Page 26 of The Red Room
Oh, god. At least if I die now it will be with a pit in my stomach and an undeniable wetness building at my center. His hair, combed back and brushing my collarbone sways as he awaits my answer. I don’t know if Icananswer. I can’t manage a thing besides somehow miraculously staying upright.
“I can’t hear you, Natalia,” he whispers this time, and every part of me shivers at the sound.
Goose bumps work up my arms. Desire overwhelms the outright panic. Yes, I want him to keep going. Yes, I want his lips back on my neck. Yes … I will combust into a million pieces if he stops right now.Yesflashes in my head rapidly until it is the only word I can possibly think. The only word I can comprehend. The only thing I can say.
“Yes.”
Although I can’t see his mouth, I can almost imagine the grin stretching his cheeks. Then, he clasps his lips back on my neck, sucking, nibbling, devouring me in the most satisfying way imaginable. He reaches his hand up from behind me, cupping my breast while he continues to work on my neck. His large palm fits it perfectly, and when I arch my back in sheer pleasure, he squeezes. Stars burst in the back of my clenched eyes, and the pulsing at my core reaches a new, tantalizing rhythm.
Nikolai slides his hand over my stomach, eventually finding the waist of my jeans. He runs his finger along the edge,touching both the denim and the soft skin of my hips. I tilt my head back and give him a better angle, hoping he might even give my collarbone the attention I’m desperate for. And as if he can read my fucking mind, he does just that. Swirling his tongue over it before planting his lips and kissing. Another moan, this time from us both, his hot breath traveling down the curve of my breasts.
I fight the urge to grab his hand and shove it to the spot begging for him. I’m not sure how much more I can take before he actually does kill me with this insatiable craving to have his touch. To feel his fingers warm a trail from my navel downward. No, Nikolai continues to drag his finger back and forth along my stomach and jeans like a metronome, bringing an insurmountable longing I’ve never felt. My pussy aches for him. Pleads for this man. It’s undeniable the more wet my center becomes.
“I’m not here to kill you, Natalia,” he says matter-of-factly. Nikolai inches his fingers inside my pants and underwear, stopping at my throbbing clit. “This is what I came here for.”
An exasperated whimper flees my mouth before I can stop it and echoes into the vacant alleyway. I lean back into him fully, my head resting against his broad chest. He massages the sensitive area, only to venture lower and tease my opening further. My pussy contracts around the tip of his index finger. Tightening. Squeezing it into submission. But he doesn’t relent. No, he simply aligns two fingers together and brings them home.
I scream out in pleasure, unbothered by who might hear or be watching from the sidewalk not even fifteen feet away. I can’t help myself anymore. Bliss threatens to send me over the edge as he pushes them inside me. In. Out. In, curling each finger to rub along my upper walls.Fuck.Out again. His fingers are slick with my arousal, making each delicious movementfaster and far more satisfying. Another thrust inside me, and his wrist grazes my swelling clit.
He's notgoingto kill me.
He is killing me.
I cry out, my mouth gaping as I swallow down as much air as I can. It’s building. This tremendous sensation starting at my core and railroading throughout every nerve, every limb. And before I know it, I’m rocking up and down on his fingers, my heart rate skyrocketing.
He spreads me open trailing his fingers upward, bringing them together again at my aching clit. Then, he circles them. Faster and faster in clockwise motion, adding more pressure each time he passes twelve. Another bite at the base of my neck, this time hard but not enough to break the skin. Part of me, the Natalie on the verge of coming and unconcerned with the effects of such a bite, wishes he would. Tear into my throat until blood trickles over my hardened nipples and down my hips. I’ll be his fucking prey if this is how he hunts.
With his other hand, he palms my breast, squeezing it while his fingers work double time. Another wave of ecstasy pulses through me. My limbs stiffen. My body convulses. I’m there, and judging by the palette of colors swirling in my closed eyes, this man is flooring our runaway vehicle right over a cliffside. I unravel one thread at a time. Nik my undoing. I’m going to come. I’m going to fucking—
The air drains from my lungs as I scream out in pure, unadulterated frenzy, my body spasming against him. His movements slow, as does my heartbeat, and I draw in breath after ragged breath. My pussy is absolutely dripping, and some of my climax even travels down my thighs when he removes his fingers from my jeans. Bringing his hand up to his chin still nestled on my shoulder, Nikolai opens his mouth and sucks off what’s left of me. His lips make a loudpop, and he places bothpalms on my hips, holding me upright in case I fall over. Who knows, I just might. My knees continue to buckle, but I do my best to stand fully.
“Not what you were expecting?” he asks, his voice a low gravel.
“No,” I murmur between breaths.
“Next time,” he says and pauses to give my neck one final kiss. “Don’t run.”
Nikolai releases me, and when I turn around to face him, my eyes widen in disbelief. He’s gone. And here I stand, alone in the darkness of the alley, only the faintest hint of cedar and the spot burning where he kissed me remaining. I watch the sidewalk traffic in silence, wondering if any of the dozens of people passing have even the slightest idea there’s a werewolf walking among them.
THIRTEEN
“There she is!”Courtney squeals from the far corner of the bar, pointing in my direction. It took a while for me to unbarricade my front door, even though I started questioning what I was doing while grabbing the heaviest furniture within reach. The book on supernatural protection conveniently left out werewolves—thanks for nothing, Lenny—but was added to the pile anyway. By the time I got to my couch, using all my weight to slide it on the laminate floors, I gave up. If Nikolai really wanted to kill me, he would’ve done so today, right? I gave him a golden opportunity to dispose of my body, and instead, hegave methe best orgasm I’ve had in years. Maybe ever. I am no safer hiding behind a clawed-up door than at this bar on the upper west side with Courtney.
“I’m not here to kill you, Natalia,”he had said. And in the moment, I think anyone would’ve been stupid enough to believe him. I did, but that could’ve been my bottom half taking the reins more than a single, rational thought.He’s a werewolf.It’s in his DNA to lure his prey to their death. A little light finger fucking andbam!I’m served to the pack with my hands and legsbound like the damsel in some movie from the 1940’s. Sure, it was probably the hottest thing to happen to me since the last heat wave hit Los Angeles. Of course, I enjoyed it, even thought about his hands on me once on my bed and another two times in the shower. But could I believe a word coming from Nikolai Vostik, the club owning werewolf? Not a chance.
I wave back at her with a grin and move closer to the corner they chose. They being Roman, Courtney’s latest conquest, and another man who seems to buy clothes from the same high-end shops as his male counterpart. He stands a bit taller than them all, give or take a few inches, but with the added height comes a lanky and unimpressive stature. It’s not that he’s unattractive. He’s just not—Stop it, Natalie.I need to stop comparing every guy I seeto him.
Both Roman and his friend turn to face me, and embarrassment heats my cheeks. Here we go. It’s pretty easy to notice if someone will regret being set up the instant they see you. Their mouth might hang open in shock or pity. Their brows might furrow or raise high on their face. A quick peek in my direction followed by incessant phone tapping, presumably a barrage of SOS texts to get them the hell out of there. I’ve seen it all.
This man doesn’t, however. He smirks at me, his dark chestnut eyes fixed. His hair is short on the sides, evenly matching the color of his eyes, which are nice but …Stop it.I know what I’m doing, and right now, I’m making a mental list of all the ways to compare him to Nikolai. He’s handsome, sure. Well dressed. But there’s something about him at first glance. Maybe I’m nervous, or maybe it’s because he’snotNik.
I approach them cautiously, doing my best to keep the dress from rolling up my thighs. Spend a night alone in my apartment panicking at every single noise I hear? Sit in a bar fullof witnesses in case some creature decides to come out of the shadows and make me its next meal.Tough decision.
“Hi,” I manage weakly. Meeting new people, men in particular, has never been my forte. This sport is usually reserved for Courtney and her unmatched ability to gain the attention of any room she walks into. Me, well, I’m more thesit on the outside and observekind of person. The ying to Courtney’s popular yang.
“Natalie,” she says and swirls her hands around him like he’s a new car ready for a test drive. “This is Landon. He works at Roman’s firm.”
Landon extends his hand to me and grins sheepishly. “Nice to meet you, Natalie. Courtney wasn’t lying. You are very pretty.”