The pain had spread to my lower back—a deep, grinding ache that had no interest in being reasonable. But as soon as it ebbed the need that replaced it was unlike anything I’d ever felt. A different kind of unbearable. Worse, almost, because it had a direction.
Bad Girl had vanished like a guilty party, deserting me entirely in my hour of need.
No. She was there.
I felt her eye roll.
You’re fine, she didn’t say. The silence was extremely unsympathetic.
And then there was Conrí—pacing, occasionally talking to himself or possibly Kael, I couldn’t focus on the words. My entire attention was committed to the far more pressing task of surrounding myself with his clothing. He’d brought a considerable amount. There were even ties in there.
Mm.
Silky. Cool against my fingers. I wrapped one around my neck and lay back against the pile, toying with the material, enjoying the slide of it against my skin.
He stopped pacing.
He didn’t look well.
Then his eyes dropped to the tie.
My grip tightened instinctively.
He could try.
“Nika,” he rasped, his voice low and deep.
I clenched my thighs together at the sound of it. Licked my lips. My name on his lips tasted like victory in some way I couldn’t quite comprehend and didn’t have the capacity to examine right now.
I let the tie dangle around my neck and sat up.
My fingers found the buttons of my plum blouse and began to work through them. It clashed magnificently with his dark green tie. He’d probably matched it to his eyes deliberately. To attract females. Very calculated of him.
I paused.
My eyes flicked up.
His expression was earnest. Focused. Slightly pained in a way that suggested significant internal negotiation.
“Have you ever been involved with anyone at work?”
His gaze was on my hands.
“What?”
I glanced down. The cerise bra was showing. I closed the blouse.
“What?” he repeated. This time the green eyes met mine properly.
“Have you ever been involved with anyone at work?”
“No,” he said, with the indignation of a man who found the question genuinely offensive.“That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
They’re ours, Bad Girl said.I think he is very aware of what would happen if he touched another female.
I worked on the remaining button.
The smile died on my lips when another rush of heat came. Deeper this time. It rose from my belly and spread upward until it settled in my chest—not painful exactly, more like pressure looking for somewhere to go.
