“Stop,” he hissed at her.
She licked her moist lips. “Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’? Emily, you’re?—”
“Why ask me to stop when you know I don’t want to?And we both know you don’t either. Is this because of the virgin thing?—”
“What? No!” he interrupted, looking appalled. “I mean, it’s part of the reason, but not entirely.”
“So what is it? You just like to wind me up, then walk away because it’sfun? How long do you expect me to endure this? Or maybe you like knowing I want you this much.”
Nicolas looked floored by her rapid confessions. Like he’d been caught in a sudden downpour, drenched before he could react to the speed and weight of it.
“Em…”
“Forget it!” she erupted, angry and embarrassed.
She pushed herself off him, but he was quick to latch his hand around her wrist. “Wait.”
“What is it now, Nicolas?”
He grasped her wrist tighter. “Do you mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“That you want me.”
Is he serious? Why does he think I’ve been allowing all of this?
Her heart thumped within her chest as she saw his pupils shake in anticipation.
“I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you,” she confessed.
“Okay,” he breathed, blinking rapidly.
She stared at him. “Okay? Just that?”
“No, I mean…I give up. You win.” He looked like he’d truly surrendered, his shoulders falling and his brown eyes seeping into the softest shade. “Last time I knew you weren’t in the right state of mind. I figured you’d only wanted to do it to take your mind off things. But if it’s truly what you want, I won’t stop you.” His voice lowered. “Iwon’t stop.”
Fire curled in her veins.
“Don’t blame me for what happens after this, Emily. Because when I’m done with you, I’ll have youbeggingfor me to stop. And when you do, because you will, don’t forget you’re the one who asked for it.”
Her throat bobbed.
Oh shit.
35
“Do we need a condom?”Emily tried to remember everything she knew about sex.
“A condom?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m on the pill for safety measures, but?—”
Her answer evoked a guffaw from Nicolas. She looked at him as she sat on his lap, confused.
“I’m not going to have sex with you, Emily.”
