Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

AURORA

Ten Years Ago

Age Eighteen

I 'm staring at the white walls in the bedroom when the door opens. I don't look up as the person enters but I do hear a soft, tired sigh.

"You can't keep letting yourself in here, mi vida ."

I smile at the sound of his voice.

"Oh yeah. Who's going to stop me?" I question tauntingly.

Nico sighs again, taking off his jacket and loosening the first two buttons of his shirt. He grabs the chair in front of the desk in his room and brings it over to the bed, before whirling it around and straddling it, blue eyes on me.

"So, have you decided?"

"What?" I ask distractedly, my eyes on his chest.

I'm not ogling him, although it is a nice view. I'm simply staring at the pendant dangling from his neck. It's a simple leather cord with a small locket hanging on it. He always keeps it hidden under his clothes. I know he wears it everywhere.

The pendant means a lot to him. He's never said it, but I think it's his last link to his dead parents. Along with some other memorabilia that he keeps hidden away in a box. The first day he spoke to me, he asked me to help him retrieve the box from an alleyway downtown where he'd hidden it.

I was only twelve, and I'm pretty sure that asking for my help was simply a test. He wanted to see just how far I'd go for someone I shouldn't have cared about. I surprised him when I agreed to do it. I didn't tell my father. I simply asked my personal guard to accompany me there. He kept me safe while I found the box, and then I brought it back for Nico.

We'd been friends ever since.

"Hello, earth to Aurora," he calls, snapping a finger in front of my face.

"Yeah?" I ask, my gaze meeting his.

"Where are you going for college, mi vida ? Pay attention," he says insistently. "Are you going to study art? I think you'd be pretty good at it. Or you could always choose something else."

I groan softly, rolling around so I'm staring up at the ceiling instead of him.

"Maybe I won't go to college," I mutter.

"Don't be ridiculous," Nico retorts.

"Why is that so ridiculous? You didn't go," I point out.

"Because I don't need to. My future's already set in stone, Aurora. Yours isn't. You will go to college, figure out what you're going to do in life, what path you're going to take and I have no doubt you'll succeed at whatever it is you set your mind to."

I sigh, rolling back onto my stomach so I'm looking at him again.

"I thought we were going to take over the world together," I say softly.

His expression tightens, "Plans change. Those were the ramblings of a sixteen-year-old who didn't know any better."

I scoff. "You're being a coward, Nico. Which is stupid, because I know you're anything but a coward."

"Don't start," he says warningly.

"No!" I exclaim, sitting up in his bed. "Last year, when you left, I tried very hard to be understanding. You had orders, the Don gave you a mission, so I let you go. But don't think for a second that I haven't noticed the distance you've been trying to create since you returned. Why, Nico? Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends."

His jaw clenches. "That's the problem , mi vida . I thought we were friends as well."

The statement doesn't make sense. And he doesn't seem inclined to clarify, but I'm not letting him off easy tonight. I snuck in here with a goal, and I'm not leaving until he looks me in the eye and tells me what's wrong. Nico's my best friend. I've known him since I was twelve, and he's always been by my side officially, as my guard, protecting me from any danger.

Until last year when he suddenly informed me that he had to go away for a couple of months. The Don had given him a mission. He had to go to Mexico and infiltrate a drug cartel. It was dangerous, and I was terrified he wouldn't return. But I also had faith that he would do whatever it took to come back to me, so I let him go.

"I talked to my father," I start when it's clear he's not going to speak again. "After you left, I asked him why he sent you to Mexico. He said he didn't. That you asked for the mission yourself. Which means you lied to me, Nico. Why?"

He stares at me for a couple of seconds, his gaze intense, before he looks away.

"Trust me, Aurora. You don't want to know."

"Trust me, Nico, I do," I retort.

He still doesn't speak, and I'm starting to get frustrated.

"Okay, fine. You know what? Don't tell me. I'll just go," I state, climbing off the bed and getting to my feet. He looks up at me, eyebrows raised as I stand in front of him. "But mark my words, Nicolas, if I walk out that door, we're done. Our friendship is over. I won't speak to you, and you won't see me ever again."

"Dramatics don't suit you, Aurora," he states, expression unchanged.

Ugh. Damn him and his unflinching confidence.

Still, I can't very well make a threat and not follow through with it. At least the leaving part. The not talking to him ever part would be almost impossible for me to go through with. After one last glare in his direction, I start walking toward his door.

I've only taken two steps before I hear him get to his feet. He stands behind me and stops me by placing his hand on my shoulder. Very slowly, he turns me around so I'm looking at him.

"You know you're incredibly spoiled and incapable of accepting when you're told the word, no, right?"

"Sure," I say dismissively, crossing my arms over my chest. "Are you going to tell me the truth?"

He steps forward so that we're toe to toe. My heart starts to race as it always does when he's this close to me. I swallow gently.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, mi vida ," he whispers.

I look him right in the eye as I ask again, "Why did you leave?"

"Because I realized my feelings for you had grown a little complicated," he tells me, his voice a low rumble.

My eyebrows furrow. "What?"

Nico sighs. "Because, Aurora, I realized that every time I was near you, the only thing I could think about was kissing you. And it was driving me fucking crazy, so I had to remove myself from the equation. Happy?"

As if to prove his point, his eyes flicker down to my lips, and the desire I see in their depths is undeniable.

"Oh," I say quietly.

Inwardly, my heart is threatening to burst in my chest. Relief. It pounds through me, and I have to try very hard to fight a smile.

I'm not sure the exact moment I started to fall in love with Nicolas Ramirez. Maybe I always loved him. But I only became truly aware of my feelings two years ago, when I realized I wanted him to be mine, and I had no plans of ever letting him go.

"What about Shay?" I ask, tone bitter as I remember the blonde woman he's been hanging out with since he returned.

She's gorgeous, smart, and they seem close. Every time I've seen them together, I've been torn between running away so I never have to see them together and wanting to strangle Nico.

"What about her?" he asks blandly.

My eyes narrow. "You're sleeping with her."

"Keen sense of deduction you've got there, princess," he says sarcastically.

"Don't call me that," I snap. He only does it when he's trying to annoy me. Or when he's pissed. "You can't just stand there and tell me that you have feelings for me, while also flaunting the woman you've been sleeping with in my face."

Nico shifts closer, staring down at me, his blue eyes twin pools of molten heat.

"Shay means nothing to me, whereas you mean?—"

He cuts himself off, but I hear him loud and clear.

"What, everything?" I say on a soft breath.

He looks away, confirming what I guessed without words. I place my hand on his jaw, knowing full well that I'm playing with fire and unwilling to save myself.

"Look at me."

He doesn't. A muscle moves in his jaw, but he keeps his gaze straight ahead and turned away from me.

"Nico," I say softly.

"You really need to go, Aurora. Your father will kill me if he ever finds you here with me."

"I don't give a fuck about my father."

"Well, I do. You remember when I was telling you that my future is already set in stone? This, what I feel for you, that threatens it."

"Screw you, that's only an excuse," I state angrily.

Nico runs a hand through his dark hair. "What do you want from me, Aurora?"

"I want you to fight for us. For this!"

His eyes darken. "It's not that simple!"

"Of course it is. You want me," I say softly, making sure to look him in the eye. "And… I want you," I whisper, my voice barely above a breath.

I rise on my toes, heart racing as my lips inch closer to his. At the last moment though, Nico shifts away. A sharp pang of rejection pierces my heart. I start to walk toward the door, my eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Fuck," I hear him say from behind me.

Suddenly, I feel a strong pull on my wrist, and before I can fully comprehend what's going on, he's spinning me around.

"Do not fucking regret this," he orders, voice gruff.

"I won't. I promise," I whisper.

His eyes fall shut before he leans down. His lips crash against mine. The kiss isn't gentle or tentative. It's fierce, demanding, as if he's trying to pour every ounce of his frustration, his need, his undeniable passion into one single kiss. His hands slide from my wrist to my back, pressing me closer until there's no space left between us.

My initial shock melts away, replaced by a heat that consumes me from the inside out. His lips move against mine with a fervor that leaves me breathless, a mix of roughness and tenderness that sends shivers down my spine. My hands find their way to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingertips, matching the wild rhythm of my own.

His hands tangle in my hair, tilting my head back to deepen the kiss, and I can't help the soft moan that escapes my lips. His other hand roams down my back, gripping my ass tightly.

We stumble backward, our bodies never breaking contact as we crash against the nearest wall. Nico pulls back then, his gaze intense, dark with desire.

"Aurora," he murmurs, his voice a rough whisper that sends a thrill through me. "We need to stop, because if we don't, I'm going to fuck you."

His words ignite something primal within me. I pull him back down, and just before our mouths collide once more, I whisper, "Then fuck me."

Bold words for a girl who has never had sex before. But it's Nico. I trust him more than anyone else in the world. And if I was given a choice to pick from a crowd of a hundred people, I'd pick him every time.

He growls before kissing me again. His hands are everywhere, exploring, claiming, and I can feel my own need rising to meet his. I fumble with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He helps me, impatience evident in his movements, until the fabric is discarded on the floor.

His hands slide under my shirt, and the feel of his fingers on my bare skin makes me shiver. I arch into his touch, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. When his finger wraps around one taut nipple and he pinches, a zap of pleasure rushes through me. I cry out at the mixture of pleasure and pain.

"You have no idea what you make me feel, Aurora," he whispers, twisting the nipple again until I'm writhing.

I feel a pleasure blossoming between my legs, desperate for release. He takes off my shirt, and since I'm not wearing a bra, my breasts are bare. His eyes are molten, dark with desire, as he cups each one with his hand.

"You're so fucking beautiful. I'm the only one that's gotten to see these tits, right?" he asks.

I'm at a complete loss for words, unable to think about anything else but the fact that he's touching me and where.

"Aurora," he says insistently, twisting an erect nipple between his fingers.

I grip his arm and squeeze before glaring up at him. "You already know you're the only one, so I don't see what the use of the question is."

He smiles. "Just confirming how hard I should go, mi vida ," he says gently.

His head falls between my breasts, and he sucks a nipple into his mouth. I feel faint, my emotions going into overdrive at the pleasure that he's able to ignite. He sucks and bites and toys with each one of my breasts until I'm a writhing mess.

"You taste..." he murmurs around one nipple, "like an aphrodisiac. And it's only your breasts. I can't even begin to imagine how your pussy tastes."

His words are filthy. Absolutely completely filthy, and I love that. I like how he's not treating me like an inexperienced virgin. Granted, I am one, but I'm not completely innocent.

Nico's mouth moves to my neck, sucking and nibbling, leaving a trail of burning kisses that make me weak in the knees. Somehow, we find ourselves on the bed, our clothes leaving a haphazard trail behind us. His body covers mine, and I can feel the heat of him, the sheer want radiating from the look in his eyes. He's still wearing his pants, but I'm completely naked, laid bare before him.

It's both terrifying and wonderful. Nico looks down at me with a mixture of tenderness and desire. My heart blooms because I know I'm the only person he looks at like that.

"You know this is all your fault, right?" he asks, his voice husky.

I smile. "How?"

"Wel,l you made me fall for you," he whispers, hands sliding down my legs, over my hips, and then between my thighs. "You made me want you. And now that I have you in my hands, mi vida , I'm not sure I can let you go."

His finger thrusts into me on that last word. I gasp, arching into him as a shockwave of pleasure goes through me. He rubs his thumb against my wetness before reaching up for my clit. He moves his fingers inside me with a skill and precision that makes my mind go blank. Each stroke, each caress, sends waves of pleasure crashing through me, building up unbearable heat. I cling to him, my nails digging into his back, as he drives me toward the edge.

He pauses for a moment, his breath hot against my ear. "Tell me you want this, Aurora."

"Yes," I gasp, my voice barely more than a whisper. "I…want this. I want you."

The words are all he needs to hear before he resumes finger fucking me with renewed intensity. His thumb finds my most sensitive spot, circling in time with his thrusts. It's too much, the pleasure building to a fever pitch that leaves me trembling beneath him.

"Nico," I moan, my fingers tangling in his hair.

He groans in response, his mouth claiming mine once more. The kiss is wild and desperate. Just when I can't take it anymore, he shifts slightly, his hand bracing beside my head as he looks down at me.

"Come for me, mi vida ," he commands, his voice low and rough, filled with a need that mirrors my own.

I do. The world shatters around me, pleasure crashing over me in waves that leave me gasping and clinging to him. He rides out the storm with me, his fingers never faltering, his eyes never leaving mine. When I finally come down from the high, I'm left trembling and breathless, my body still humming with aftershocks.

Nico's lips hover over mine, his breath hot against my skin. I can see the raw need in his eyes. He's going to take me, to claim me fully, and I'm ready to lose myself completely. Just when he's about to move, a sharp, insistent ring cuts through the haze of desire.

A phone. We both freeze, the moment shattered by the intrusive sound. Nico groans, frustration evident in his eyes as he pulls away slightly, his eyes moving to his phone on the table as it continues to ring.

"Ignore it," I whisper, trying to pull him back to me.

And I can tell he wants to, his expression torn. The phone stops ringing, only to start once again. He kisses my forehead.

"I'll be right back," he says before getting off the bed and walking over to the table.

I can feel the loss of his touch like a physical ache. As he answers the call, I lie there, pulling the covers over my body as I try to catch my breath. Nico's voice is tense and curt as he answers whoever's on the other side of the call.

"Yes, she's with me," he says slowly, his eyes meeting mine.

I sit up straighter, wondering who it is.

"All right, I understand," he states before slipping his phone into the pocket of his pants.

I watch as the fire he previously had in his eyes dims, his countenance changing. He reaches for his shirt that's been discarded on the floor.

"You need to get dressed, mi vida ," he orders, reaching for my clothes as well.

He places them in front of me on the bed. "What's going on?"

Nico doesn't reply as he heads for the closet in the room. I take some time to put on my clothes. When he returns, he's holding a gun. My heart skips a beat.

"Nico! Tell me what's wrong."

He takes my hand in his, hauling me out of the bed. His eyes are completely devoid of emotion now. I hate it when he gets like this, turns into an unfeeling robot.

"Listen to me. I want to go to your room and lock the doors. Don't let anyone in except me, understand?" he asks.

I shake my head, my thoughts zeroing in on one thing and one thing only.

"Where's Lucia? Where's my sister?" I ask, fear pounding through my chest.

"She should already be on her way to your room as well," he replies. "The two of you stay there."

"Okay," I nod. "Where are you going?"

He doesn't reply, his expression hard.

"Nico," I breathe. "Don't go."

I'm not sure why, but I have a really bad feeling. His eyes fall shut right before he presses a kiss to my forehead.

"I have to. But you know I'll come back to you. I always do," he murmurs.

He leads me out of the room and into the arms of one of the numerous guards in the house, and then he leaves, heading out of the mansion. I keep telling myself that everything will be okay. The compound is safe, with maximum security. I just need to get to my sister, and it'll all be fine.

In the end, I never made it to my bedroom. The guard escorting me was killed and I was stolen from right beneath my father's nose. Darkness claimed me as I was taken away from my home.

My only consolation was that when my eyes finally opened, Lucia was right beside me. My sister was bound the same way I was. And Nico was nowhere in sight.