Chapter 30 Kiss of a Storm

Chapter 30 Kiss of a Storm
~Liora~

I felt genuine fear. My hands shook seeing Nikolai collapse in front of me like that. Lifeless… or at least, that’s how it felt. He wasn’t gone, not entirely, but he looked fragile, human. 

With the help of the waiters and bystanders, we managed to get him to the hospital. The relief that he was still alive was like a punch to my chest. I hadn’t realized how much the thought of losing him had settled into em.

I must have fallen asleep from the tension, because the next time I open my eyes, his face is inches from mine.

“Nikolai,” I breathe sharply, pushing myself up. My eyes can’t hide the worry. “Are you… okay?”

He nods slowly, but his eyes are weak. 
“Yes… Wife,” he murmurs.

I don’t believe him. He fell so suddenly. Even now, his body looks fragile, his gaze faint.

“You’re sick, aren’t you?” I ask, unable to keep it in. I need to know.

For a heartbeat, something flashes across his face. Hurt? Surprise? My heart sinks. Did I say the wrong thing? 

Then the expression shifts, replaced by that infuriating, amused curve of his lips

“It’s good to see how worried you are for me,” he drawls softly. “And you say you feel nothing for me?”

There he goes again, back to the annoying, smug remarks. Just last night he scared the life out of me, and now he’s taunting me.

“I still feel nothing,” I mutter firmly, crossing my arms over my chest. That earns a full, teasing smile from him. Of course it does.

I’m still shaken by how I reacted. When he fell, my heart practically leapt out of my body. And now, looking at him awake and breathing, I feel relief wash through me again.

He doesn’t reply to me. Instead, he just watches medeeply. His eyes lock onto mine and refuse to look away.

Just then, a foolish thought slips in
What if… he really does love me the way he claims?

I shake my head internally almost immediately. I can’t think like that. He’s the villain in my story. The man who ripped me away from my fiancé’s arms. The man who keeps forcing his will onto my life.

I should hate him. I still do… just not with the same burning certainty as before. Maybe I’ve grown a little too used to him. Maybe spending this much time with him is ruining my sense of direction. He’s not helping either, always pulling closer, always invading my space, even my thoughts. Just like he’s doing now, staring at me as if he can read mt soul.

But it’s fine. When I see Adrian again, everything will settle into place. Whatever strange effect Nikolai has on me, it’ll vanish. I know it will. Because I love Adrian. My feelings for him didn’t die just because Nikolai appeared… and they won’t die now.

All of a sudden, he inches closer and I frown.
What…?

My eyes widen. He’s so close I can feel the faint brush of his breath against my cheek. He’s a breath away, maybe less.

“What are you—” The words break apart on my tongue. My heartbeat is out of control, pounding loudly. “Shift back. Don’t—”

But he doesn’t shift back.
He doesn’t even flinch.

His eyes drop from mine and land on my lips. The moment his gaze settles there, heat rushes to my face. Why… why would he stare at me like that?

His expression darkens hungrily, and before I can even process what that means, his mouth crashes onto mine.

It’s immediate. Fierce.

The whole world stops. Every thought, every sound, every piece of logic evaporates. My breath catches in my throat and for a moment, it feels like he’s stolen the ability to think entirely.

His hand cups my jaw, pulling me closer like I belong there. Like he’s been starving for this. For me.

I jerk back, trying to twist out of his hold. Why would he kiss me? Why now? Why like that?
Thankfully, his grip isn’t tight, almost as if he’s giving me the choice to pull away. And I do. I finally tear myself free.

The second my skin is no longer trapped beneath his touch, something snaps inside me. My hand rises and I strike him. Hard.

We both freeze.

My breath rushes out in shallow bursts, my palm still tingling from the hit.

Oh God. What did I just do?

I slapped him. I actually slapped him. My heart is ramming violently against my ribs as the reality of it settles in.

He doesn’t lash out. He doesn’t even flinch. Instead, his lips curl slowly, like I’ve just done something… amusing. Something he expected.
He shifts a little, and my heart lurches, terrified I might have hurt him. But he only keeps his eyes locked on mine, studying me with that steady gaze.

He’s not… angry?
How? Why? I struck him.

But he kissed me first. He kissed me without warning. Without my permission.

My skin still tingles where his hand held my jaw, and the ghost of his mouth still lingers on mine.

My brows draw together, my face folding into a frown I can’t stop.
How can he look this unbothered? How can he look… pleased?

“You… you’re not upset?” My voice comes out small. I hate that it trembles. I hate that he might hear the fear. Or the confusion. Or whatever mess is happening inside me.
He tilts his head slightly.

“I hit you,” I add. Almost like I’m reminding him and myself of what just happened.

He blinks once.
And then he finally speaks.

“You could hit me a hundred times,” he whispers, voice soft, “and I’d still choose you… every single time.”

My stomach turns cold 
Oh God.

“And the sick part, little bride?” he leans in, lips brushing my ear.
“I’m starting to think I like it when you try to hurt me.”

For a second, everything in me goes still. I just blink at him, unable to process how someone can look so calm while being so completely unhinged.

“What… why—” The words fail me. I inhale slowly. “Don’t kiss me like that again. I wasn’t comfortable.”

“You agreed to the clause,” he reminds me, tilting his head like he’s genuinely curious. “Backing out already?”

“I’m not backing out.” My voice is tight. “I just… I would’ve preferred if you said something. Before doing anything like that.”

“Is that right?” His eyes glint. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He leans back slightly but doesn’t look away. “Liora.”

Every hair on my body rises at the way he says my name. “Hm?” I breathe, my heart hammering at what he might say next.

“Enjoy me while you can,” he murmurs, voice low. “I’m a storm, Liora… and storms never last.”

My lips part slightly, a shiver running down my spine. What… what does he mean by that?