Page 35 of Taming Nikki

He actually chuckled. “I assure you, that wasn’t the case. I was probably making a face because I was irritated that I couldn’t continue. You were looking at me so eagerly, practically begging me to finish what I started.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. You should really reevaluate who you’re presenting yourself with. Once the world finds out what I am, your reputation is going to take a hit.”

I did my best to ignore him as he ran his lips across my shoulder, his hands leaning on the bar to cage me in. I tried to shrug him off, but he wasn’t deterred and I was too irritated to focus on him right now.

Being compared to my sisters most of my life, I was never considered good enough. Even if I looked nicer, showed up before them, listened better, I was my papa’s bastard and therefore low class. Now that I had the attitude and mouth to go with it, I knew I’d never be seen any other way. It was why I focused so hard on my business. I wanted to be known for the work I did, not the family I was born into. And I was damn good at it, too.

No matter how hard I tried, though, how often I reminded myself I was better than them in all the ways that counted, it still bugged me that people saw me that way. I pulled a cigarette out of my clutch, lighting up while I waited for my drink.

“You seem awfully concerned about my reputation for someone who wants nothing to do with me.” When he replaced his lips with his teeth, I shuddered and jerked away from him.

“Knock it off. I don’t give a shit about your reputation. I want out of your stupid deal with my papa and you seem really unconcerned with how it’ll affect you if you follow through.”

His hands slid from the bar onto my hips, where he yanked me backwards. I fell against him and he took advantage, his arms sliding around to my front. One wrapped around my stomach, keeping me against him. The other moved to my throat, resting against it in a way that implied that if I kept pissing him off, he could kill me easily. I froze, mostly out of self preservation. His chuckle rumbled against my back.

“There is nothing you can say that’ll change my mind.” His voice was low and husky and it gave me goosebumps. Another time, another reality, I’d be throwing myself at Leo Vitale. If only he wasn’t trying to ruin my life.

The bartender didn’t even look up at us as he dropped off our drinks. The cigarette lay abandoned in the ashtray. It felt like Leo could do absolutely anything he wanted to me and no one would notice or try to stop him. That kind of power could warp someone’s mind, but he never struck me as anything other than clear-headed and ruthless.

“You’re lucky I don’t like to share, or I’d fuck you against this bar so that everyone could see who you belong to.”

The low rumble snapped my focus back, and I scowled as I fought against him. My stomach flipped when he grabbed both my hands and pressed them against the bar top, mimicking the position he was threatening me with. I tried to jerk my hands free, but he pressed harder against them until the pain made me freeze and grimace.

No one looked at us. The people who had been sitting closest had all disappeared and there was at least a five-foot bubble surrounding us. He only released my hands when he knew I wouldn’t move them, out of fear or something else. Something that made my skin burn where he touched me and wetness pool between my legs. His hand slipped into the slit of my dress and gripped my thigh tightly. I ground my teeth as I tried to fight my reaction to him, but he slipped his hand farther up and brushed the panel of my panties, which were already soaked. I couldn’t hide that proof even if I wanted to.

He chuckled. “Thought you didn’t like me?”

I opened my mouth to snap at him, but he pressed down against my clit and I nearly swallowed my tongue. Warmth spread through my limbs and gathered in my belly. I had to fight against the urge to move against his hand. When he made small circles, I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut against the onslaught of pleasure.

“At first, when I made this deal, I intended to do what most other dons do, put my heir in you, and go about my business. That’s not going to happen anymore.” I could barely hear him over the sound of my own harsh breathing. “Now? I’m going to ruin you. I’m going to make it so that no other man is good enough for you. Nothing is off limits, not for me. You’re mine, Nicole.”

He growled it, his fingers never stopping until I was so close I couldn’t think straight. I shook my head again. I wanted to argue with him, wanted to stop myself from giving him what he was so easily pulling from me. But his free hand slid into my hair and wrenched my head back roughly. He moved past my panties and slipped his finger inside me and I came apart, gritting my teeth against the moans that threatened to escape.

He pressed his lips to my neck and I could feel him smile against me.

“Good girl.”

I couldn’t breathe until he released me and stepped away. I moved slowly, unsteady on my feet as I leaned against the bar. Leo grabbed his drink and tipped it back like a shot. One of his guys cleared his throat to grab Leo’s attention. He slid his hand to my lower back again and whispered into my ear.

“I’ve got business to handle. Stay here. I’ll be back.”

I jerked my head away from him, but it only made him chuckle as he swept past me to go handle business.

Once he left, I took stock of what had just happened. I was so beguiled by what he was doing, I never once told him no. I could’ve fought harder. I knew how to defend myself. Why the hell did I let him touch me? And why were his words so intoxicating? He was going to ruin me? What the fuck was that?

I felt angry, but most of it was directed at myself. I was weak, and I let him get away with touching me in a room full of people. It didn’t matter that it was the hottest thing I'd ever experienced. It was the damn principle of the thing. I slammed my drink and spun to leave. No way was I going to listen to Vitale and stay here. I needed to get out before he decided to finish what he started. Given how the night was going, he might have actually been able to convince me to let him, and I wasn’t going to give him that kind of power over me.

I got close to the door to the stairs before Frankie appeared in front of me. He flashed me a goofy grin as he leaned his shoulder against the wall. He was blocking my path. I couldn’t go around him because there was a poker table in the way. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

He laughed. “Aw, don’t be mean. I came to say hi. I would’ve earlier, but I didn’t want to… interrupt.”

I glowered at him. “Listen here, you little shit–”

He put his hands up, giving me a sheepish grin. “Sorry, sorry, it was a bad joke. I’m in a good mood. Leo has been letting me work a lot more and I’m pretty sure it’s thanks to you. He never even considered it before he met you.”

Frankie was clueless to the fact that Leo was using him against me. He smiled easily, his hands shoved into his pockets. He wore a suit like his cousin and he looked so proud of himself. I almost felt bad for what I did next. I pulled my lipstick out of my purse and a small compact, slathering it on heavily.

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