As soon as the doors open, I fly out of the elevator and rush to my apartment. Nico is hot on my heels. My hands shake as I press a thumb to the reader, and the door unlocks with a deafening snick.
“Don’t,” Nico growls.
Hand on the door handle, I freeze.
He stands behind me, not quite swarming me or giving me space, as he demands, “Turn around.”
I shake my head, fighting back my tears. “No. Just forgetthatever happened.”
“No. I can’t forget it. I won’t,” he barks. His frustration spills out, and he shouts. “Goddammit, Savannah. Turn around.”
His tone pisses me off, and as I turn around to face him, I snap, “Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Woman,” Nico warns. He places the takeout bag on the floor at my feet like he’s preparing himself for a fight.
“Don’t you ‘woman’ me.”
Nico closes his eyes and takes a huge breath, holding it in for a count of four before releasing it. He runs his hands through his hair in frustration. He’s trying so hard to be calm when all I want to do is rage.
I’m so angry right now. Angry at myself for kissing Nico, for wanting him. I’m mad at him for being a womanizing manwhore and hurting my sister. I’m mad at him for being nothing like I expected him to be. I’m angry with him for having met my sister first.
Just…all of it.
Once he’s calm, Nico stares me dead in the eyes. “Why are you being difficult again? Tell me what the problem is, because I know for a damn fact that kiss was not a mistake. It was the best damn kiss I’ve ever had.”
My heart pinches, knowing we share the same feelings, but I have to push the idea of us away. For the sake of my sister, I can’t go there. So, I fight. “Did you ever think that maybe you’re the problem?”
“Me?” His eyes widen in shock as he points at himself.
“Yes, you.”
He places his hands on his hips and glares at me. “I know I’m not perfect, but what the hell did I do?”
“My sister, you idiot!”
Nico rears back as if physically struck by my words. “What?”
“You. Did. My. Sister,” I repeat slowly for him to understand.
He thinks long and hard, but there is no recognition there. I don’t know if that makes me happy or angrier at him for not putting it together. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“I do. Does the name Charlotte Stratford ring a bell, or have you slept with so many women you’ve forgotten?” I’m being unnecessarily cruel, but I need this to end.
We can’t do this.
“That’s not fair,” Nico grouses through his teeth.
“No. What’s not fair is you sleeping with my sister and breaking her heart because you can’t keep it in your pants.” My hands fly to my mouth, too late to take back the insult.
It’s not fair of me to hold his past against him. Normally I wouldn’t, but this is my sister we are talking about.
Doing his best to remain calm, Nico inhales deeply. When he exhales, I can smell the cinnamon on his breath and taste it on my tongue, and all I want to do is kiss him again, which makes me irrationally angry.
“You only have part of the story, and that has nothing to do with us.” He’s incredibly calm as he speaks, which makes me even more angry.
“There is no us!”
Nico doesn’t crowd my space, but he fills it anyway with his large body and powerful aura. His presence is non-threatening and overwhelming at the same time. “That’s where you’re fucking wrong,gattina.”
