Chapter 4

4

GWEN

N ik bought out an Italian restaurant in town. The best Italian restaurant in town. This guy is rich, and I mean stupid rich. I mean so rich that the only other person in this restaurant is our waiter and the chef who both jump at the slightest movement from Nikolai.

I mean I should have known from the Rolls Royce or the fact that this guy sits in front of me in an Armani suit tailored to perfection over his muscular body, and despite the smooth, velvety rumble of his Russian accent, he speaks Italian to all the staff. He doesn't let me order; instead, he tells me he knows what I would like as if he didn't meet me yesterday. So hot, dominant, multilingual, rich guy casually takes me out to dinner. Great.

I twist in my seat in my dress drop shipped from Amazon and nibble on my bottom lip.

The waiter takes away our second course; Nik leans forward, placing both elbows on the table, his right fist in his left open palm, raising an eyebrow. "Kotik, what's wrong? "

I clear my throat. "Nothing, I-I just-" I point to the room around us. "I wasn't expecting all of this for a first date. What are you going to do for our second? Fly me to Mars?"

"No, but what do you think about Rome?" He reaches to grab my hand, but I pull back.

I scoff, "I was joking."

"I wasn't." He fixes the napkin on his lap, and I lean forward, splaying my fingertips in the middle of the table.

"Nikolai-"

"Nik," he corrects, and the firmness of his correction makes me swallow and cross my legs from the heat.

"Nik, this is insane. Are you a secret billionaire?" I whisper, looking around.

He laughs, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "Something like that."

"You're either from old money, a tycoon, Jeff Bezos's secret child, or a criminal." I cross my arms under my breast. His eyes flicker to them, dazed with lust and sin. I flick my wrist, gesturing to the table, my mind running with the possibilities of this man. "Which is it?"

"Kotik-"

"What does that even mean?" I snap at how he purrs the name as if to distract me, and boy, he could distract me if he wanted.

"Little cat." His lips spread in amusement. I rub my thighs together, looking around.

"You think of me as a cat?" He leans forward, his hand gripping the seat of my chair, as he pulls me closer to him. My eyes flutter at the invasion of his fresh rain scent, and he groans.

"I think of you always, ever since I last saw you."

The smooth caress of his voice makes me cross my thighs tighter, and he growls in my ear.

"Why are you fidgeting so much, Kotik?" His fingers trail from my calf, over my knee, and along the outer thigh of my crossed leg. "Do I make you uncomfortable?"

I do not dare look at him; instead, I shake my head no. "Use your words."

"No," I gasp. Nik grips my dress in his fist, a smile spreading on his lips. I don't have to look at him to feel the curve of his smile against the shell of my ear.

"Good girl." My breath catches in my throat. Nik pulls the dress up slowly, allowing his breath to feather over my heating skin. "Now, explain why you fidget in your seat so much?"

"I was not fidgeting in my seat," I whisper breathlessly. Nik tsks at me, tightly gripping my exposed thigh.

"Liar." I twist to look at him but freeze once his fingertips start to caress my inner thigh, closer and closer to my core. I shift in my seat, my eyes darting around nervously as I try to pull at the hem of my dress, but Nikolai lightly smacks my hand away, a smirk playing on his lips as he watches me.

"Nik, what if the staff see us?" My voice is more breathy than I intended. I swivel my head to look around the restaurant again; Nik pinches my chin and makes me look at him.

"Relax, Gwen," he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. "No one's going to notice."

I bite my lip, heat running up my neck and blossoming over my cheeks. "But what if they do? "

Nikolai chuckles, and the sound sends goosebumps across my skin. "Then we deal with it. Besides, I can tell this turns you on." His breath feathers over the column of my neck. "Doesn't it, Kotik?"

My heart pounds in my chest; all I can hear is ringing in my ears and the crescendo of my heavy breathing. I bite my bottom lip trying to stifle the moan coming out of my lips. My eyes flicker down Nik's face from the swirl of his blue eyes to his pink lips.

"Answer me, Kotik. You like being played with in public, don't you?"

"I like it," I gasp barely above a whisper. His nails dig into my inner thighs, and my legs fall open. I can't believe he is touching me like this in public. I can't believe I am just letting him. The closer he gets to my core, the wetter I am, and fuck, I have never been so turned on.

Nikolai's eyes darken with desire as he pushes my dress around my waist, almost leaving me bare.

"Good," he says, his thumb stroking my inner thigh. "Because I have plans for you tonight."

"What are you thinking?" I ask, my voice trembling with anticipation.

My breathing shallows at the heat of his touch. The way his eyes shine when they land on mine makes my mouth dry. He wants me, and I want to give him all of me. I want him to touch me in ways I have only imagined.

Shit. I can't tell him I'm a virgin right now, not while his hands run up my body and search for more of me. Not while his eyes turn so dark they look like the depths of the sea. Not while he is growling as if there will never be enough .

"W-what are you planning for me tonight?"

Nikolai's smirk widens as he leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "I'm thinking about how much I want to taste you," he whispers, sending a shiver down my spine. "How much I want to feel you come apart under my touch."

My cheeks flush with heat as I imagine his fingers exploring my body, teasing me until I can't take it anymore. "Nik-"

"Mi scusi, signore, è pronto per il prossimo piatto?" My eyes widen, and my breath catches in my throat as the waiter clears our appetizers.

Despite the waiter clearing his throat, Nik doesn't take his eyes off me, steadily drawing circles on my inner right thigh. He leans in towards me, his lips grazing along my jaw as he whispers against my flushed cheeks, "What do you think, Kotik? Should I have him bring the next course?"

Nik's fingers graze along the thin barrier of my black lace thong. He hisses once he feels how soaked I am through my underwear. My cheeks burn in embarrassment as he presses his finger against the wet spot.

"Kotik, unless you want him to watch you cum which will force me to pluck out his eyes, I'd advise you to tell him no."

I want to speak, but my voice is caught in the back of my throat as his pointer finger slides up to put pressure on the bundle of nerves between my legs. I shake my head no and let Nik's chuckle roll over me. Without stopping the small circles he draws on my clit, he speaks to the waiter with an amused grin.

"Non tornare qui dentro finché non te lo dico io o perderai la vita."

The waiter shoots up straighter than before, saying quickly, "Sì, signore," as he escapes.

My heart pounds in my chest as I glance around the room for any more prying eyes, but all I see is the escaping waiter, a tray of appetizers balanced expertly in his hands. I watch him disappear into the kitchen, the tension in my body easing slightly, and I relax enough to let a moan roll from my lips. Nik moves my panties to the side, presses his thumb back to the sensitive bundle between my legs, and rubs his pointer finger along my slit.

"W-what are you touching?" I whimper, my thighs fighting to close.

Nik slaps my thighs, the sharp pain running right to my core. "Kotik, don't tell me you don't know what your clit is?"

The amusement is so clear in his throat I want to smack it off, but the rush of need silences my annoyance. I mean I know about sex. I know how it all works on a logical level, penis, vagina, hymen, all simple, but this fire shooting through me? The way my body is just dripping with a primal need from more? No, I did not know anything like this existed. I shake my head no, pulling my bottom lip into my mouth.

"Kotik," he purrs. "My naughty little kitty never had someone make her feel good. I bet I am the first man who's made you this wet."

I push my pelvis forward, wanting to feel his finger inside me press harder on my clit. A pulsing in my stomach clenches with a need for something more, like this small touch isn't enough and I want more. I shudder against him as his finger grazes my opening.

"Don't tease, asshole," I gasp. Nik's nose grazes my neck.

"Such a dirty mouth." Nik removes his hand from my dripping pussy and sticks two fingers inside his mouth. His eyes drop and his Adam's apple bobs. I can't catch my breath. He looks like every woman's wet dream sucking my juices into his mouth. "Kotik, you're so fucking sweet, like candy."

"Nik," I gasp, my voice barely audible. I can't take the teasing, the things he is saying and the danger that anyone can walk in and see what we are doing at any minute. "If you are going to do it, do it."

Nikolai sharply slaps down on my pussy, light enough to elicit pleasure but firm enough to make me jump in my seat. "You are so bossy when you're needy, baby."

He rubs down firmly on my clit, causing my deep groan to fill the dining area. His fingers continue to punish me, encouraged by my ever-growing wetness. I arch my hips, desperate for more, but he holds back, teasing me with his touch. I don't even realize my eyes are closed until he growls for me to open them.

"Open your eyes, Gwen," he says, his voice firm yet gentle. "I want to see your reaction."

I obey, despite the pleasure building. All I want to do is buck against his hand and throw my head back, eyes closed, but I obey. I can't say no to him when he says things in that tone. I can't say no when he has me in a position I've never been in before. My eyes flutter open to meet his gaze.

His eyes almost look midnight under his scorching gaze, and my breath comes in short, ragged gasps as I feel his two fingers slide inside of me. He fills me completely, and I moan, my head falling back as I surrender to his will. His fingers stroke my insides, pushing me closer to the edge.

"Please," I beg, and I never fucking beg for anything, but when he slowly fucks me with one finger inside of me and his thumb drawing small circles on my already overly sensitive clit, I can't do anything else but beg for him. For release. For more. "Don't tease me. I need to…I need to…"

"What, baby?" His deep baritone rolls over the shell of my ear, making me shudder. "What do you need to do?"

"I need you," I whimper, my nerves killing my need to ask for my release.

Nikolai's eyes darken with lust as he leans closer, his lips brushing against my ear once more. "You have me."

With the flick of my clit, the dam breaks. My body convulses under the crashing orgasm, rolling over me like a tidal wave. I bite down on my lip to muffle the sounds, but it is futile. The pleasure is too intense, too all-consuming. I have never given myself an orgasm like this, never crashed into a thousand pieces like this before. Nik holds me up so I can make eye contact with him.

"Good girl," he praises softly, a wide smile on his face. Nik lazily fingers me through as I come down.

Once my body stops trembling, his fingers withdraw, and he quickly shoves them both in his mouth, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Mmm, you taste even sweeter after you've cum." Nik leans over and smooths my dress back down, and without missing a beat, he snaps his fingers twice to get our waiter's attention. "Now, let's finish our dinner."

For the rest of dinner, Nik feeds me after he leaves me too dazed to eat the most amazing bolognese I have tried, and he laughs when I timidly say thank you. It unnerves me how eagerly I accept each bite from Nik's fork. I've never allowed anyone to feed me before, yet here I am, demurely opening my mouth like some lovestruck teenager. I could almost scream at myself for how stupid I must look.

When dessert is served, I finally regain my ability to breathe evenly, and I grab my own fork and gasp, "Tiramisu? How did you know all my favorites tonight?"

"A little research does wonders, don't you think?" Nik winks, lifting his glass of whiskey to his lips.

I pause mid-cut of my tiramisu, eyeing Nik suspiciously. "You did research on me?"

His lips curl into a smirk. "I told you I'd show you the life you deserve. Had to know what I'm working with, didn't I?" He leans back, swirling his whiskey. "Come on, don't tell me you didn't try to dig up dirt on me."

"Oh, I had to," I retort, savoring a bite of dessert. "I met you in an alley. For all I knew, you could've been a serial killer with great hair."

Nik's laugh is rich and deep, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. He licks a spot of cream from the corner of his mouth, and I catch myself staring. "So," he says, leaning forward on his elbows, eyes glinting mischievously, "what did you find?"

I tap my fork against my lips, feigning nonchalance. "Well, you have one sister - gorgeous, by the way - and a brother. Though weird, I couldn't find any pictures of him after age five."

"It means he's doing his job." Nik winks when I raise an eyebrow. "What else did you uncover?"

"Nothing," I admit with a shrug. "You're a ghost. "

"Or," he counters, "you don't know where to look."

I lean in closer, unable to resist the challenge sparkling in his eyes. "Oh? And where should I be looking?"

"That's not fair if I tell you. Besides, a man needs his secrets."

"So does a woman, but clearly, you know where to find all my secrets. So spill."

"I learned you were raised by your father, Randolph, and Nana Rose. Riverside High valedictorian, top of your class at Georgetown in criminal law until…" He pauses, his tone softening slightly. "Your father disappeared. Now you're at the Midnight Howl, paying off…something."

I whistle, impressed and unsettled. "Wow, you've got my whole transcript. Should I be flattered or creeped out?"

"Both?" He winks. "I also know your best friend is Kelsey - pre-K buddies, cute - and your last boyfriend was that sleazeball Jacob. Gotta say, dumping Fireball on his head? Brutal, but brilliant."

I can't help but laugh at the memory. "He had it coming. So, I'm guessing you also discovered my love for Italian cuisine?"

Nik's smile turns softer. "That was a hunch. Your grandmother went to culinary school, specializing in Italian. I figured some of that passion might have rubbed off."

I stare at my empty plate, my stomach turning like a storm. Part of me knows I should be terrified by how much he knows. But another part - a part that's growing stronger by the minute - is intrigued, even excited.

Looking up, I meet Nik's gaze head-on. "Well, Mr. Detective, you've certainly done your homework. But trust me, you've barely scratched the surface. "

His eyes light up at the challenge. "Is that so? Well then, tell me something I don't know."

I curve my lips into a smile, and let the words run off my tongue before I can think twice about it. "I'm a virgin."

Nik's smile falters for a moment, a shadow passing over his eyes. He leans back in his chair, studying me intently.

"Being with me might not be what you expect," he begins, his voice low and serious. "If we were to…go further, I might not be able to stop myself. And I don't want to hurt you."

I feel a shiver run down my spine at his words, but I move to the edge of my seat, not breaking eye contact. "Who said you can hurt me?"

Nik smiles with his teeth, a gloriously scary occurrence that makes me want to run as much as it makes me want to rub my thighs together. "Kotik, I could break you into pieces."

My breath catches in my throat, but I thrive on the suffocation and keep pushing him for more, a phenomenon that only occurs when he looks at me as if he knows everything about me. Despite every fiber of my being telling me to run.

I look him in the eyes and say, "Try me."