Page 51 of Wicked Tricks

Mindlessly, my fingers traced my shoulder where his bite mark stayed as evidence of what had happened. I hid away in my office, not wanting to face anyone, and waited for the time to pass and the club to empty completely.

At about midday, when I knew I was safe, I made my way to the shared kitchen to make myself a coffee. Grunting at the mess the girls had left from the night before, I threw a random platinum hair extension onto the lounge behind me. I leaned against the counter as the water heated and bubbled, tapping my fingers on the bench.

Noticing the vase next to the microwave, I couldn’t fight the grin that came upon my face. I thought about the mess that he and I had left in the apartment, and felt the blood rush to my cheeks.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, this guy.

On one hand - I couldn’t stand him. But at the same time, I wanted him around.

I thought about how he would’ve reacted when he woke up this morning, and the guilt felt heavy in my stomach.

Like a coward, I ran away.

For a moment, I almost felt bad for him. I shook the thought from my mind, but couldn’t stop myself from wondering what he was thinking.

Could he actually be trusted?

I scoffed to myself, of course he couldn’t. The first man that I even considered handing my trust to, was probably the absolute worst I could have picked. A mob boss. One who I had already threatened. One who I was trying to fool for my own self preservation.

“Stupid,” I mumbled to myself.

Why had I opened up to him?

Why had I told him about my past?

Before him, it was such a heavily guarded secret that I had only ever shared with Bea. I didn’t know what came over me. Maybe it was guilt for how I had treated him. Maybe I was touched with how he had opened up to me.

I should have known better.

Vulnerability gets you into trouble, and this time, I just didn’t know what kind.

I heard footsteps and assumed it was Livie, and I turned around to see him standing there. His eyes were dark, but his expression was playful as he leant against the door frame.

“Antoni,” I gasped, nearly spilling my coffee everywhere.

“You left early,” he said, walking slowly towards me.

Watching him with caution, I subconsciously inched backwards and away from him. I felt my cheeks flush, and he smiled. It was obvious that he noticed and even liked the effect that he had on me, and it made me hate him even more.

I cleared my throat, looking anywhere but his face, “I did.”

“I hope you don’t mind,” he sighed, reaching out and touching my shoulder briefly, “but your roommate saw my cock.”

I inhaled my coffee and spluttered as I laughed.

He smiled down at me with a warm amusement in his eyes as I pulled myself together. I didn’t like how he always looked at me like he was entertained by me, like he was always waiting for me to do or say something funny.

I didn’t consider myself a funny person, but his presence seemed to make me do idiotic things that were worth laughing at. It was another reason I hated him so much. He was noticeably tired, his eyes heavy and his hair still looked dishevelled from the night before.

Antoni closed the gap between us, taking the mug out of my hands and setting it down on the counter. I looked up at him, noticing the playful glint to his eye that wasn’t there the night before.

I wanted him to take me again right now.

How did this man so easily make me disregard my better judgement? He slid his hand around my waist, pulling me close. I put my palm against his chest, pushing him back.

“I can’t,” I said.

“No one’s here,” he shrugged, “Angel is out the front.”

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