His lips parted, inviting. Demanding. Fire exploded through her as she met him head on, uncertain at first, then reckless. His mouth consumed hers with shocking tenderness and heat, melting her where she stood. Her knees nearly gave out.
She moaned softly, unable to conceal it.
The sound made him groan—and then his hand was sliding down her spine, strong and sure, cupping her ass as he lifted her. She gasped, instinctively locking her legs around his waist as her back hit the wall—no, the edge of her door. It creaked open behind her.
He turned and carried her inside, the door swinging wide as her hands tangled in his hair, her lips searching his again. The world narrowed to heat, breath, and the hard press of his body between her thighs.
She had never touched anyone like this. Had never been touched like this.
Their breaths were ragged, their bodies moving in a rhythm older than logic. Her hoodie slipped off one shoulder. The bag with their leftover meal hit the floor with a thud. She felt him, all of him—warm, real, perfect.
His lips trailed along her jaw, murmuring inarticulate words against her skin.
“Dessert… clothes… more…”
More what?she thought dreamily, her fingers stroking his cheek.
And then it hit her.
A jolt—sharp as lightning.
Her back arched. Her eyes flew open—but what she saw wasn’t herapartment.
It was them.
Three men. Moving in darkness. An underground parking garage. Polished concrete. Fluorescent lights flickering overhead. They moved like predators—silent, exact.
Weapons.
Suppressors.
Ruger Mark IV.
She knew the model by sight—by death.
Two bodies dropped: Nikos’s guards from earlier. Blood pooled on the concrete floor under them.
A fourth figure emerged from the shadows. Taller. Deadlier. Familiar.
She couldn’t see his face, but something about him radiated control. Purpose.
He doesn’t want Nikos dead. He wants something else.
Her mind scrambled for clues. She locked onto the flash of fabric, the designer cut of black cashmere and wool—exactly what Nikos was wearing now. Tonight. This would happen tonight.
She changed her focus to the tall man in the shadows. His face wasn’t clear. Clues. Search for clues. Marks. An identifier.
The vision shattered.
“Kiki—!”
His voice echoed inside her skull. She gasped and blinked rapidly, pulling herself out of the shadow world. Her gaze swung wildly around as she tried to orient herself.
She was lying on her couch. Her floral couch. The cool fabric felt soft against her back. The bag of leftovers was lying on the floor by the door. Their kiss. They had been kissing.
Nikos’s hands were on her. Cradling her. Stroking her hair.
His face hovered over hers, taut with concern.
