Page 41 of Nikolai

Stopping next to his bike, Nikolai plants me on my feet. "Twenty-four hours," he grits, getting in my face. "I gave you twenty-four hours to work through the shit in your head and come to me. You didn't. Instead, you spent those twenty-four hours sitting here, stewing on bullshit instead of letting me explain what went down the other day at my house."

"Nikolai, I…" I go to say, but he cuts me off when his body pushes up against mine, backing me against his bike.

"Nope. You had your chance, Leah. You're so far inside your head you can't see what's been in front of you for an entire year."

All the air leaves my body at Nikolai's assessment, and I swallow.

"He fucked with your head your whole life, Leah," Nikolai says, ignoring the way my body jerks, and continues. I know he's referring to my father.

"That son of a bitch made you think so low of yourself that you can't even see what I have been laying out for you. But know this, after today, there will be not one ounce of doubt inside that gorgeous head of yours."

On that note, Nikolai straddles his bike then looks at me expectantly. "You can get your ass on the back of my bike on your own, or I'll put you there myself."

I don't think twice. I get on.

Pullingup in front of his house, Nikolai cuts the engine to his motorcycle and waits for me to climb off. When I do, I stand beside his bike and try to avoid the way his eyes are boring into mine. He doesn't speak, and neither do I. I can't help but wring my hands together in front of me as I think about what he said. There is some truth to his words. I also can't ignore the other facts that were front and center yesterday.

"Stop that, baby." Nikolai reaches over, covering my hands with his. The tone in his voice has gone from clipped to gentle. "No matter how pissed I get, I would never hurt you."

I swallow past the lump in my throat. "I... I know you wouldn't. I'm not scared of you, Nikolai. I just…" I sigh.

"You what? Tell me." He climbs off his bike.

"You're confusing me is all. I don't know what to make of what just happened back at the clubhouse. And whatever this is," I splay my hands out in front of me, "is overkill."

"What went down at the clubhouse was me showing my ass because my woman was showing her ass, and I'd had enough."

My heart skips a beat. "Your woman?" I whisper hiss.

"You sleep in my bed the other night?"

"Yes, but…"

"You let me taste your sweet lips that same night?"

My face heats. "Yes, but that…"

"That makes you mine."

Having enough of Nikolai cutting me off, I narrow my eyes and snap. "Your what, Nikolai? Your dirty secret you have on the side? What would your fiancé have to say about that?"

"Seeing that I do not have a fiancé, there is nothing to say." Nikolai's jaw ticks. "And had you let me explain that shit yesterday, you would know what that bitch said to you was a lie."

My next retort vanishes as Nikolai lays the truth out in black and white. I open and close my mouth, unable to string two words together.

"I see you're getting it now."

Shocked, I stay rooted in place. Nikolai takes a step in the direction of his house then stops as if he's waiting on me to follow.

"What, I get to walk this time?" The snarky comment rolls out of my mouth, shocking myself.

Nikolai's lip twitches. I squint and peer up at the amused look on his face. I don't like it. "I don't see anything funny about this situation, Nikolai. The past twenty-four hours have not been pleasant. I went from feeling happy for the first time in my life because I thought the man I had feelings for felt the same way, and in the blink of an eye, I had my heart ripped from my chest then stomped on by a pair of five-inch heels. I have been crushed, humiliated, and to top it off, I end up in a car accident to where I then spend an afternoon in the emergency room. Now, please tell me what part of all I just told you, do you find amusing?" By the time my mini-rant is over, Nikolai has dropped his smirk, and his body has gone rigid. He folds his body forward, getting in my space, one hand gripping the back of my neck, and the eyes I love so much pin me in place.

"Don't for one second think I get joy out of anything that causes you pain, Malyshka."

"Nikolai," I breathe, closing my eyes.

The grip on my neck tightens. Nikolai gently pulls me in closer, his hand still wrapped around the back of my neck. There is not one inch of space between our bodies and I suck in a sharp breath when my breasts press flush against the hard plains of his chest. "I'd sooner cut off my arm than to intentionally cause you pain, Leah. Yesterday, I fucked up. I was caught off guard by my mother showing up with Katya, but that's no excuse. I take full responsibility. Had I been there when you showed up on my doorstep, I…" he doesn't finish his sentence.

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