Page 100 of Strictly Business

I exhale slowly, letting my body adjust, but then I feel Nicholas pull back. His hands trail back up my sides, pulling me into him.

He presses a soft kiss to my back, before stepping away. Without a word, he heads toward his closet. “Get dressed,” he says, like he didn’t just shove a plug in my ass.

I blink, turning my head to look at him over my shoulder. “What?”

“You heard me.” He shoots me a grin as he shrugs on his suit jacket.

I blink again, wondering if I heard him wrong. “With this inside of me?” I shake my head, flustered. “I can’t—” I groan as I stand up straight, the pressure inside me intense, every small movement sending a ripple of pleasure through me.

“You’ll get used to it.” His hands cup my face as his lips find mine. “I promise.”

My body twitches involuntarily, and he chuckles, the sound dark and full of amusement.

“Or maybe not,” he corrects, a smirk curling his lips. “But I think you’ll enjoy it either way.”

Chapter thirty-four

Nicholas

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Since the moment we stepped into this limo, I’ve looked at no one and nothing but the girl sitting beside me. I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from her, memorizing the shape of her lips, the color of her eyes, every single part of her.

My heart thuds against my chest again.Fuck. I need to call my doctor because this can’t be normal. It shouldn’t beat out of my chest every time I look at her. Has the stress of this merger finally caught up with me and is now taking a toll on my body?

I push the thought aside, focusing on Amara. She has no idea where we’re going and what she’s in for, and the thought makes me that much more excited.

My eyes drop to her figure, lingering on her dress, which is a big problem. A slinky, black number that hugs her in ways that make my mouth dry. The neckline dips just enough to cause the perfect torture.

Amara doesn’t realize the kind of power she holds, and I don’t know whether to be frustrated or grateful. She’s looking out the window, distracted, while I’m fighting every instinct to pull her into my lap.

I’ve never had an issue with control. It’s the cornerstone of everything I am—my business, my reputation. But Amara wrecks it all.

The car slows, and I reach for a small black mask, realizing we’re almost there.

Her eyes land on the black mask in my hand, her full lips parting. “What’s that?”

A smirk tugs at my lips. “Do you trust me?”

Her brows furrow slightly before she nods. “Of course.”

Of course. She says it so easily, so earnestly. I adore how effortlessly she hands her trust over to me.

Leaning closer, I slip the mask over her head, tying it up in the back. My fingers brush against her neck, and she shivers as I pull away to look at her.

“You look so beautiful, honey,” I murmur, taking in her full cheeks, plump red lips and green eyes visible underneath the lace mask, just enough to hide her identity without covering her features.

She lifts a hand absentmindedly, and feels the mask under her fingers, her eyes widening when I pull out a simpler black mask for myself.

The car comes to a stop as I slide on my mask, climb out of the car, and adjust my jacket before circling to her side. I open the car door and offer my hand, which she takes immediately.

And when she steps out, I stop breathing.

Christ, that dress was torture when she was in the car, but now that she’s here, right in front of her, the fabric clinging to her curves and her heels making her legs look endless, my self-restraint is hanging on a very thin thread.

“Are you ready to go in?”

Her cheeks flush as she nods, and I slide my hand over hers, leading her to the door.