CHAPTER XV

N ico entered the room as I took inventory behind the bar with Justice. I inhaled slowly, taking Nico in as he walked further into the room with an air of power and authority.

Everyone stopped talking and only resumed once Nico gave them all a curt nod, as if telling them to continue. He hadn’t once looked in my direction, and I didn’t know why that bothered me. I mean, the man obviously hated me, but he also enjoyed toying with me, like dangling a bone in front of a dog.

Jesus, even Enzo was afraid to speak to me, and all because Nico apparently had “claimed” me, whatever the hell that meant.

I watched as he casually unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down at the couch with his men surrounding him. I sucked in a breath and tucked my lower lip in when he rested his leg over his other knee. He was the sexiest man I had ever met. And then Davina sat beside him as if she belonged there. Could someone please tell me why that bothered me?

“Stop staring,” Justice whispered in an amused tone.

I glared at him. “Shut up.”

He laughed and went back to stocking the shelves.

“He doesn’t want her,” Justice said as he continued to work.

My head snapped in his direction. “I didn’t say anything.” I raised an eyebrow. And because I couldn’t resist, I asked, “What are you talking about?”

He shook his head. “Davina. They grew up together, and then one day, her body started to change, and he?—”

“Started noticing her,” I finished for him.

He nodded. “He doesn’t have any feelings for her, though.”

“And why do you think I would care about that?”

Because I did. I sooo did.

He chuckled. “Because you look like you’re about to strike her down with the death stare you’re giving her.”

That would be a really cool power to have .

“You know…” Justice leaned against the bar, tossing the rag over his shoulder and clasping his hands together. “We could test the theory.”

“What theory ?” I asked, intrigued.

“How long it will take for him to walk over here and remind you that you belong to him.”

“I am not a mortgage on a house. I’m a person, dammit,” I huffed. “Besides, he doesn’t care if I’m here.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Justice said. Without warning, he leaned in and breathed against my neck.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I asked, frozen in place.

“Testing my theory .” He blew on my neck, making me shiver. “Dude, you’re begging to get castrated,” Luca said as he strolled up to the bar and shook his head with a smug grin.

Justice slowly moved his gaze to the sexy man in front of us. “It’s so worth it, Luca, to see Nico unhinged.” He said it like he’d done it many other times.

“Thought you’d learned your lesson by now,” Luca responded, leaning against the bar. “You’re playing with fire, man. And no amount of water is going to put it out,” he warned. “Your body will a burning corpse.”

My eyes widened.

He’s kidding, right?

“Hey, Winter,” he greeted me, his voice smooth.

“Hi.” I smiled back, trying to sound casual despite my heart racing.

Then I noticed Nico moving toward me with purpose. Even from there, I could see the intensity in his brooding gaze when our eyes briefly met, but he quickly diverted his to Justice. The stare was so intense that it started to freak me out, so I slowly moved away.

Justice laughed when I stepped away from him.

“Stop it,” I hissed under my breath. “I like you too much to see something happen to you.”

But he kept laughing.

Nico approached, determination etched in his features, raw heat emanating from his proximity. My gaze remained fixed on him as he spoke, his voice low and gravelly.

“Don’t. Piss. Me. Off,” he threatened Justice, his jaw tightening as he stared him down.

Justice raised his hands in the air. “That wasn’t my intention, boss,” he said calmly.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” he said, his menacing gaze shifting to me.

“Me?” I asked, pointing at my chest.

Justice froze, and my stomach dropped to the floor.

“Nico,” Luca said, like he was warning Nico not to, what? Kill me?

Nico leaned over the bar and lifted my chin with a firm grip. The contact was electrifying, sending shivers down my spine as he tilted my face upward to meet his gaze. I felt a mixture of vulnerability and desire, as if his touch was claiming me in a way that words never could.

“Did you think I hadn’t noticed you?” His voice was meant for my ears alone. “Is that why you’re getting so cozy with another man? In my club? In front of me ?”

I tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip, and I winced. His touch sent sparks coursing through my veins, awakening feelings that I never felt before.

“No,” I breathed.

He locked his gaze on mine, holding me captive. I squirmed under the intimidation I saw from looking into his sapphire eyes, which shimmered in the bar’s low, ambient glow.

A faint smile curled Nico’s lips, though his eyes remained hard. “All you need do is say the word, and I’m yours,” he replied softly.

My breath caught in my throat.

Being around Nico made me feel things I didn’t want to feel but loved at the same time. My heart was begging for more, and to see how far I could take this.

“One night,” I responded hesitantly, my heart beating so fast not even my breath could keep up. But one night of what? I didn’t even know what the hell I was asking for.

His eyebrows shot up. “One night?” he asked.

I nodded stupidly.

Nico merely smiled, letting my chin go, and reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. I briefly shut my eyes as his touch sent flames across my skin.

“You have no idea what you’re asking of me.”

I glanced over Nico’s shoulder and caught Davina’s heated gaze. She looked like she was going to filet mignon my ass. I swallowed and turned my eyes back to Nico’s darkened ones.

“Come,” he said, holding his hand out for me.

I took his hand and let him lead me out of the room. Right as we reached the door, he gave the guys a nod. They responded with wide grins. But Davina was throwing daggers at me.

With my hand still in Nico’s, he led me down the hallways in silence. When we reached a darkened corner, he looked up at the cameras. He pulled out his phone and started typing. When I glanced up at the camera, the red light was no longer on. Did he just turn off the cameras?

Nico pushed me until my back hit the wall. He slammed his hands on each side of my head, caging me in. I was frozen in place, anticipation running through me.

He gazed at me with a hunger that set my pulse racing. I shakily raised my hand to his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble against his soft skin. His eyes closed at my touch, shoulders relaxing as if a great burden lifted.

My fingers gently traced his jaw, brushing lightly over his lips that parted on a shaky exhale. When his eyes opened, the passion was stripped away when he grabbed my wrists, stopping me from moving forward. He stepped closer, crowding me against the wall when his mouth descended to capture mine in a searing kiss. I gasped into his mouth, and his tongue swept in without a fight. He let go of my wrist and lifted me by the ass without his lips leaving mine, and I automatically wrapped my legs around his waist. Suddenly, the kiss became frantic, deep, and forceful. He groaned in my mouth and squeezed my ass. I found myself rocking my hips against him, and he tightened his hold on my butt.

God, this felt amazing. I didn’t want it to stop, but then he pulled away and scanned my face. He held my gaze as we brought our breathing to a normal pace. He sucked on my lower lip and nipped it. Then he licked the sting away.

He set me on my feet, much to my disappointment. In an instant, he grasped my chin, and his face contorted into an expression of anger.

Oh, crap.

“Don’t ever let another man put his hands on you,” he said with a sneer. “Because next time, I won’t be so forgiving, and you’ll be responsible for the bullet that goes between his eyes.”

My eyes widened in fear because I knew he’d go through with it.

“Understand?”

Blink .

I nodded.

Another blink.

“Good.” He kissed me hard on the lips and pulled back.

In that moment, I knew I belonged to him. And because of that, I was screwed.