Page 15 of Influence

My emotions roiled like a storm at sea, and my body wrestled with the desire and arousal that Niko seemed to ignite, alongside the anxiety of my ignorance churning in my belly.

No, I was stronger than my doubts and insecurities. I wouldn’t waver in my commitment to my family because of them.

We had come too far for me to let this moment crumble into weakness. I suppressed the torrent of my inner turmoil, allowing a small, defiant voice of confidence to rise above the clamor, shouting over my anxiety until it silenced every lingering doubt.

I wasn’t going to let my carefully crafted mask fall.

Fuck that.

I squared my shoulders, lifted my chin, and nodded, masking my trembling nerves. “I guarantee you, I’m fully ready for this entire experience, Niko,” I stated with a surety I didn’t truly possess.

Whether he believed me or not, I wasn’t sure. He gave no indication either way.

Though it seemed that the false bravado blared at us like a neon sign etched on my forehead.

“Excellent,” he replied with a firm nod. “As long as we’re clear.”

His piercing gaze shifted from my eyes to my lips, making them tingle from sheer anticipation.

“We’re clear,” I said, desire a throbbing ache growing deep in my belly.

“I’ll be honored to have a wife like you,” he murmured.

How was I expected to respond to that?

Was he always this open, this admiring, this direct? Would I ever get used to it?

“Thank you,” I mumbled, unable to tear my gaze away from his burning dark eyes.

“May I kiss you, Laya? I’ve been staring at your beautiful lips since you arrived.”

My God, the sheer directness of his request startled and thrilled me. There was no beating around the bush with him.

It both unsettled and intoxicated me in a way that sent shivers racing through my veins.

“Yes, I’d like that,” I managed to say barely through a whisper.

His eyes darkened with fierce intensity, as if I’d awakened a feral creature, he said, “I was hoping you’d say that.”

As he leaned toward me, his movements deliberately slow and measured, I felt a surge of anticipation so powerful that it threatened to overwhelm me.

The heat radiating from his body mingled with the growing storm in his eyes, deepening with each inch that closed the gap between us. When his lips finally brushed against mine, the tender caress took my breath away.

I braced myself for a strong, assertive kiss, but instead, I encountered a sweetness that was so patient and tender it felt unreal.

My stomach flipped with excitement, and I found myself breathless, caught in a swirl of surprise and desire.

That light, airy sensation made me crave more, my lips silently begging for another taste.

A brief pause hung in the air. He withdrew, eyes glimmering with triumph that contrasted with the deep, unrelenting craving spiraling within me. I barely opened my mouth, yearning in silence for his touch once more.

He traced my lower lip with his thumb, a sultry grin creeping across his features. “There will be more when you’re truly mine, Laya,” he said, his voice laced with an enticing promise.

His thumb lingered a moment longer before it disappeared too quickly, leaving me to stifle a whimper, the emptiness amplifying my desire.

Before I could fully recover, he took my hand and pulled me along, guiding me across the terrace as if nothing had disturbed the serenity of our evening. As he led me through the property, itfelt as though he was casually threading our fate together. All the while, my mind wandered in a blissful fog of burning desire and sweet trepidation.

Four

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