Chapter 111 Our game
Lila POV
“You will not leave my side, not for a second and whatever you do, do not let anyone suspect that you might be pregnant. Do you understand?”
His voice was steady but firm, the kind of tone that left no room for argument. Nico rarely repeated himself, and when he spoke like this it meant he expected complete obedience.
I agreed without hesitation. “Yes.”
“I’m serious, Lila.” His eyes hardened slightly as he studied my face. “Give me one ounce of grief by defying me and I will haul your ass back here so fast you’ll have vertigo for a month.”
“I won’t,” I said quickly. “I promise.”
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair, the tension obviously in his shoulders didn’t ease though because he wasn’t happy, I knew that but honestly, I didn’t even care.
All I cared about was having just a few hours of freedom. A few hours where the world didn’t feel so small, where the walls of this house didn’t feel like they were closing in around me.
I wanted to see the city again and I needed city lights and the buzz of life around me. I wanted the distant sound of traffic and the hum of engines passing by. I wanted to hear laughter echoing from crowded sidewalks and see strangers rushing through the streets, living their lives without fear or careful planning.
Just for a few hours, I wanted to feel normal.
Nico pulled out his phone and tapped the speed dial without another word.
“I need you to double the security at The club,” he said the moment the call connected and his voice shifted into something colder, sharper. “Make sure the VIP lounge is clear before we arrive.”
He began pacing slowly across the room.
“Have men waiting by the back entrance, and scout the entire block. I want eyes everywhere. If you see anything that looks remotely suspicious, you call me right away.”
There was a brief pause before he added quietly,
“And please don’t fuck up.”
He ended the call and slipped the phone back into the pocket of his suit jacket.
“I’m not happy about this,” he said, turning back toward me. “Just so you know.”
His eyes were dark with annoyance, and he didn’t even try to hide it but despite his disapproval, he was still giving me what I wanted and that meant more than he probably realized. “Thank you,” I said softly.
I stepped closer and rose onto my toes, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. The familiar scent of amber and peppermint drifted around him.
Once that scent had filled me with fear but now it soothed me and it calmed me in a way nothing else could.
His hand slid around my waist and he pulled me closer until my body pressed lightly against his chest.
“You’ve got a lot of appreciation to show once we get home,” he murmured.I smiled.
“Yes, master.”
His reaction was immediate.
His closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath, as if the word alone affected him more than anything else and I loved that.
I might be his queen in public, the woman who stood beside him with quiet authority but he preferred something very different when we were alone.
He preferred me beneath him, at his mercy and if I was honest with myself…
So did I.
We both went upstairs to our bedroom to get ready.
After my shower, I stepped out of the bathroom with damp hair clinging to my shoulders. Nico was already waiting by the closet, of course he was.
He leaned casually against the doorframe, holding a black sleeveless cocktail dress in one hand. I tossed the towel onto the bed and placed my hands on my hips.
“I want to choose my own dress.”
“No.”
The refusal came instantly and my eyes narrowed, my lips pressing together.
“My appreciation will double if you let me choose my own dress,” I said slowly, giving him a suggestive look.
He raised a brow, studying me carefully.
For a moment he looked like he was debating whether the offer was worth it. Finally he sighed.
“Fine.”
He placed the dress back inside the closet.
A small smile formed on my lips as I walked toward him slowly, enjoying the way his gaze traveled over my naked body. His eyes moved deliberately, taking their time as if he was memorizing every inch.
At first, I had hated that look.
It had made me feel exposed, almost ashamed not because of him but because of me.
Because I had liked it too much but now things were different.
Now his gaze made me feel powerful and desired. Knowing that a man like him wanted me so completely stirred something confident inside me.
I brushed past him and stepped into the wardrobe.
While pretending to search through the dresses, I moved my hips slowly from side to side, making sure he had a perfect view.
“You’re a tease,” he said behind me. I smiled faintly. “Am I?”
His voice lowered. “Do you know what I do to a tease?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “No. But do tell.”
The sharp crack echoed through the room before I even saw him move.
His palm landed firmly against my bare backside, sending a sudden sting across my skin.
A soft moan escaped my lips before I could stop it. The heat spread quickly where his hand had struck, leaving my skin burning.
He leaned closer behind me, his voice low near my ear. “I punish her.”
His palm lingered against my skin for a moment longer, warm and heavy over the spot he had just struck, the burn only made my body react more.
A slow wave of heat spread through me, pooling low in my stomach and for a brief second I almost expected another strike, my body tensing slightly in anticipation but instead he stepped back.
I inhaled slowly, trying to steady myself.
From the sting alone I knew there was probably a bright red handprint forming on my skin, marked by him.
I reached into the wardrobe and grabbed a dress before turning around. “I choose this one.”
He looked at the dress then he looked at me, completely unimpressed. “Funny.”
I gave him a sly grin because the dress in my hands was the exact same one he had chosen earlier.
The black sleeveless cocktail dress and I tilted my head slightly, unable to hide my smile.
I was starting to love this game.