Chapter 83 Fainting
Nico POV
She stared at me with her blue eyes, and the brilliance that used to sparkle within those irises were back. “How?” she whispered softly.
I stopped right in front of her, my gaze never leaving hers. “Because I was there. I had that same need inside me once.”
Her eyes searched mine, her mouth parted slightly. “Nikolai. You needed revenge for Nikolai death.”
I didn’t reply. I didn’t have to. The answer was already there, filling the space between us like thick smoke.
She slanted her head to the side, her beautiful streaks of golden hair falling around her shoulder. “You needed revenge for your brother’s death, and that’s why you had me kidnapped. That’s why you plotted against my family because it was the only way you could break through the wall of grief. Grief that had the power to destroy you.”
There was no judgement in her eyes while she spoke every word, no hostility or hatred as she figured out the motive behind the decisions I made in the past. The way she looked at me was as if she finally understood, as if my reason for wanting to ruin her life no longer seemed cruel to her.
She stepped closer, her sweet scent surrounding me, aggravating my already greedy cock.
“But something changed and something happened, and it had the power to break through that wall you had without killing me.” Her soft palm came up to my cheek. “What changed, Nivo? What was it that made you think I was worth more to your sanity alive than dead?”
For the first time in my life, I felt the ugliness of self-doubt. For the first time, my chest felt so damn tight that I could hardly take a decent breath. Within a split second, my confidence had forsaken me, making me feel naked and exposed. I despised the feeling. I hated it. The tidal wave of vulnerability that crashed against my being made me feel weak. She made me feel weak. Why? Because of the words that demanded to be spoken.
I placed my hand over hers, squeezing it tight. “Because, Lila. I realized killing you won’t save me but loving you will.”
The second those words left my heart and spilled out of my mouth, the veil that had been the last obstacle between us, that kept us both from realizing our souls were meant to be one, tore in half. It was like a weight had been lifted, and the confusion I had felt ever since Lila came crashing into my life was gone and by the way she stared at me with her tender gaze, caressing my skin, I knew she felt the same.
I pulled her against me and kissed her like I’d never kissed her before. Everything I felt right then had me overcome with so many emotions, my heart wanted to explode was I in love with her?
Of course you are, dumb ass. You just said it out loud. The soft whimpers she made as our tongues danced together in one rush of need made my chest ache as I longed for her in a way I’d never longed for any other woman. Her body was no longer the one thing I desired the most I wanted all of her, and I wanted it for the rest of my fucking life.
I moaned in protest as she pulled her lips from mine. I wasn’t done. I wanted more…so much more…and I wanted it now.
“Nico.”
“Shhh, little pet. Let me have you.” I tried to pull her closer, but she pressed her hands against my chest.
“nico, I’m not feeling too good.”
“It’s just the shock, baby.” I leaned down, wanting to feel her lips against mine. “Let me make you feel good.”
Her hands were still on my chest, and she jerked her head to side. “nico, stop. Something’s wrong.”
Her voice sounded shaky, and I grabbed her face in my hands. She was as pale as a ghost.
“lila, what’s wrong?”
“I…I don’t”
Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and then her entire body went limp. I wrapped my arms around her and carried her over to the bed.
“lila! Lila, wake up! Jesus.”
Fuck!
I ran to the bedroom door and swung it open. “Someone call Doc, now!”
Lila POV
The sound of faraway voices started to slowly drag me back to reality. “What’s wrong with her, Doc?”
“I’m not sure but her vitals seem fine. It might be stress.”
“Stress?”
“She’s been through a hell of an ordeal, Nico. It was only a matter of time for her brain to call for a time-out.”
“Time-out? Is that what you call just collapsing without any apparent reason? A time-fucking-out?”
“nico , try to relax. Everything seems fine. She just needs to rest.”
The door closed, and I finally managed to open my eyes. “nico?”
“lila.”
I felt his warm hand cover mine, and it instantly comforted me, knowing he was there at my side. “How are you feeling?”
How was I feeling? I wasn’t sure. “What happened?”
He sat down on the bed next to me. “You fainted.”
“Fainted?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
I glanced up at the roof, my mind jumping around, trying to grab hold of a memory.
“Um…I remember breakfast.” and aknife against my throat.
“What else?”
I closed my eyes. “Doc.”
I opened my eyes and looked at him. He stared at me wide eyed as words softly hummed through my mind. “Killing you won’t save me…but loving you will.”
Did he really say that? Did he tell me he loved me? Surely that couldn’t be true. I knew there was some sort of connection between us, but love? How could what started out as a sick, twisted vendetta turn into something as sacred and innocent as love? It wasn’t possible. I must have dreamed hearing those words come out of his mouth.
He placed his hand on my shoulder before pulling his fingers through my hair. “What happened when you fainted?”
“I’m not sure. I remember feeling dizzy, sick to my stomach, and then…nothing.”
“Doc reckons it’s stress, exhaustion. I don’t know what fucking else.”
There was a clear tone of worry in his voice, and the way his eyes searched every part of my face was as if he was trying to convince himself I was fine.
I took his hand as it reached the ends of my hair. “I’m fine, Nikolai. I’m sure Doc is right. I just need some rest.”