Chapter Ten

EVA

I’m confused.

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be feeling, let alone thinking.

I fell apart last night in Nycto’s arms. He held me. Rocked me to sleep. I never thought, not for a single second, I would ever be as comfortable in his embrace as I was. This entire shitstorm has been a whirlwind. A rollercoaster. Those drugs he dosed me with must have been pretty fucking powerful to make me think anything of him other than the asshole he obviously is—a motorcycle club president working for sex traffickers.

But where would I be if he didn’t take me? Where Ivy is now, I suppose.

My stomach clenches as I sit on the edge of the bed. My mood is falling even more.

Nycto left. I went to the bathroom, and without a word, he left.

I don’t believe his pretty words. He isn’t here to save me. If he were, I’d be walking freely through the clubhouse. I’m not being held locked in his room purely for my own protection. The man doesn’t have my best interests at heart. Nycto must have something in store for me.

He’s lulling me into a false sense of security.

Trying to manipulate me into thinking he’s the good guy.

I won’t fall for it.

A jostling noise makes my head snap to the door. It creaks open, and I sit taller, waiting for Nycto to walk through, but my eyes widen when a tall woman carrying some books steps in. I tense. She appears rough around the edges. Her hair is onyx black, and she has a cluster of star tattoos on her left temple. Her plump lips are perfectly covered in vibrant red lipstick. Her arms are lined with black and gray tattoos, even down to her knuckles. She’s hardcore, right down to the black leather pants and skin-tight boob tube she’s wearing. She smiles, closing the door behind her.

I don’t miss the sound of it locking from the outside as she struts over to me in her clear platform high heels. How can she walk in those things?

“Hi, Eva. I’m Trixie.” Her smooth and velvety voice has a natural calming effect despite her looks.

I remember everything Nycto’s told me about her. Cuban-sandwich extraordinaire, head club girl, and attending culinary school. She doesn’t look like the Trixie I imagined, though I guess I didn’t really picture anything when Nycto was talking about her. If I had pictured Trixie from Nycto’s description of her, this Kat Von D knock-off certainly wouldn’t be it.

Too stunned, I can’t manage to say anything back.

Her lips turn up in the most gorgeous of ways. She appears grunge, punk, and stunning. The way her face lights up like she’s glowing when she beams puts me at ease.

“I see you’re still a little unsettled,” she offers as she steps in front of me. “Nycto told me he was concerned about you being bored in here on your own. So, I offered to help.”

“What, you’re going to babysit me?”

She giggles. “There’s that feisty attitude he was telling me about. No, I’m definitely not a babysitter. Just thought you might like something to pass the time. They’re not Fifty Shades , but they should wet your whistle.”

I tilt my head. “Sorry?”

“Some are your general everyday contemporary romances. I did throw a real spicy one in there for you, too, but I won’t tell you which one. You’ll have to read them to find out.” She grins as she hands me the four books along with a small reading lamp.

I reach out, taking them from her. “Why romance?”

She shrugs. “It’s all I have. Happily-ever-afters are so much nicer than real life anyway.”

“You’re telling me.” I scoff. “You don’t look like a book nerd.”

“I don’t look like a lot of things. You’ve heard that saying never judge a book by its cover ? It applies to people, too, y’know.”

My eyes wander over her. She comes across as a deadbeat if I’m being honest. A gorgeous deadbeat, but still. Or maybe a hardcore rock-and-roll star. But a book lover, culinary master chef, and an all-around nice person? Yeah, I would never have picked it. I guess the saying is true.

“Thanks for the books. I appreciate it. And for the food.”

Trixie tilts her head toward the bed, and I nod. She sits. “You know, Eva, you’re a really strong woman.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You’ve been dragged into this mess. It’s beyond your control. But you’re handling it well, all things considered.”

Letting out a long breath, I flop back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. “I don’t think I’m handling it well at all.”

“How do you mean?”

There’s something about Trixie I’m warming to. She’s like a friend I’ve known for years. Maybe it’s because she’s the second person I’ve seen since this all began, and I’m going stir-crazy, but for some innately stupid reason, I feel like I can open up to her. So, I do. “I broke down last night in front of Nycto. I’m not sure why, but he comforted me. I ended up falling asleep in his arms, and I’m pretty sure he fell asleep too. It was so damn comfortable. I didn’t mean to lose it the way I did, and I didn’t mean to turn to him for comfort. It just happened.”

Trixie narrows her eyes at me. “I feel like there’s a but…”

“ But I woke up needing the bathroom, so I unhooked myself from him. Nycto woke as I was getting up, looking panicked. I told him I was only going to the bathroom, then he calmed down, so I went, but when I came back, he was walking out the door. He left… without saying even one word… and he hasn’t been back since. Damn, I feel like such an idiot.”

Trixie scrunches up her face. “You feel like an idiot? Why?”

“He stole me. He’s keeping me captive against my will. He let my sister be taken by and sold to the scum of the earth. Why the hell did I let my guard down around him? I must be going insane.”

Trixie grimaces as she turns, facing me a little more. “Thing is, Eva, I’ve known Nycto for a long time. I’ve never seen him act without giving a second thought. He always thinks things through twice. Is he reckless? Hell yes. Does he do stupid things? Always. But I’ve never seen him do anything like what he’s done with you.”

My stomach twists, and I sit up, facing her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, he acted on instinct. He wanted to protect you, so he took you without thinking it through. Not even once, let alone twice. Nycto bends the rules all the time, he’s known for it, but blatantly breaking them means he’s done this for a reason. If he’s keeping you in here and not in a cell, you mean something to him. And Eva, if he held you in his arms, you’ve gotten under his skin. Nycto is not affectionate. With anyone. Ever. He couldn’t put that shit on for show if he tried. So, if you feel safe around him, you are safe. And if you feel a connection with him, I bet he’s feeling it too. I don’t know a single person alive who has captured Nycto’s attention the way you have.”

“He’s never had someone to share his life with?”

Trixie narrows her eyes as if considering the thought. “Not that I’m aware of. Sure, he’s had plenty of women by his side, but none who meant a damn thing to him. None he kept around longer than he deemed necessary. None he let sleep in his bed.”

“I don’t even know what he wants with me. Am I meant to stay here, trapped in this room, forever?”

“I get it. Nycto’s an asshole at the best of times. Coming into this situation the way you have is weird and unusual…” She raises an eyebrow. “I’d hate him too… but sometimes, the best relationships are formed under tense situations. Plus, the sex is off-the-charts hot.”

My eyes widen as I gasp. “We’re not having sex, and we’re definitely not forming a relationship .”

Trixie laughs. “Not yet.”

My shoulder bumps into hers, and I shake my head. “No. Never .”

She waggles her eyebrows at me. “That flush on your face makes me think you’ve at least thought about it.”

“Stop! He stole me. He’s keeping me here. There’s no way I am ever sleeping with Nycto.”

Trixie purses her lips. “Okay… well, in the meantime, you have the books to satisfy your needs.”

My eyes widen as I take in the half-naked man on one of the covers. “Not that I’m a prude, but there’s no way in hell I’m… uh… taking care of myself in Nycto’s room. In his bed.”

Trixie leans past me, pointing to a book with a cognac glass and a pearl necklace on the cover. “This one might change your mind.” She winks at me, then stands. “Chapter fourteen. Trust me… you’ll enjoy it.”

I scrunch up my face, turn the book over, and slide it away.

Trixie laughs as she heads for the door. “Nycto won’t be back for a while. You have hours to yourself. Just sayin’.” She knocks on the door. The click of the lock is quickly followed by the door opening. “Honestly, Eva, let yourself enjoy your time here. Otherwise, you’ll drive yourself crazy.”

Trixie moves to walk out, but anxiety floods me at the thought of being left alone again. “Thanks for coming to see me, Trixie.” She turns back to face me. “Will you come back?”

Her face lights up. “Definitely. Read the book, Eva.”

I roll my eyes. She giggles as the door closes behind her, and I’m left alone in the red-toned room again.

I flop down on the bed.

I will not read smut. I will not read smut. I will not read…

My eyes slowly shift back to the books, and my jaw clenches side to side as I debate whether to pick up one of them or not. Swallowing hard, I pick the one with the half-naked man on the cover. He has abs on his abs. I bet Nycto has the same physique. Shaking my head free of those thoughts, I quickly place that book back down. My eyes then shift to the raunchy book, face down on the bed like it has been banished to the naughty corner. Gnawing on my bottom lip, I pick it up and read the blurb. It details a mafia kingpin forced into an arranged marriage to a woman who wants to join a convent rather than be a mafia queen. It piques my interest enough for me to open and take a peek.

Shifting up Nycto’s bed, I gather the pillows around me, get comfortable, and then open to the prologue. My eyes widen as the antihero savagely tortures and kills a man in the most brutal of ways. I cringe, I gasp, but most of all, I love how intensely the book has drawn me in within the first few pages.

The antihero meets the heroine, who kind of reminds me of Nycto and myself. The feisty female who doesn’t want anything to do with him but is attracted anyway, and the broody, broken, hot-as-sin guy who harbors demons and makes all the wrong decisions for the right reasons. I can’t help but find myself picturing Nycto as the antihero and myself as the heroine.

When he speaks, it’s Nycto.

When she speaks, it’s me.

I’m soon lost in a fantasy playing out in my mind of Nycto and me finding our way together in a world full of carnage and chaos. As I rush through the pages, their chemistry is electrifying. My breath catches at the way he fights wanting to be with her and how she struggles to see the good in him, even though he’s putting his worst traits aside for her.

They’re meant to be, and I’m only up to chapter thirteen. My heart pounds as they tear into each other, a fight of epic proportions. My adrenaline climbs as I turn the page, desperate to find out what happens next. She screams, telling him she hates him. It triggers something inside that I didn’t see coming—he spins, grabs her, and slams her against the wall aggressively, his mouth colliding with hers as he takes control. She pushes him in the chest, but he grips her wrists, forcing them to the drywall.

My clit starts to throb as I gnaw down on my bottom lip. The entire time I read the scene playing out, I imagine Nycto doing this to me.

Wish he were doing this to me…

“Once I take you, you’re mine. Understand?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Say it.”

“I understand.”

He yanks my hair and my head falls back. His lips connect with my throat as his cock slams inside me without warning. I gasp at his width, my eyes widening with the fullness.

Being with him was something I didn’t plan. I never knew we would get to this stage. Things between us have been fiery but also intense. Every time we’re together, an adrenaline rush surges through me.

He pulls back, then thrusts again. The force of him fucking me from behind, his fingers clamped tight on my hair while the other slides around to stroke my pussy is almost overstimulating. All the pent-up emotions we’ve been going through have led us to this point.

He rears up and slams into me, fucking me hard, fast, and unrelenting, his fingers circling my clit. Sweat beads on my brow as his teeth graze along my neck. He thrusts deeper, so deep I can hardly catch my breath, while his finger rotates on my clit, driving me higher. My skin dances in goose bumps, tingling and shuddering as he lets me know I am, without a doubt, his.

“Fuck…” He groans into my ear, adding pressure with each thrust.

The sensation runs through me so hard my legs buckle.

My back arches off the wall as stars flash behind my eyes. My skin is covered in sweat as the tidal wave hits me full-force. My breathing is short and sharp, and I cry out before falling, weak from the pleasure coursing through me.

I circle my clit faster and reach my climax at the same time as the heroine in the book. I gasp, letting the rush crash over me. “Fuck, Nycto,” I call out, before slumping onto the bed in a foggy haze, completely spent.

I pant for breath, my heart pounding in my chest from my intense orgasm.

Suddenly, my eyes fling open, taking in the room.

He’s not here, thank God. I snap my hand out of my panties and pull my dress down, completely ashamed of myself. Closing the book, I throw it across the room in my haste, and it thumps loudly on the floor.

“Holy shit!” I whimper. “What the fuck was that?”