Page 35 of Touch Me Not: Anniversary Edition

He reached over and hovered a finger in front of her lips, not touching her, but she got the point. “Uh-uh,Milaya. If you want to know something about me, it’s going to cost you. A simple touch. That’s all. If you’re not ready, then you’re not ready, but that’s the price of asking me questions about myself.”

Bastard.

“Be pissed all you want, Lily, but those are the rules.”

“I thought you said we’d do this with patience.” He said one thing but did another. What the ever-loving hell?

“I’m being very patient, Lily.” His gaze swung her way, and she stopped breathing. She could see the blind lust in his eyes. “Your version of patience and mine are two entirely different things. If I did what I wanted, I’d stop the car and take you right here, right now, but I’m not doing that, am I? Instead, I’m giving you options.”

“Options?” she nearly choked out. “I don’t call those options. More like hostage negotiations.”

He laughed. “Hostage negotiations? Well, now,milka, I think I can do that if you’d prefer. It’s just as easy to tie you up and touch you. I’d like it too.”

“I don’t even know what to say to that,” she squeaked.

His grin was downright evil. “When we do that,Milaya, talking will be the last thing on your mind.”

“You think I’d let you tie me up?” She gave him an are-you-out-of-your-mind look.

“Yes, Lily,” he said, turning his attention back to the road. “You are going to let me do just that. Not yet, but soon enough.”

“You’re insane if you think I’d ever agree to that.”

“We’ll see.” He smiled. “Are you hungry yet? It’s almost noon, and we still have another hour to go before we get to Windham.”

She was hungry, and her stomach rumbled at the mention of food. Nikoli grinned at her reaction to the mention of food and pulled into a diner of some sort a few minutes later. She hadn’t even realized they were in a town. “Where are we?”

“We’re in Norwalk. At least that’s what the GPS said. Weren’t you paying attention to it?”

He could ask her that after his nonsense in the car? She shook her head but followed the waitress to a booth in the back. It was a charming little place, seaside themed, but then again, they were near the coast. The waitress took their drink orders and left them to look at the menu.

“What are you frowning at?” Nikoli asked. She’d been glaring at the menu for the last few minutes.

“Do you think they have fresh fish or frozen?”

“We’re in Massachusetts, Lily. They have fresh fish.”

“Ohmygosh, don’t you ever watchKitchen NightmaresorRestaurant Impossible?”

“Uh, no?”

Her eyes widened. “They’re shows that tell you what really goes on behind the scenes in a restaurant. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen…”

“Is that why you asked for no ice?” Nikoli grinned. She looked appalled he’d never seen the shows.

“Yes! Do you know how many places don’t clean their ice machines? Have you ever seen what the bacteria that grows looks like when they don’t?”

“Nope, not a clue.” Nikoli shifted, bringing his right foot up to sit beside her left leg on the seat.

“What are you doing?” she asked, but before she could scoot, he moved his other foot, trapping her. He didn’t touch her, but he refused to let her move away from him.

“Stretching my legs,” he said. “Three hours of driving, and they need it.”

“Well, then, go take a walk or something, but move your feet.”

“No.”

“No?” she asked incredulously, and he chuckled. “This is not funny, Nikoli.”

---