Page 76 of A Billion Desires

I stumbled slightly on the landing, catching myself in time with my hand against the wall. My body turned to go down the hall toward my room, but Nick yanked my arm and I fell against his chest. “I said, follow me,” he nearly barked as he glared down into my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I responded, trying my best to placate him. “I’ll try harder.” To that he nodded, then grabbed the handrail.

I’d hoped he’d slow down—instead, it felt like he went even faster up the stairs.

It didn’t compute until I saw the rose carved into the door that he was taking me to his room.

His room.

In all the days since I’d arrived, he’d only come to my room.

Since he hadn’t extended an invitation to me, I assumed he didn’t want his hired, monthly girlfriends in his bed. Like maybe he only allowed his real girlfriends the privilege of sleeping in his bed with him.

My heart pumped wildly as my breathing tried to catch up.

He opened the door, dragged me through, then slammed it shut, making me jump. I wanted to say something to calm him—and me—down, but nothing came to mind. My brain raced, trying to think of ways to handle his mood.

“Did I make you mad, Nick?” I asked, letting my shaky hand land on his chest. I felt his heart beating like crazy underneath my sweaty palm. “Tell me what I did wrong, please? I’m sorry,” I pleaded with him, hoping like heck he wouldn’t take his anger out on me tonight.

His eyes scoured my face, looking at me as though he were shocked. “I would never hurt you, Eve. Never,” he said, then moved his hand up and to my cheek. I flinched and turned my head away on pure instinct.

I could hear him audibly growl at me, and it made me close my eyes, certain I’d just pissed him off even more.

“Look at me,” he said, and I cringed, shutting my eyes tighter—waiting for the inevitable slap. “I said, look at me!”

With a deep breath, I held my body stiffly and faced him. But instead of anger in his eyes, I saw pity. “I would never fucking hurt you. Do you understand?” His forceful hands cupped my face and that previous anger returned. “Did someone hit you?”

My voice was a shaky, wobbly mess. Even so, if I didn’t answer, he’d get even madder. “No,” I lied, not wanting to fan the flames of his fury.

“You’re fucking lying. Who hit you? Tell me!” he screamed in my face, making me shut my eyes tight, wishing I was anywhere in the world except here.

Against my will, I opened my eyes and said, “No one. No one has ever hit me.”

“I’d never hurt you,” he said, his voice lower like he was trying to reign in his temper. “And if I ever find out someone laid a hand on you in anger, I’ll cut his fucking balls off. Do you hear me?” he asked in a menacing tone that gave me shivers down my back.

The way he said that—the way he looked at me as he said those words, I nearly believed him.

“I know you won’t hurt me,” I lied again, hoping to appease him. “And honestly, no one has ever hurt me.”

His eyes told me he knew I wasn’t telling him the truth. “Bullshit,” he said, before crushing his lips to mine in a punishing kiss. I gasped as he stole more and more of my breath away with each kiss. I felt dizzy with relief while I attempted to kiss him back.

He made that difficult, though.

His powerful tongue swept into my mouth, and I couldn’t help but whimper.

I’d missed him so much—kissing me like he hoped to devour me in one fell swoop. His kisses were nearly violent in nature, hurting my lips as he took what he wanted.

Each time he bit down on my lower lip, I felt my pussy throb for him. A deep, pulsing ache had set up shop below and I was already insanely wet for him.

I could feel his hardness against my belly as he set both hands on my bottom and pulled me tight against him.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the almost frenzied expression on Nick’s face. His eyelids were shut, but the way his face had contorted and twisted, he was nearly unrecognizable.

Finally, after long minutes of his soul-stealing kisses, he pulled back so abruptly I had to hang onto him for fear of falling. “Clothes off, Eve,” he said, completely out of breath as he stepped away from me and gasped for air just like I was.

A sudden thrill ran through me at his words, even though I was still scared of what he’d do next.

Nick had promised he’d never hurt me.

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