Page 98 of Fall into Savagery

I let out another sigh.

On the bright side, I was happy about Gabriel’s visit. He had been nothing but nice to me, and hopefully, with a guest, I wouldn’t be spending my days being handcuffed to Damien when he was home.

At least, I hoped not.

He had even done it in front of the boys, but if they found anything odd about that, they didn’t show it.

I was sure Nikolay had talked to them about it, though what he had said, I didn’t know.

Speaking of the Devil—

Nikolay came out of his room then, catching my eye.

He hadn’t seen me yet, as I was partially hidden in the corner in my seat on the barstool by the kitchen island, but I had a full view of him.

I hadn’t stepped foot into his room since I got back from Luca. Not when that was where I had been sliced and taken. But Nikolay spent his nights there when he wasn’t with me. He never brought me to his room, though. I always spent my night in Damien or Mikhail’s room.

That meant I hadn’t actually spent any nights alone with him.

I blinked and sat back, taking him in.

His green eyes were a little dull, and there was something quiet about him.

He still looked like my bomb, but … toned down, and I didn’t know why.

And I couldn’t believe I was thinking this, but I missed his threat to punish me whenever I did something he disapproved of.

He didn’t even threaten to spank me for sneaking out, nor did he ask me how I did it.

None of them asked me.

There was something … off about our dynamic right now.

His eyes found mine then, and though they brightened, they weren’t like before.

“Princess,” he said softly, coming closer to me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him to me.

“Hey,” he said softly. “What’s this?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. I just want to hold you. Is that wrong?”

He pulled away and looked at me with his inquisitive green eyes. He shook his head and smiled. “No, baby. Not wrong at all.”

He pulled me off the chair and into his arms then. The move was so sudden that I didn’t have time to do anything more than let out a small squeak of surprise, holding him close to me.

He carried me out of the kitchen and straight to the sofa, sitting down with me on his lap.

He leaned back and closed his eyes.

I poked him in the chest. “What are we doing?” I asked.

I would have thought he would take me somewhere to have his way with me, and a part of me—a big part of me— was disappointed that wasn’t happening.

“I thought … You know, I ….”

I trailed off when the corner of his lips lifted in a small smile.

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