“So eager to get rid of me?” I joked instead, but really, I dreaded not seeing him every day.

“Fuck no. I want to lock you up and keep you with me forever.”

Hearing those words made me smile stupidly.

“Lock me up and keep me forever then,” I leaned into him, kissing his tattoo of the sacred heart.

“Are you sure, Olivia? Because they don’t call us the Russian Sinners for naught.”

I raised my head to lock eyes with him. “I told you already. I have never been more sure of anything else in my life.” It was the truth. There was nobody else for me. He wasit. “Besides, you were going to show me your singular tastes tonight.”

“Really?” He smiled sinfully and my panties soaked instantly.

“Yes, really.”

“I don’t want to scare you.”

“You won’t.” While the last few years with Malcome left visible and invisible scars, I wouldn’t allow them to hold me back. I wanted to be strong, for myself. I wanted to experience what Nikolai liked. I wanted to explore everything with Nikolai.

I took his hand. “Should we go upstairs?”

His eyes turned deep, dark blue; desire in them the best adrenaline.

We walked through the house and nothing registered in my brain except for Nikolai. As soon as we entered the bedroom, he turned the lock. My pulse sped up instantly, and I swallowed hard.

“Do you agree we lock the door?” he asked in a smooth voice. God, just hearing his voice could be enough to lose my head.

Nodding my head, I focused on his eyes, my erratic pulse slowly easing back down.

“Two things for you to remember,” his voice was deep and intoxicating. “First, you are in control.” I nodded, although a tad bit unsure. “Second, we have to select a safe word.”

A shaky laugh escaped me. “Like in the movieFifty Shades?”

“What was the safe word in that movie?”

I tried to think back. “Umm, I think it was red or yellow. Something like that.”

“Okay. We won’t do that.” He slowly walked me over to the king size bed. His hot lips nibbled on my neck, and I titled my head to allow him better access. I relished in the sensation of him, closing my eyes.

“Tell me your favorite fruit,” he demanded in a deep voice.

I had to think about his question, he rattled my brain so easily when he kissed me.

“Pomegranate,” my voice was husky.

He pulled my nightgown over my head leaving me standing only in panties.

“Fuck, you are beautiful,” he murmured, his hand cupping my breast gently. Bending his head, he took one nipple into his mouth while his big hand teased my other breast.

My fingers gripped his shoulders, holding onto him like he was my last rock. The only sound in the dark room were my moans and both of our heavy breathing.

“Pomegranate will be our safe word,” he groaned. “Okay?”

I watched him through my heavy eyelids. “Okay.”

“Lay on the bed,” he murmured into my ear. I followed the command, laying onto my back and to my surprise he followed, his strong body hovering over mine. “Good. Now raise your hands above your head, Olivia.”

He followed the command with a gentle bite on my neck, sending jolts of pleasure through my body. I raised my hands above my head, and he tied them with a silky material. I glanced up at my tied hands, and my heart started racing again.