CHAPTER XXV

N ico was a freaking psycho!

Because of his crazy ass, I dropped 100 dollars’ worth of groceries on the ground. I really hoped Enzo picked them up for me.

The car hit a pothole, jostling me slightly. He probably did that on purpose.

After what seemed like forever, I gave up screaming and banging on the trunk, knowing there was no one out there to save me. Jesus, Enzo was even there and didn’t help me. I thought we had a friendship going, but now I knew he would always remain loyal to the sexy possessive asshole who was driving me to God knew where.

I laid cramped in the dark confines of the trunk, the sweet scent of leather mingling with my perfume. I flexed my fingers, trying to combat the tingling numbness creeping up my limbs. I was definitely going to be sore in the morning. I could hear the muffled sounds of the city outside, but it felt like the world had forgotten I existed.

“Well, this is just fantastic,” I muttered.

When the car finally came to a complete stop, I sighed in relief and braced myself to jump out of this trunk and away from the Devil himself.

I heard the door open and close, and footsteps on the pavement that came closer to the car. As a sliver of light appeared, I got ready.

The trunk flew open, but I didn’t get the chance to escape because he was already there and too freaking fast!

I screamed like a banshee. My foot connected with his leg, but he barely flinched. I bit down on his arm, but he just gritted his teeth. I flailed my fists aimlessly, landing punches wherever I could. I was not going down without a fight.

“Stop it!” Nico yelled. “Winter!” he repeated, but I didn’t stop. I would keep going until I tired out.

“Fuck, woman! Calm the fuck down,” he seethed, grabbing my arms roughly and shaking me. “What you are so pissed at me? What the fuck did I do?”

Is he serious?

“You kidnapped me and threw me in the trunk!” I screamed at him, but my outburst didn’t faze him.

“No, I don’t buy that. Something else is bothering you. Are you mad because I haven’t made that sweet pussy of yours come for a week?”

Yes. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course not,” I scoffed. So, he was ignoring me? He was probably fucking those strippers at the club.

“Bullshit,” he snapped.

“Leave me alone and go back to your wad of strippers. Why don’t you kidnap one of them?” I yelled, feeling flustered and turned on.

What is wrong with me? I was as sick as he was.

He reared back, and a big smile formed on his stupid handsome face. “Someone’s jealous.” He said it like he was proud.

Arrogant asswipe.

* * *

NICO

She was sexy as hell when she was pissed off.

“You don’t have to worry about them,” I reassured her, because it was true. She didn’t.

“I don’t care,” she hissed, but she did. I could tell from the way she was fighting me. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. I hadn’t reached out to her because I’d been fucking knee deep in the Puppet Master bullshit and needed to keep my head in the game.

But every night, I laid there, thinking about how much I wanted to be between her legs, tasting her, feeling her lips around my dick. She was an angel sent from heaven to tempt me. And now she’d gotten me going to confession, revealing all my sins and desires. Not even God himself could forgive my sins for my twisted thoughts, my obsession and plotting to possess and ravish Winter’s body.

The thought of someone stealing her from me had me boiling in hot rage and pushed to the brink of madness. I would bound her soul to mine, ensuring no one could tear us apart.

“Where am I?” Winter’s voice brought me back from my inner thoughts.

“Are you going to calm down now?”

She muttered something but I couldn’t quite hear the words.

“I didn’t hear you. What did you say?” I asked, holding her back to my chest and wrapping a hand around her neck. I gave it a slight squeeze, and she gasped.

“Yes,” she said through gritted teeth.

“If you try to kick me or run away, I’ll restrain you.” I gave her another squeeze and whispered in her ear, making sure she knew that I was not playing around. “You will never escape me. I won’t let you go that easily.”

Her body tensed.

I reluctantly let her go and set her on her feet. She slowly pivoted to face me and glared daggers at me, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that screamed “I’m going to kill you.”

I smirked.

“I can’t believe you just threw me in there,” she spat, her voice filled with indignation. “What kind of person does that to another human being?”

I didn’t say anything, just listened to her rant because I loved hearing the sound of her voice. She placed her hands on her hips and looked around where I had taken her. I drove us to the park near my home because I wanted to prove to her that she couldn’t run away from me, but also because I wanted to keep her. For whatever reason, the need to touch her, hold her, kiss her, and just have her near settled the war battling in my soul. I didn’t know if the realization scared the hell out of me or put me at peace.

“Look, Nico.” She exhaled deeply. “I just want to go home, okay?” Her eyes locked onto mine, pleading for freedom.

“Not going to happen, Angel,” I replied, my tone firm.

Her expression shattered, and I felt a pang in my chest at the sight. What the hell was this feeling?

“Why?” she demanded, her hands flailing in an almost theatrical manner.

I pushed off the car, stepping closer until her heart-shaped face was cradled in my hands. My gaze flickered between her bright golden eyes and her trembling lips. “Because you woke up something in me that I thought was dead for the longest time,” I said.

She tilted her head slightly, confusion etched across her features. The lines on her forehead deepened, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She didn’t look afraid, just… curious.

“I don’t know what that means,” she replied quietly, her eyes never leaving mine.

A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “All you need to know is that now that I have you, I’m never letting go,” I assured her, watching her eyes widen in shock. I continued. “Now… you’re going to do as you’re told and get in the car. I won’t put you in the trunk, as long as you behave.”

“Then you’ll take me home?” she asked, hope flickering in her voice.

“No. I’m taking you to my home for the night,” I emphasized.

“Why me?” she pressed.

“Because I want you, ” I replied. “Why is that so hard for you to understand?”

She began to shake her head, her defiance surfacing as she reached for my wrist, trying to push me away.

“Don’t,” I warned, my grip tightening slightly.

“How can you say you want me when you don’t even know me? I work for you. You’re my boss and I’m your employee. That is the only relationship you and I will ever have.”

I shook my head slowly, my eyes never leaving hers. “That’s where you’re wrong, baby. You belong with me now.” My voice was deep and commanding, leaving no room for argument.

She bristled at my words, her eyes flashing with anger. “I don’t belong to anyone, especially not to a man who thinks he can have any woman he wants.”

That was the wrong thing to say.

I flinched as if struck, my hands tightening around her delicate jaw, my thumbs caressing her cheekbones. She struggled against my iron grip, her nails digging into my wrists, but I held firm, pulling her closer, our noses nearly touching.

“The days of me fucking anyone who meant nothing to me were long gone the moment I first laid eyes on you. Whether you like it or not, you belong to me . You will answer to me . You will never escape me.”

Her body shook in my arms. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the war between her desire and her fear. I felt it too. I wanted her, body and soul, and I hated that I couldn’t say no to this power she had over me.

“Now,” I growled, “I need you to go back to the car.”

“No. Please, Nico, just take me home.”

“I said no.” I gritted my teeth, anger slowly starting to boil over because of her stubbornness and the way she challenged me at every moment she could.

I was shocked as hell when she wrenched her face from my hands, her eyes sparking with newfound determination. She took a step back, holding my gaze, her chin raised like a disobedient child.

“You may think you have the power to have others bow down to you like a king, but I will never submit myself to you. I’m not even your type!” she shouted.

A smirk played on my lips as I tilted my head, studying her. “Oh? And how do you know what my type is?”

“Oh, I don’t know! Let’s see.” She held up her hand, ticking off her fingers as she spoke. “I’m not a size zero, don’t have a flat stomach, my hips are too wide, and I’m too damn short.”

My eyes trailed down her body, taking in the curves that drove me wild. Her hips, perfect for gripping as I took her from behind. Her soft stomach, inviting, and her full breasts, a perfect handful. I gave her a wicked grin.

“You’re exactly my type.”