19. Annalise

19

ANNALISE

T he dim light in the dressing room casts shadows on Nikhil’s face, making him look even more dangerous and alluring than before. I try to back away from him, but the small space leaves me with nowhere to escape.

“Enough, Nikhil,” I say, my voice trembling slightly. “I don’t want this.”

“Really?” he murmurs, taking another step toward me. His eyes are a stormy blue, filled with desire and something darker that I can’t quite place. “Because your body says otherwise.”

Heat rushes through me at his words, and I know he’s right. Despite my better judgment, I can feel my attraction to him growing stronger by the second. But I can’t give in, not when he doesn’t truly like me.

“Stop it,” I whisper, trying to sound firm. “Just let me go.”

“Is that what you really want, Annalise?” he asks, his voice low and seductive as he reaches out to push a stray lock of hair behind my ear. The simple touch sends shivers down my spine, and I hate myself for responding to him like this.

“Y-yes,” I stammer, unable to meet his gaze.

“Then why do you tremble like this?” he questions, his fingers tracing along my jawline and down my throat. My breath hitches, betraying the desire that simmers beneath the surface. “You’re a terrible liar.”

“Maybe I’m just scared of you,” I retort, finally meeting his eyes. “Did you ever think of that?”

“Scared or excited?” he challenges, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “There’s a fine line between the two, Annalise.”

“Excited?” I scoff, trying to suppress my racing heart. “Hardly. You’re nothing more than a cold, calculating member of the bratva. What’s there to be excited about?”

“Yet here you are,” he says with a smirk, his fingers slipping beneath the edge of my dress, “quivering at my touch.”

I want to deny it, but I can’t. As much as I want to resist Nikhil, I can’t help but feel drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

“Please,” I whisper, closing my eyes as I try to ignore the way my body aches for him. I don’t know what I’m begging for…for him to stop or keep going.

“Stop it, Annalise. Just stop,” Nikhil growls, his voice low and dangerous as he pushes me against the door of the dressing room with surprising force. My breath catches in my throat, a surprised gasp escaping my lips as I feel the intensity of our connection pulsating between us.

“Stop what?” I retort, fighting to regain my composure. “I’m not doing anything.”

“Really?” he snaps, his eyes burning into mine like blue flames. “You think wearing that dress and parading around here isn’t tempting me? You think I don’t know what you’re doing?”

“Excuse me?” I fire back, anger bubbling up inside me. “This is my body, and I have every right to wear whatever I want. Maybe if you weren’t so obsessed with controlling everything, you wouldn’t be having this problem.”

“Obsessed?” Nikhil’s jaw clenches, his grip on my arms tightening. “You have no idea what I’ve sacrificed for my family, for our people. And yet, here you are, acting as if I’m some sort of monster for wanting to protect you.”

“Protect me? Is that what you call this?” I gesture between us, my heart pounding in my chest. “Because it feels more like you’re trying to manipulate and control me.”

“God, you’re infuriating,” he mutters under his breath, his eyes raking over my body as if he can’t help himself. “You walk around here looking like a goddess and expect me not to notice? To not feel anything?”

Did he just call me a goddess? Is he messing with me? There’s no way he actually means that.

“Maybe you should try focusing on something else then,” I snap, my cheeks flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. “I’m not here for your entertainment, Nikhil.”

“Trust me, Annalise,” he says darkly, leaning in so close that I can feel his warm breath on my skin. “I’m not entertained.”

In that moment, time seems to stand still. I can feel the tension radiating from Nikhil’s body like a live wire. His grip on my arms is firm but not painful, and his eyes are dark with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine. He crushes his lips against mine, and the fire that had been smoldering between us erupts into an inferno.

My resistance crumbles beneath the force of his kiss, my body betraying me as I melt into him. I know he doesn’t like me, that he sees me as nothing more than a nuisance, and yet my attraction to him is undeniable. I hate myself for wanting him, but God help me, I do.

I shudder beneath the onslaught of his touch, my mind warring with my body. This is wrong, isn’t it? Wanting someone who has done nothing but antagonize and control me? I should be fighting him off, not giving in to my basest desires.

But as his lips find mine again, all reason flees. I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame, unable to resist the pull of our heated connection.

His lips leave mine, searing a trail of fire down the column of my throat. My pulse races beneath his exploring mouth, and I can’t help but tilt my head back to grant him better access. Nikhil’s hands roam over my body, featherlight touches that somehow burn through the fabric of my dress.

“Someone might hear us,” I whisper, even as desire pools low in my stomach, threatening to consume me whole. What I don’t say is how much that thought both terrifies and excites me.

“Then you’d better be quiet, Annalise,” he murmurs against my skin, his voice a dark promise that sends shivers down my spine.

My breath hitches as he slowly unzips my dress, exposing the curve of my shoulder and the swell of my breasts. His fingers trace the lace edge of my bra, and I can feel the heat of his touch like a brand on my skin. A gasp escapes my lips when he lowers the strap, baring one breast to his hungry gaze.

“Look at you,” he whispers, his thumb brushing over my nipple, making me bite my lip to suppress a moan. “You’re so responsive, so eager for my touch.”

I should be angry, should push him away and tell him to go to hell, but all I can think about is how good it feels to have him touching me like this, as if I’m the center of his world, even if just for a moment.

“Shut up,” I manage to rasp out, but there’s no conviction in my words, and we both know it.

Nikhil’s hand glides down my side, every touch igniting a trail of fire on my skin. He slips his fingers under the waistband of my panties, teasing me with the promise of what’s to come. My heart races as I try to steady my breathing, acutely aware of how much I want him.

“Tell me you want this,” he growls into my ear, his voice sending shivers down my spine. The weight of his body pins me against the door, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.

“Damn it, Nikhil, I do. I want it.” I try to hide the desperation in my voice.

A wicked grin crosses his face as he finally slides his fingers inside me, making me gasp at the sudden, overwhelming pleasure. His thumb finds my clit, expertly working it in circles while his fingers plunge deeper, driving me wild with desire.

“God, you’re so wet, Annalise,” he murmurs, his voice thick with lust. “Your body doesn’t lie, does it?”

I pant, my resolve crumbling under the onslaught of pleasure coursing through my veins.

He ruthlessly increases his pace, driving me closer and closer to the edge. Every nerve ending feels like it’s on fire, each stroke of his fingers threatening to send me over the brink. I can barely contain my moans, biting my lip as I cling to the last scraps of my dignity.

Just as I’m about to come, he slows down, making me frown, my climax dying away before he’s moving quickly again.

“Please,” I whisper.

“Are you begging me, Lily?” he taunts, his breath hot against my ear as his fingers continue their merciless assault on my senses.

“Never,” I growl through clenched teeth, pride and defiance warring within me. I refuse to be a plaything for him, even as I crave the release that only he can give me.

“Good.” He chuckles darkly, tightening his grip on my throat as he presses his lips against mine in a searing kiss. “I like it when you fight back.”

Before I can process what’s happening, Nikhil spins me around to face the door. My chest heaves with each ragged breath as he lowers his head to my neck, his tongue tracing a path along my sensitive skin. Each lick sends shivers down my spine, and I can’t help but arch my back, desperate for more.

“Is this what you want, Lily?” he murmurs into my ear, his voice dripping with dark intent. “Do you want me to taste you?”

I find myself nodding, unable to form coherent words as my mind swirls with a mix of arousal and trepidation. What am I doing? This man has made it clear that he doesn’t like me, and yet here we are, tangled in a heated embrace that threatens to consume us both.

And I’m enjoying every second of it.

Nikhil wastes no time, dropping to his knees and pressing his mouth against my core. The sensation is electric, every touch of his tongue igniting a fire within me. I bite my lip to suppress a gasp, acutely aware of just how thin the door separating us from the outside world is.

“God, you’re so wet,” he growls, clearly pleased by my reaction to his attention. He delves deeper, parting my folds with his tongue and exploring every inch of me.

I grip the door handle, trying to ground myself as waves of pleasure crash over me. It’s almost too much, and I know I won’t be able to hold out much longer. But there’s something inside me that refuses to submit completely, a stubborn pride that pushes me to resist the overwhelming desire coursing through my veins.

“Please,” I whisper, not sure if I’m begging for him to stop or to keep going. “Please, Nikhil.”

“Are you asking for mercy, Annalise?” he teases, his breath hot against my slick skin. “Or are you asking for more?”

“More,” I manage to choke out, surprising even myself with the boldness of my response.

Nikhil laughs wickedly as he leans into me, pushing me further toward the edge with each flick of his tongue. Just when I think I can’t take any more, he pulls back, leaving me teetering on the brink of release.

“Please,” I gasp, unable to bear the torturous pleasure any longer. “Please, don’t stop.”

“Ah, but where’s the fun in that?” He smirks, tracing a finger along the inside of my thigh. “I want to savor every moment of this, Annalise. And so should you.”

As he continues to tease and deny me, my desperation grows, fueled by a hunger that only he can satisfy. My body screams for release.

I’m trembling with unbearable longing, every nerve ending alive and demanding release. Nikhil watches me with a wicked smile, enjoying the torment he’s caused. Swallowing my pride, I force out the words I never thought I’d say.

“Please, Nikhil,” I beg, desperation seeping through my voice. “Let me come.”

“Finally,” he murmurs, his tone both satisfied and teasing.

His fingers find their way to my core, expertly stroking the sensitive flesh there. The wave of pleasure that crashes over me is so intense I fear I might shatter into a thousand pieces. My legs buckle beneath me as I cry out, finally releasing the tension that has been building within me.

“Ah, there you go, Annalise,” Nikhil coos, his warm breath fanning across my overheated skin. “Let it all go.”

As the overwhelming pleasure begins to subside, I become aware of Nikhil’s movements once more. His tongue traces a path along my inner thighs, licking up every last drop of my release. It’s an intimate act that heightens the intensity of our encounter, leaving me reeling from the sheer closeness of it.

“Delicious,” he whispers, his eyes locked on mine, daring me to look away. But I can’t. Not when he’s staring at me like that—like I’m the most precious thing in the world.

“Stop,” I gasp, feeling exposed and vulnerable under his unwavering gaze. “Please, just…stop.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, his voice low and seductive. “You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit, Lily.”

“More than I should,” I admit, unable to deny the truth any longer. My emotions are a tangled mess, a whirlwind of desire, shame, and confusion that threatens to consume me.

“Maybe,” Nikhil allows, pulling back slightly. “But there’s no shame in giving in to your desires, Lily. Especially when they’re as intense as ours.”

“Is that what this is?” I ask, my voice barely audible as the weight of our actions begins to sink in. “Just desire?”

“Isn’t it enough for now?” he counters, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I want to argue, to tell him that it’s not enough—that I need more than just raw passion and unbridled lust. But the words catch in my throat, stubbornly refusing to be spoken. Because deep down, I know he’s right. For now, desire is all we have. And it is enough.

The door suddenly rattles, breaking the spell that had enveloped us.

“Come on, you two!” Isabella’s voice calls out from behind the door, her impatience evident. “We need to leave now!”

Nikhil’s blue eyes flash with annoyance, but also something deeper—determination. He leans close, his breath hot against my ear. “Ignore her,” he whispers, his hand slipping down to my thigh.

“Are you insane?” I hiss, attempting to push him away. “We can’t just keep going while she’s waiting for us out there.”

“Watch me,” he challenges, his gaze locked onto mine. His eyes are filled with desire, a promise of what’s to come.

“Tell her we’ll be out in a minute,” I plead, but it’s obvious my words fall on deaf ears.

“Isabella!” Nikhil shouts, his tone cold and unwavering. “We’re not leaving yet. I have something to finish.” With that, he grabs my hand and places it on his throbbing arousal beneath his pants, eliciting a gasp from me as I involuntarily bite my bottom lip.

“Damn it, Nikhil! Stop fooling around!” Isabella fires back, her frustration seething through the door.

“Tell me, Lily. Do you want me?” Nikhil purrs into my ear, his grip on my wrist firm yet gentle.

I struggle to form a coherent response, torn between my burning need for him and the guilt of keeping Isabella waiting. My body betrays me, though, as I silently nod, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his touch.

“Fine!” Isabella huffs from outside the door. “But you better hurry up, or I’m leaving without you!”

“Later,” Nikhil whispers to me, his lips brushing against my cheek. He pulls away from our embrace and stands up, offering me a hand as I reluctantly follow suit.

The moment feels stolen, rushed, yet the lingering taste of passion remains. As we leave the dressing room, my heart races with anticipation, wondering when—and how—that “later” will come.