25. Nik

25

I warned her.

Over and over again, I told Kat it was a bad idea for her to play these foolish mind games with me.

As usual, Kat didn't listen. Even worse, she kept pushing and pressing my buttons, trying to get me to surrender all control in the hopes of having me eating out of the palm of her hand—just like she promised she would do with McGuire.

Fucking have me, Kat dared me.

If only it were that simple.

So I drag her into the back of the car with me, kicking and screaming.

I do what I have to do. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of seeing me completely snap, losing all semblance of discipline and control. After witnessing her with McGuire, I'm dangerously close to it.

I won't let her win this battle of wills. No matter what, I can't afford to let her wrestle the control over our status quo from me.

Clearly, Kat won't accept defeat easily. As I toss her on the front-facing car seat and take the one across from her, she gives me a piece of her mind. The bane of my existence goes on and on and on about how she's so freaking done with mobsters, that we will be the death of her, and that I'm the worst of them all. After huffing and puffing, Kat complains that she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't, as far as I'm concerned.

As I've known for a while, the woman has a flair for the dramatic, which explains why she won't give up on her tirade. As I silently listen, Kat tells me that Mother Theresa herself would've had a hard time putting up with my mood swings and poor communication skills.

"For the love of God, just shut up," I groan, tapping the partition between us and the driver, indicating that he should start driving.

"Why don't you come over here and make me?" she asks me, her flirtatious words in high contrast with her sharp tone.

I lean forward, resting my forearms on my bent knees. "I want you to listen to me, and I want you to listen very carefully," I say as calmly as I can manage. "I strongly advise you to tread very carefully right now. I've been very tolerant with you so far, but you have no idea how on edge I feel right now. My self-control is within an inch of snapping, and you won't like me very much if that happens."

The look Kat shoots in my direction makes my blood boil.

"Try me," she rasps, crossing her legs. "Somehow, I really doubt that."

"You're playing with fire," I warn her.

"Good," she says, brushing her dark hair away from her face. "It's about time. Because what I've been feeling for you is pretty incendiary. And don't even bother telling me you don't feel the same—not after last night, and definitely not after tonight. I know a jealous man when I see one."

"This isn't going to end how you hope it will," I mutter through gritted teeth since it's not like I can deny what is so apparent.

"I'll take my chances," she says, sliding towards me over the leather seats.

"Katherine," I snap as she rises from her seat, moving in my direction, "I'm only going to say this once. Your silly attempts at seducing me aren't welcome."

Kat drops her plump ass on my lap, smirking. Wordlessly, she wraps her arms around my neck as she turns, sitting astride me. She leans forward and tortures me by licking the seam of my lips before whispering against them, "Liar."

I don't know if I make the first move or if she does, but without another word, I grab fistfuls of her luscious dark hair and pull her mouth closer to mine. Soon, I can no longer tell where her breaths start and mine end. It's pure, unadulterated bliss. I wrap my other arm around her waist, desperate to obliterate any distance between us.

Kat pulls my hair hard, and I groan in both pain and pleasure. "If you don't like my teasing, then why are you moaning?" she asks, a playful glint in her deep blue eyes as she rains kisses down my neck.

"I groaned, not moaned. And I'm already dying to take you right now," I say against her flesh. "Don't push me."

"Then take me," she says against my ear, biting my ear lobe. "I want you. I need you—with me, on me, and in me."

A sound somewhere between a snarl and a tortured moan escapes me, and I grab her red silk dress, yanking it over her head. I take one look at her undressed body displayed on top of mine, and it almost unmans me.

Kat's gorgeous breasts are fully exposed, her dusky pink nipples taut under my gaze. Her mouthwatering curves are almost entirely bare, except for the tiny sliver of pale silver silk covering her between her legs. The straps of this maddening excuse for underwear she's chosen to wear tonight are tiny, sparkling crystals.

Aware of my appraising glance, Kat doesn't shy away. On the contrary, she leans back, resting her hands on my knees and spreading her legs wide open.

I gaze at her face, and something in my chest tightens at her expression. She's studying me as I watch her, a look of pure lust and satisfaction glittering in her eyes.

"Like what you see?" the minx asks me, bringing her hands to her stomach. Kat slowly trails them all the way to her chest. She cups the breasts I'm dying to touch, slowly rotating her hips over my straining erection.

"You know I do," I say, grabbing her long hair and wrapping it around my right fist. With my left hand, I trace the edges of her silk thong. I cup her firmly over the expanse of the fabric, pulling her face close to mine with my right hand.

"You're mine to touch. No one else's, Kat," I say, practically snarling. The sight of Kat in another man's arms brought home the need to remind her that she belongs to me.

With a smile, Kat agrees. "No one else's, Nik."

"Good girl." I brush a wet kiss against the spot where her neck meets her shoulder.

"Why don't you fuck me hard enough to make me forget all men but you?" Kat's breathy plea is almost more than I can bear. I grab hold of her silk thong, and with one hard yank, I rip it from her skin. She gasps. "Oh, yes, please, Nik…"

I cup her again, slipping my index and middle finger between her lips. She's warm and wet, and I can't help groaning against her neck as I bite it.

"Nik," Kat says, panting again. The sound of my name coming from her lips as I finger her wet pussy almost breaks me. Unable to stop myself, I bend over to suck on her tight nipples, my fingers drawing slow circles around her center. She presses her hips down hard on me. On my hand. On my cock. Even through the thick fabric of my pants, I feel her warmth.

"Kiska," I say against her chest. "You're so wet. I need to feel you around me…"

"Do it, Nik. Fuck me. Now," Kat demands.

With my other hand, I slap her ass hard once as I tease her entrance with the tip of my fingers. "Ask me nicely," I whisper against her mouth.

"Nik," she pants against my lips, placing her hands on both sides of my face. "Please fuck me. Hard. Please, Nik. Pretty please, with a cherry on top."

With a sigh, I push her away from me. "Bad girl. You're in trouble now. On your knees."

Kat's eyes widen slightly before a mischievous glint sparkles in them. "Are you going to spank me now?" she breathlessly asks, kneeling in front of me.

"No. There would be no point. You'd enjoy it too much," I say as I unbuckle my belt and unzip my pants.

Her eyes widen more in realization. "Oh," she says with a gasp.

"Quite so," I say, pulling my painfully hard cock out of the restraining confinement of my boxers. I wrap her beautiful, long hair around my wrist again, pulling her closer. "Now, come here and take your punishment like a good girl."

And God help me, looking up at me through her thick eyelashes, she does.

Kat tentatively licks the glistening head of my erection as I watch, mesmerized. Still looking into my eyes, she twirls her tongue down my entire length, and a tortured sound vibrates through my chest.

"Kat," I groan. Or beg. God only knows.

She sinks me inside her warm mouth in one fluid movement. Kat's tongue caresses me as she gently sucks me deeper and deeper inside her. With no hint of hesitation, she works her way down my length. As she gazes up at me, Kat bobs her head up and down in a maddening rhythm, bringing me too close to the edge far too soon.

"Good girl. Good, good girl." I sigh.

Kat's eyes water slightly for a moment as she tries to take me even deeper inside her wet mouth. She picks up the pace in her movements, and her right hand wraps around me as well, flawlessly matching her rhythmic torture.

I take in the erotic sight of her—wholly bare and on her knees—pleasuring me with her mouth. I realize that her other hand is sunken between her legs, mercilessly rubbing back and forth.

"Stop," I order. "The only way you're getting off is on my thigh."

Kat moans around my cock, disregarding my command entirely. Instead, she takes me in deeper and faster inside her mouth, just as her clever little fingers increase the intensity of their movements between her wet folds.

"Kat," I warn her, but I know it's pointless. I'm too far gone to stop her. As I give in, I tell myself I will punish her for disobeying me later—again and again—all night long.

My eyes slide shut against my will, reluctant as I am to tear my gaze away from the erotic perfection in front of me.

"Kiska, I'm so close."

Suddenly, Kat releases me completely. Still on her knees, she straightens up before leaning over my bent legs to blow air on my pulsing erection. Even the movements of the hand she's employing to pleasure herself slow down.

"Nik," she purrs, "I think it's time we renegotiate the terms of our deal."

It can't be.

I freeze in place, struggling to catch my breath. And yet, I know this is really happening. I'm the one to blame for it. After all, she never even bothered hiding her intentions of manipulating me through sex.

I knew better than to let it get to this. I knew better than to let my guard down with her.

I should have been stronger than this. I should have known better than to allow her pretty eyes and meaningless words to fool me.

My blood runs cold.

I always remember my painfully learned lessons. This won't happen again.

I recompose myself, straightening and zipping up my pants before schooling my expression into a display of indifference.

Kat might've won this battle, but I'll be damned if I'll let her get any satisfaction out of it.

"Nik," the little thief has the nerve to say hesitantly.

I can't even bear to look at her—the woman I couldn't tear my eyes from a moment ago.

Reckless idiot. Lovesick fool.

Relieved to notice the car has stopped, I glance at the windows and recognize the familiar sight of my garage.

Without another word to the untrustworthy, bewitching creature at my feet, I exit the car, slamming its door behind me.

I don't look back.