I didn’t know what would happen, or what Lila would decide, but I knew I had to try to keep her. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
And I wouldn’t give up without a fight.
Icameoutofthe bathroom to find Niko asleep. His body was stretched out across the bed, wrapped up tightly in my blanket. My heart fluttered, and something tugged at me, a feeling I’d been trying to bury—something I didn’t want to admit to him, or even myself.
I had no idea what he’d done to Daniel. By the amount of blood I’d seen, it was obvious he’d killed him. But where he dumped his body, I didn’t have a clue. I knew I should be terrified, worried about my own safety, but the truth of it is… I wasn’t. Not even a little bit.
When he’d come back to me, soaked in Daniel’s blood and his lust-filled gaze turned on me, there was no denying the fire that burned deep in my core. The way he took what he wanted without asking, and the way his lips had pressed against mine… something feral had clawed its way out. And I didn’t try to push it away. I gave in to it.
What the fuck did that say about me?
Niko stirred and stretched his arms over his head. He turned to me with a smirk playing on his lips.
“Enjoying the view?” he laughed, and I shook my head.
I didn’t say anything as I stumbled toward him and sat on the bed. He looked me over, his eyes turning dark when he reached my bare legs. Heat pooled between my thighs as our eyes met, and I had to look away from him.
“I want to show you something,” he said, pulling me up as he stood from the bed.
My brows furrowed as he pulled me toward the door. He pulled out a silver key and slipped it into the lock. A soft click sounded in the room and he opened the door revealing nothing but darkness. He glanced back at me and led me out into a dark hallway. A cold breeze blew against my skin, and a shiver trailed through my body.
“Where are we going?” I asked, a hint of fear in my voice.
He turned to me, placing his hands on either side of my face. He stroked my cheek with his thumb, sending a shiver down my spine. The look in his eyes made my breath catch, something vulnerable hidden beneath the darkness.
“Upstairs,” he whispered before dropping his hands and leading me up the stairs.
We reached the top of the stairs, and a tall wooden door appeared. Slivers of light slipped through, lighting up the darkened hallway. I held my breath as he opened it, revealing a large kitchen. Sunlight poured in from the windows, warming my skin as I stepped into the light. I closed my eyes, basking in its warmth, and the feel of it against my skin made me smile.
“Feels nice,” I said, opening my eyes and peering out the window.
There was a small shed in the backyard, and behind that was a large, open field. Trees surrounded the area in a large circle, but the land was empty of anything but grass and an overgrown rose bush.
I turned back to Niko, my brow raised in question.
“You wanted to show me your kitchen?” I asked. “Are you telling me you want me to cook for you?”
He shook his head and took my hand, pulling me through the room. He led me into the next area, my eyes lighting up at the sight. It was a living room, for sure, but one that reminded me of those nice mansions you see on TV.
Bookshelves lined each wall, every one of them overflowing with books. A large leather couch sat in the center of the room, with a glass coffee table in front of it. In the center was an empty vase, and I thought about the flowers he’d put on my nightstand. A few feet away was an elegant brick fireplace, the flames inside warming the room. I peered up at Niko, his gaze set on me.
“You’ve kept me in that room for days when you hadthisupstairs?” I joked.
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I was worried you’d leave,” he mumbled, running his hand through his thick, curly hair. “You still might.”
“Who’s to say I won’t leave right now?”
His fists clenched and my body stiffened as he grabbed my arms and pushed me against the wall. Darkness flickered in his eyes as he reached up, wrapping his hand gently, but firmly around my throat. His thumb caressed my lips and fear gave way to arousal as he pressed into me, my body melting into his.
“I say you won’t,” he growled.
I trembled against him as he slid his knee between my legs and rubbed against my clit. Heat pooled in my stomach, finding its way to my clit, and I pressed against him, urging him to continue.
We stared at each other, my arousal growing with each passing second until he released my throat and backed away. His muscles relaxed as he grabbed my hand and led me from the room toward a narrow staircase. As we ascended, I noticed that all the picture frames were empty. I stopped midway through, my eyes darting between each one.
“Why are they empty?” I asked.
