Page 15 of Sweet as Sin (Bad Habit 1)
“Actually it does. My face is flushed because these lights are hot, and my heart’s pounding because I’m nervous as hell. I’ve never been on camera before. It has nothing to do with you.”
There was a long pause as he studied my face. “You lie for shit, woman. It has everything to do with me. You know it. I know it.” His voice dropped. “And my hard cock sure as fuck knows it, too.”
I laughed to cover my shock. No one had ever spoken to me the way he did. I couldn’t believe the nerve of this man.
I couldn’t believe how much I liked it.
This was all incredibly flattering, but I had to put a stop to this before it went too far. I wasn’t going to be another notch on this arrogant rock star’s bedpost.
“Well that explains a lot.” My tone was withering.
His eyes narrowed. “Meanin’?”
“Meaning I know which of your heads is making all the decisions. Because I’m sure your brain would be reminding you right about now that you have a girlfriend.”
I looked directly into his eyes so he would see that I meant business. I wasn’t just another groupie or roadie or whatever those girls who threw themselves at rock stars were called. I had self-respect.
Battered though it might be, I still had it.
But Nico surprised me. He didn’t flinch at my words. He didn’t look one bit ashamed, as I’d hoped he would. He just stared right back at me with that intensity. His eyes were shadowed now, their color shifting like quicksilver with the light.
“Avery isn’t my girlfriend.”
Unbelievable. He thought I was an idiot.
“Oh really? You
might want to tell Avery that. I’m no language expert, but I’m pretty sure ‘mi amor’ doesn’t mean ‘good buddy.’ Besides, you already told me she was your girlfriend!”
“Said she was my girl, not my girlfriend.”
What a load of bullshit. I turned away. “That’s a pretty fine point of distinction. I’m sure my ex used the exact same line on one of the many chicks he screwed behind my back.”
Nico took my chin in his hand, and turned my face to his. His eyes were flinty, his fingers on my jaw were firm.
“One thing you should know about me, Kat. I’m no angel. I’ve been runnin’ wild since I was seventeen. But I’m not a fuckin’ liar. I don’t tell a woman she’s mine and then mess around behind her back. If Avery and I were together, I wouldn’t lay a finger on you. I wouldn’t even flirt with you, no matter how bad I wanted you.” His gaze dropped to my lips. His voice grew husky. “No matter how much I want that beautiful mouth all over my body. Suckin’ me off. Screamin’ my name when I’m buried balls deep inside you.”
I lay there gaping, my mind blank. A flush of heat pulsed between my legs. His gaze came back to mine and that pulse of heat expanded to encompass both of us. Scorching. Intoxicating.
Wrong.
Whatever this madness was, I had to put a stop to it.
I tried to pull away, but he pinned me to his side. “Nico,” I protested.
He shook his head, all hard eyes and hard jaw and hotness. “Not lettin’ you run away just ’cause you’re scared, darlin’. Not how it works when you’re with me.”
“I’m not with you!” It came out as a hiss. If it wouldn’t have ended up splashed across all the tabloids, I would have slapped him across the face, he was so infuriating.
“Not yet.” His voice was dark with promise. He sounded utterly certain, like it was a foregone conclusion that I would be his.
I would not be a foregone conclusion.
“Please help me up.”
My tone was cold. Judging by the look on his face, Nico didn’t like it.
“Kat—”
