Page 102 of The Blade in the Ashes
Shock flashed across his features for a moment, but he didn’t move to step back away from me.
“And doesthatbother you?”
I observed him, traced over every inch of his face, and measured every rise and fall of his chest. I hunted for the exact moment that he would realize I was more trouble than I was worth.
But that moment never came.
“If you would like to invite additional lovers to our bed, my bird, I am only happy to oblige you as long as I am the only one you sleep beside and wake up next to.”
His words, and the sincerity in them, stole my breath. He actually meant that. It was obvious from the way his hand reached to grab onto mine and in the way his lips quirked into a teasing smile.
There was lust in his gaze. That was undeniable. There was more there, too, though. There was a promise that he wanted everything I was willing to offer.
“Now, how does this work?” he asked, diverting the conversation back to their mission as he stepped away from me, giving me enough space to finally gasp for breath.
Finding words was hard at first. “Well, I'll go find out what I can about this collector, and then I’ll come tell you what I’ve learned.”
“No.” The word was clipped, spat out before I’d even finished talking, and he didn’t even bother to turn around and face me as he leveled it at me.
“No?” I threw a hand incredulously on my hip.
Nikolai took the seat at the vanity as he slid on his boots and set upon tightening the laces.
“No, you will not be going alone.”
My sigh echoed as I rolled my eyes. “I’m perfectly capableof—”
“Defending yourself, I know.” He glanced at me over his shoulder. “The answer is still no.”
“I didn’t ask!”
“And I’m not negotiating.”
We stared at each other, both of our eyes narrowed at the other in a bitter stalemate. Nikolai continued lacing his boots as our silent standoff continued, entirely unfazed by the discouraging expression on my face.
I shook my head, warning him with my eyes alone to back down.
Eventually, he stood, waving a hand towards the door of our room. “Shall we?”
Gods, he was insufferable.
Chewing on my lip, I debated the effectiveness of yelling, punching, and/or crying.
None seemed like they would work on him. He had that look on his face, the look that told me I wasn’t teasing the Nikolai who flicked my nose or talked with me about nothing. No, this was the infamous crime lord Nikolai Legum. He had made up his mind and there would be no further negotiation on the matter.
“Fine,” I hissed, prowling past him. “But you sit across the room, pretend you don’t know me, and you stay out of my way.”
“As you wish, little bird.”
It was painfully easy to identify my target.
This brothel was one of the liveliest I had been to in some time. I suppose a God taking over the country and undead monsters roaming the streets made people more inclined to live out their desires.
Music swelled all around us and the scent of sweat and sex filled the air, an aphrodisiac in itself. Bodies were crammed in every crevice and corner. On the ground level most were talking, but the sounds from the bedrooms on the upper floor were a music in themselves. A melody of ecstasy that tempted everyone in the room to indulge.
And these people were more than willing. Hunger lingered in every gaze. Lips were licked and lashes were batted.
It took me only a few minutes to notice the way the women flocked around the balding man in the corner. He sat, his bulging stomach hanging over the belt of his trousers, with a beautiful woman on each side. The edges of his maroon jacket were lined in silver embroidery, an intricate show of wealth that set him apart from the others in the room.
