Page 64 of Taming Nikki

I chuckled. “You’re welcome.”

“Oh my god. You’re one of those. Now I definitely know we won’t last the week.”

Her mentioning the end of our deal right after an experience like that pissed me off. I bit down hard on her shoulder until she sucked in a breath through her teeth.

“You’re an asshole.”

“Don’t bring that shit up right now. I was actually in a good mood for once.”

She turned with a frown. “What, is that like a rare thing?”

I rolled off the bed and headed for the bathroom to deal with the condom. I thought about not answering. I wasn’t interested in the touchy feely bullshit, but the last time I ignored her, she threw something at my head. I stopped long enough to grab a cigarette from my pocket before I rejoined her on the bed. She took it from me after I lit it.

“Not entirely. I’m just fucking busy. We’ve only gained back our power recently and everyone looks to me to keep us from crumbling again. Tonight was the first night I’ve ever ignored a phone call.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not apologizing for distracting you.”

I huffed out a laugh as I stole the cigarette back.

“So you smoke in your house, but I’ve never seen you smoke in your car. Is it a man thing? Gotta keep your car perfect?”

“No. I quit smoking for years. Then you showed up and riled me up and I dropped back into the habit. Thanks for that.”

She snorted. “Oh no. You don’t get to put the blame on me because you’re too weak to resist a vice.”

I pinched her ass, and she yelped, scooting away from me. I just dragged her back and leaned on an elbow so I could see her face. The sweat stuck her hair to her temples and her lips were swollen from the rough kissing. She noticed my scrutiny and narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

“Nothing better than a woman who looks freshly fucked.”

She rolled her eyes and shoved me away. Sitting up, she took one last puff of the cigarette before she handed it back to me and rolled out of bed.

“Where the fuck are you going?”

She padded to the bathroom and glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. “Shower. Why? You wanna join me?”

ChapterTwenty-Nine

NIKKI

I never intendedto sleep with him. It started off as a tease. I wanted him to calm down before I needed to be out working with him around. But I lose my head around Leo Vitale and once I started, I didn’t want to stop. If we were only going to be together for a week, I might as well enjoy it, right?

I still didn’t trust him, not to the extent where I’d marry him. That shit took years, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get married. Seemed like a recipe for drama. Too much pressure. I may also have had a slight issue with commitment.

I stretched, deliciously sore after last night. Leo was exactly what you’d hope for when you looked at him. Rough and demanding and incredibly thorough. I came more in one night than I had in years. His refusal to come before I did was refreshing. Too many times I had to finish myself off because the guy finished early and said ‘it’s a compliment’.

Leo’s room had blackout curtains that he kindly left closed when he got up for the day. I heard him when he woke up, but couldn’t be bothered to move and eventually fell back asleep. Not before he kissed my shoulder, which was cute. I figured a mafia don would get his jollies and go back to being distant and irritating.

I flipped onto my back and tried to get my brain to come online. I needed coffee. It still felt too early to be awake, but I could hear hushed voices downstairs, so obviously this house rose as early as Papa’s did. I rolled and stretched to grab Leo’s dress shirt from last night. I wasn’t getting off the bed until I absolutely had to. I managed to snag it, but I nearly toppled over the edge in the process.

Now I was getting irritated. I pulled on the shirt, I didn’t want to cross the hall to get dressed naked when I had no idea who was here, and let my feet dangle over the edge. I sat unmoving, a frown on my face. I hated waking up.

I was about to push to my feet when the door creaked open. Frankie poked his head in, his eyes squeezed shut.

“Are you decent?”

I chuckled and beaned him with a pillow. He yelped and covered his head with his hands before he carefully peeked one eye open and breathed a sigh of relief.

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