After he’d paid the bill, he ushered me outside the restaurant. His big hand spanned the small of my back, sending pulses of heat through my body. Traitorous guilt threaded through my physical desire, making my stomach twist.
I hated this. I hated Max for doing this to me.
So, when Niko applied gentle pressure and turned my body into his, I didn’t resist. I wouldn’t allow Max’s betrayal to sour my potential intimacy with other men. Especially a man as intent and stunning as Nikolai Ivanov.
He brushed a stray lock of hair back from my cheek, his fingertips whispering over my soft skin. Feminine awareness crackled over my flesh, tingling from where he touched me before trailing down my spine in little shivery sparks.
“I had a great time tonight.” His voice was impossibly deep and rumbly. Those thick fingers traced the line of my jaw and came to rest beneath my chin.
My head tipped back, and my breath caught in my throat. Niko’s aquamarine eyes glittered, and his sensual mouth curved in a slightly cocky, confident smirk. He knew the effect he had on me. The wicked tilt to his lips told me he liked my reaction.
I went utterly still, entranced by those shockingly blue eyes, azure ringed in indigo. He focused on me like I was the only woman in the world, and warmth flooded my belly. My lips parted on a breathy little gasp, desperate to breathe him in. He smelled of expensive cologne: tobacco and spice; something deeply masculine and a little forbidden.
He slowly dipped his head, trapping me with that featherlight touch beneath my chin. I could’ve easily broken free. I could’ve stopped the kiss before it began.
That sick little twist of guilt twinged my stomach, and it bloomed into a sudden wave of anger. I had nothing to feel guilty about.
I had a heartbeat to notice Niko’s stunning eyes flare with surprise when I surged up onto my toes and met his lips with mine. My kiss was almost harsh, demanding and a little defiant. I defied Max’s hold over me. I defied the pain in my heart.
Instead, I focused on Niko’s intoxicating scent and the feel of his hot tongue teasing my lips. They tingled at his skillful kiss. He knew how to handle a woman’s body, and he quickly took control. My ferocity ebbed, and I fell into the sensual sensations of his mouth on mine.
His hand still rested on the small of my back, holding me firmly against his hard, imposing body. For an awful moment, I recalled Max’s rippling muscles beneath my tender touch. I curled my fingers into Niko’s shirt and tugged him closer, determined to lose myself in him.
His other hand left my chin to cup my nape, his long fingers easing into my hair to hold me more firmly in place.
My scalp tingled with the memory of how Max had gripped my hair the first time he’d kissed me, when he’d claimed me with such desperate hunger that it seemed he needed me more than oxygen. I’d burned for him, melting into his harsh, demanding hold and offering him everything.
A shudder of revulsion suddenly rolled through my body. This was all wrong. I couldn’t bear Niko’s kiss for a second longer.
I turned my face, breaking free from his skillful mouth. He immediately eased his hold on me, allowing me space to breathe.
My head spun in the dizzying aftermath of his kiss and my own roiling emotions.
His fingers curled beneath my chin once again, and his pale blue eyes looked down at me with concern. “You okay?”
“Y-yeah.” My voice trembled on the lie. I ran a shaky hand through my hair. “I’m fine. Sorry, I…” I wasn’t sure how to put my feelings into words. I couldn’t possibly tell Niko about Max, and not only because it would hurt too much to speak my dark protector’s name aloud. Max hated Niko’s entire family. I wasn’t sure if the feeling was mutual or if Niko even knew who Max was.
On that night after my dad’s fundraiser—the night I’d first kissed Max—my stalker had materialized out of the shadows and shoved Niko away from me. I didn’t know if the men shared a personal history, or if he was simply another victim of Max’s delusions, his conspiracy theory about the Bratva and my father.
I shook my head sharply, frustrated with my wayward thoughts. Niko had just told me about his family background, and it didn’t seem suspicious, even if he had been cagey about sharing. The man who was regarding me with earnest concern couldn’t be part of a criminal syndicate.
You thought Max was blameless, too, a nasty little voice whispered through my mind.
I still had no idea what Max was truly capable of, but he wasn’t an entirely innocent man. I’d seen his violence firsthand when he beat up Gavin, my bully.
I took a step back from Niko, breaking free from his muscular arms. “Sorry,” I said again. “I should go home.”
His lips pinched, and his brow furrowed. “Will I see you again? I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I just…” I searched for something reasonable to say, a rational explanation for my suddenly anxious behavior. “I don’t like that paparazzi have photographed us without me realizing.” That much was definitely true. I couldn’t bear it if an image of this kiss showed up in the news tomorrow. “We’re in public.”
He offered me a small, wicked smile. “I’ll make sure to take you somewhere more private next time.” His expression softened slightly, his gaze earnest. “And I’ll tell my dad to lay off with the articles. I really am sorry about that.”
Next time? He still wanted to see me after this?
The billionaire was more tenacious than I’d realized. The intent way he watched me let me know that he was just as fascinated by me now as he had been back in the restaurant. The wolf had scented its prey, and he wasn’t nearly prepared to let me go. I’d presented him with a challenge, and Niko wasn’t the type of man to back down from that; he was the type to be excited by it.
“It’s okay,” I heard myself saying, automatically alleviating his concern. “I know it’s not your fault. Thank you for talking to your dad about it.”
“So I’ll see you again?” he prompted, his voice deep and assured, almost a statement rather than a question.
I managed a nod and swallowed down the lump in my throat. I could go out with Niko again. I should go out with him again. I had to get over what’d happened with Max.
Niko’s hand settled on the small of my back, and I forced myself not to flinch. He guided me to the black town car parked at the curb, waiting to take me home. He opened the door for me and held my hand as I slid into the leather seat.
He kept my hand in his for a moment longer, lifting it to his lips and brushing a kiss over my knuckles. “Goodnight, Allie.”
“Goodnight.” I almost choked out the word.
He shot me that wolfish smile, already anticipating future pursuit. He wasn’t at all deterred by what he perceived as my shy behavior, but he was still respectful of my boundaries.
I should be utterly swept away by Niko, but Max had ruined me.
MAX
I found Allie amongst the Modern History books in the New York Public Library. I’d watched her enter the building, but it’d taken me a while to search the maze of shelves until I caught sight of her shining copper hair once again.
It was the middle of the day. I had no business blatantly stalking her like this. It had nothing to do with my mission against her father or even protecting her from my enemies.