the steady beating of his heart beneath my cheek. Even though all the lights were still on, and I never thought I’d be able to, I eventually began to drift back to sleep.
“Just out of curiosity,” I asked groggily a few minutes later, “what was the security code?”
Nico’s chest rose and fell on a long, thoughtful exhalation. “Amy’s birthday.”
I came instantly wide awake.
“When you say ‘Amy,’” I began carefully, but Nico provided clarification before I could go any further.
“I mean Amy. Not Avery. Her alter ego had a fake birthday, along with a fake name.”
Oh shit. That could only mean one thing.
Nico felt the tension in my body. “Yeah. When Officer Reynolds said ‘someone close to you,’ he was spot fuckin’ on.”
