Page 60 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

Chapter Fourteen

Summer turned up at seven o’clock sharp.

“I wasn’t sure you would come,” Nik said as he let her into the hallway and took her bag from her.

“Your mother was most insistent. And I was…curious.”

She looked relaxed, almost happy. Whatever her “appointment” had been, it had obviously gone well.

“Did she send the dress?” she asked.

“Yes, and shoes and underwear.” His mother was nothing if not efficient. She had clearly taken a liking to Summer. Or maybe she was merely curious as well. As she’d said, he hadn’t introduced a woman to his family since Jocelyn, and he probably wouldn’t have now if his mother hadn’t walked in on them.

He’d peeked into the bag…and hadn’t been able to get the image of Summer in black lace underwear out of his head ever since. If tonight went as he planned, she’d come back with him after the party, and he’d get to see it for real. He wasn’t going to push anything yet, though. He was going to be good, because he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to back out.

He wasn’t even sure why she’d agreed in the first place. Maybe she was just curious, as she had said.

He led the way up the stairs to his room. Once inside, he shut the door behind him and then turned to her. He hadn’t intended to touch her now, but somehow, he couldn’t resist. He cupped her face in his hands, lowered his head, and kissed her. For a few seconds, she was stiff in his arms, but then she relaxed against him and her lips parted, allowing him entry. Her hands gripped his shoulders. Then one slid into the hair at the back of his neck and held him closer. By the time he raised his head, he was hard, and heat burned through his veins.

Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dazed.

“Trust me,” he said.

Her eyes widened, but she remained silent.

“I know you’re scared. I know I all but blackmailed you into working for me. And there’s no reason to trust me.”

“I’m not sure I know how.”

Her reaction wasn’t what he expected. But it also wasn’t a total rejection. Some of the tension went out of him, replaced by…hope? But for what? He still couldn’t get his mind to formulate what he actually wanted. Except, he wanted Summer. In his bed. Maybe in his life. And he realized she wasn’t the only one who was scared. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Come back with me later. After the party.”

A shy smile broke out, lighting her face. “Okay.”

“We’ll go meet my family as friends, and then later, we’ll see if perhaps there can be more between us.”

…

She was back at the Ritz.

And oh my God, what a party. Clearly no expense had been spared. Summer had frozen as they entered the huge double doors. They were in the ballroom. It was easily the biggest room she had ever been in. And it was so beautiful. Filled with flowers. And beautiful people, all sparkling and glittering.

She took a step backward, but Nik stopped her retreat with a hand at her waist.

“Have I told you how lovely you look?” he murmured into her ear.

The dress Nik’s mother—Elena, as she had told Summer to call her—had sent was so dark a purple, it was almost black. Summer had thought it nothing special, a tiny scrap of material unworthy of the word “dress.” Until she had put it on. It was silk, cut on the bias, and it clung to her every curve and made her glad she hadn’t put on too much weight since she had come out of prison.

Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and she wore only a little mascara. She looked almost stark in comparison with the bejeweled guests.

But she did look beautiful. And Nik had mentioned it. More than once. The hunger in his eyes when he’d first seen her was sufficient to know he meant what he said. He wanted her, and it had shimmered between them on the drive over here. On the walk from the car. She could see it in his dark eyes as he gazed down at her now, made her glad she’d made the effort.

All the same, she didn’t want to be here.

Why had she said yes to his mother?

Mostly curiosity, though tinged with a little desire to spend more time with Nik. An excuse, so maybe she wouldn’t seem so eager and give away too much of her feelings.

---