Page 73 of Girth (Marked Skulls MC 1)
“I asked you to dinner tonight, Kennedy. I complimented you on how beautiful you looked. What more do you want from me?” he snapped.
Nico’s face had grown dark suddenly. He wasn’t just a man who looked unhappy, he seemed like a man who was enraged.
I put down my glass of wine and drew in a deep breath.
“I don’t want anything from you. This was supposed to be a casual dinner. I thought we had a good time last night. And you’re right; you were the one who asked me to dinner tonight. So, if you’re not in the mood for this, I can go,” I stated.
Nico was glaring at me, like he couldn’t understand a word I was saying. But he didn’t respond, so slowly, I stood up.
“Thank you for inviting me, Nico. But I think it would be best if I leave,” I said.
I picked up my purse and turned, I was about to leave but Nico caught my hand. I hadn’t even realized that he’d stood up. His hand on me sent shudders down my body again. I gasped when he turned me around, making the table shudder too.
“Please, Kennedy, sit down,” his voice had become softer. I was looking into his deep gray eyes. I would have still walked away, I had my pride—but I couldn’t.
This man had me under his sex-spell.
***
I sat down again. Nico’s eyes had softened. Under the table, I felt his foot graze against mine. If he could just be touching me at all times, I knew I would agree to anything. Just like he’d undressed me with his eyes earlier, I was imagining him naked too.
“I apologize, you’re right. I’m not myself tonight,” he said. He was peering into my eyes. It was like he knew that he could control my mind. All he had to do was turn me on.
This was a dangerous game we were playing.
“What happened today?” I dared to ask him.
Nico clenched his jaws. It was obvious that he didn’t like being asked that question.
“We don’t need to talk about that,” he replied and instead, reached for my hand on the table. It was just a gentle graze with his fingertips. He was just feeling my skin, but I could feel the goosebumps erupt on my skin. He had complete control over me.
“You know all those years ago, that night at the party…I really meant it when I said that I wanted to take you to dinner first,” he was speaking in a low growly voice. His eyelids were heavy, he was piercing me with his straight gaze.
“I believe you. But then you just disappeared,” I said huskily. His fingers were still on my hands. It was like he was touching me in an intimate place. Somewhere between my legs.
“Did you wait for me, Kennedy?” he asked.
My throat was dry. I could barely get the words out. It was strange that just a few moments ago, I was ready to leave.
“Yes…I mean, no, not really. I wasn’t expecting anything,” I stuttered with my words.
Nico’s eyes narrowed on my heaving breasts. The dress was designed to tantalize. It was tight on my chest and I could feel my breasts spilling out, the cleavage accentuated.
“I know I should have called you, said something,” he said.
“You didn’t have my number. I’m surprised you even knew my name,” I laughed nervously. I’d pinned my hair up in a loose bun, but now some stray strands were falling around my face. I tucked them in behind my ears.
“I should have looked for you. I always thought myself as a man of my word,” he added.
The waiter interrupted us for our orders. We placed them with him, and now Nico wasn’t touching me anymore. I felt a cold rush of air return to my lungs. I could finally breathe again. When he wasn’t touching me, it felt like some order was restored to the world. My body reacted in a strange way to his presence.
“I apologize for my rudeness, Kennedy,” he said when the waiter had left.
“It’s okay. I just didn’t want to force you to sit through a dinner if you didn’t want to.”
Nico sighed and then looked away from me.
“You should know, I guess I should tell you—I have some things going on in my life. I can’t share them with you, but they’re keeping me busy,” he said.
I watched him as he spoke, at how hot he looked. I was lucky to be on a date with this man.
“That’s okay. We all have something going on in our lives. We’re all busy,” I replied. Nico met my eyes again.
“I’m sure you’re right,” he said.
“But you know, it’s always better when you share them with someone. I know we don’t really know each other well, but you can talk to me. If you want,” I said.
Nico was staring at me. Was he considering telling me something? I was hopeful that he might. I wanted to get to know him. I wanted to find out what made him tick.
But he changed his mind, his face darkened and he shook his head.
“I can’t burden you with my problems,” he said.
“It won’t be a burden. I promise. Trust me, I’m a good listener,” I told him, smiling nervously. We were so close to having an actual meaningful conversation. It was like I was desperate for him to give me a piece of himself.
“I can’t tell you!” he snapped. I clamped my mouth shut when I heard the tone of his voice. He hadn’t struck me as a violent man…but this side to him told me that he was a man capable of violence. Was he angry with me?
I looked down at my lap.
The waiter had returned with our food. It was served to us on the table. Once he was gone, Nico cleared his throat to speak again.
“I’m sorry about that, Kennedy. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m prying,” I murmured.
“Look, Kennedy. I can’t really talk to you about work or my private life. If you’re okay with that, then I would like to propose something,” he said.
I jerked my head up to look at him. What was he talking about? He must have seen the confusion on my face.
“I need you to tell me that you won’t ask about my private life,” he insisted. With my lips pursed together, I nodded my head. My cheeks were flushed. I was curious about his proposition.
“Last night was amazing,” he stated. Nico was casually eating his food as he spoke, like this conversation wasn’t strange at all. Even though the food in front of me looked and smelt amazing, I wasn’t hungry at all.
“I want you, Kennedy,” he added and looked up to meet my eyes. There was a firmness in his gaze. Like he was talking business. I could barely keep still from the tension that was rising in my bones.
“I’ve spent the entire day thinking about your body and the things I want to do to you,” he said and put down his fork. I was watching his lips move. I sensed my body growing hot. I hadn’t expected him to be so blunt and open about what was on his mind.
“But, I’m not that idealistic romantic from high school anymore,” he stated. My heart dropped to my stomach. I was nervous, I hadn’t spoken in several minutes.
“I want you, I want to keep fucking you because you’re gorgeous, but that is all I want,” h
e said.
My fingers curled on my lap. Every word that came out of his mouth had an adverse effect on me. He said he wanted me. He thought I was gorgeous!
“I can’t do feelings. Not right now, not with anyone. If we continue to see each other, it has to be a light and simple relationship. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Nico continued.
I gulped, staring at him.
I wanted him. I wanted to repeat what we’d done the previous night. What he was offering me was not ideal. How could I guarantee him that I wouldn’t develop feelings? I felt like I already had them anyway!
Nico’s eyes roamed over my body again.
“Trust me, Kennedy, you don’t want to get involved in anything serious with me,” he said.
I felt like I couldn’t speak.
He was offering me exactly what I wanted. He was offering to keep seeing me, to making me feel good, but an actual relationship was off the cards.
“Do you need time to think about it?” Nico asked.
I didn’t need time to think about it. I already knew what I was going to say.
“No. I’m fine with that arrangement,” I said.
I knew it was a dangerous decision. Nico was the kind of man who could break my heart in an instant. But he was warning me about it.
I was single, I was young…what did I have to lose? I’d been in and out of casual relationships all my adult life. How was this thing with Nico going to be any different? It was just sex. Really hot sex. Just the kind of sex every woman deserved.
Why was I worried then? Why was I nervous now when he smiled at me?
“Good. I was hoping you would say that,” Nico replied and went back to eating his risotto.
I drank some of the wine, and allowed the smooth taste to fill my belly.
“After dinner, you’re coming back to my place,” he said, but it was more like a command.
My heart and my body were both in his hands now. I had willingly given myself up to him. The truth was that I didn’t care what happened to me tomorrow or the day after. Tonight, I just wanted to be with him. I wanted him to possess me the way he’d done last night.
And if giving up my rights on him was what it took, then that’s what I was going to do.
