Chapter 58 Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Nikolai's POV
The office air hung heavy, thick with the scent of aged leather from the books and the sharp tang of spilled vodka.
The low lamp cast long shadows across the shelves, turning the room into a cave of secrets. Nina sat on the nook by the window, her blanket pulled tight around her like a shield, but her eyes burned with that defiant spark.
The kind that made the beast in me stir, hungry and restless. I sipped the wine, letting the bitter red coat my tongue, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass in slow, deliberate circles. Each pass was a reminder of control. Of holding back the darkness that wanted to consume her.
She looked at me, her voice soft but edged. "Can I have some?"
I smirked, the expression feeling like a mask over the storm inside. "Too hard for you."
She scoffed, her chest rising with the breath, the wet nightie clinging to her skin in ways that tested me. "After everything that happened, nothing is too hard for me after the last month of my life." Her words hung there, a challenge. The beast clawed at its chains, urging me to show her just how hard things could get.
I looked deep into her eyes, seeing the flicker of uncertainty beneath the fire. "Come get it."
She stood, the blanket shifting slightly, revealing the curve of her shoulder. Her feet moved slow across the rug, each step a test of my restraint. The beast whispered to grab her, pin her to the floor, feel her body yield under mine.
But I stayed seated, grip tight on the glass. Then the blanket tangled around her legs. She tripped, falling forward into me. Her body crashed against mine, soft curves pressing into my chest. The wine glass tipped, red liquid splashing across my shirt, soaking through to my skin.
Warm and sticky. I caught her with one arm, the other still holding the glass. Pain flared in my shoulder from the wound, but it was nothing compared to the heat of her against me. I looked at her, amusement masking the hunger. "Want to lick it off my body?"
She stared at my chest, the wine staining the fabric, making it stick to the lines of muscle. Her hands shook as she reached up, fingers fumbling with the buttons. She unbuttoned slow, one by one, the fabric parting like a wound opening.
Her breath came shallow, warm against my skin. When the shirt fell open, she gasped. The scar across my chest—jagged, old, a reminder of the beast I was.
I looked into her eyes, the darkness rising. "It’s okay to run. I’m a beast." The words were a warning, the beast hoping she would stay, hoping to test the limits.
She swallowed, her throat moving, but she did not run. Her fingers continued lower, unbuttoning all the way down. The shirt hung open. Her tongue touched my biceps, licking the wine slow.
The sensation was fire—wet, warm, her breath ghosting over my skin. I moaned low, the sound escaping before I could stop it. My hands gripped her arms, tight enough to feel her pulse race under my thumbs.
The beast wanted to flip her, spread her legs, lick her until she begged. But I held back, the pain in my shoulder a anchor. Her lips trailed down, licking, tasting the wine mixed with my sweat.
Salt and bitter. Lower. Close to my crotch. My cock hardened more, straining, the pressure building like a storm. I tensed. Winced from the wound. Grabbed her hands. "No no." The grunt was raw, pained.
She looked up. "Feels like you enjoyed it."
I looked at her. "We are both hurt. I don’t think you want to do this." Serious now. The beast fought, screaming to take her anyway. To ravish until she broke. But she was fragile. Bruised. I would not be the one to shatter her tonight.
"The scars?"
I took a gulp of vodka. The burn down my throat helped. Grounded me. "I used to be in the army. Marine. Shit happens." The memories flashed—blood, screams, the beast born in war.
"Want to talk about the shit?"
I nodded. "Maybe not today." The darkness was too close. Talking would let it out.
She looked at me. "Uhhh you are so serious and boring." She pointed to a book on the shelf. "What’s that?"
I turned to look. My attention off her for a second. She snatched the bottle fast. Took a long gulp. Half way down. Ignoring the burn. I turned back. Took it away. "You little feisty thing." Amusement in my eyes.
But the beast saw opportunity. Her lips wet from the vodka. Swollen from the lick. I wanted to taste.
She grinned. Hand slipped into my pocket. Pulled out the cigars. Started running. Giggling. Blanket trailing. I was fast. Even with the hurt hand. Caught her.
Arms around her waist. Pulling her back. But the pain flared. Winced. Let go a little. She twisted free. Went for the vodka. I used my legs to trap her. Thigh between hers. Holding close. She wiggled. Body pressing against mine. Soft curves against hard muscle. I chuckled. Deep. Vibrating. The beast liked the friction. Her heat against my thigh.
"No way. I’m getting my way tonight." Giggling. She bit my shoulder lightly. Tickled my sides. I was strong. Even with one hand. Grabbed her wrists. Pinned them.
We played. Fought fake. Breathing hard. Rolling on the rug. Her blanket fell away. On the wooden floor. My body on top of hers. Heavy. Good. The beast pressed down. Wanted to grind. Feel her yield. Hands knocked the vodka.
It poured on her see through nightie. Soaking the fabric. Sticking to her skin. I swallowed. Looked at her. Smirked. The material turned transparent. Her nipples hard. Pink. Begging.
Lips came to her neck. Licking the vodka gentle. Tongue warm. Sucking lightly. She arched. Reacted. Heat spreading.
The beast tasted her pulse. Fast. Throbbing. Moved to her chest. Licking the wet fabric. Mouth found nipple. Sucked through material. She gasped. Moaned loud.
The sound fueled me. The beast wanted to bite. Mark. Claim. I sucked harder. Teeth grazing.
Pleasure building in her. Moans filled the room. Loud and needy. Her body trembled under me. The beast pushed for more. To rip the nightie. Spread her. Fuck her raw.
Feel her clench around me. But I fought. Restraint cost me. Pain in my shoulder burned. Reminded me. She was drunk. Hurt. Not like this.
She held me. Moaned loudly.
I pulled back. Breath heavy. Looked at her. Voice rough. “Do you want me to kiss you?”