'TIL DEATH DO US PART (Silent Demons Book 2)

by C. Luca

  The roommate’s going to be a problem.

  There’s always the possibility that she might overhear something she shouldn’t if she’s hanging around the apartment. One slip-up on Blakely’s part could spell trouble for me, but Blakely had made it very clear that Ava’s important to her.

  My fingers tighten around the glass.

  I’m acutely aware that I’m jealous that someone else has claimed her attention as well. This is the first time that I’m willing to acknowledge that I don’t want to share her.

  The trees outside are swaying from the cold winter wind, and I watch them with a scowl. What bothers me the most is that Blakely made it quite apparent that I have to go to her if I want her. She started this thing, and now she’s going to make me work for it. I’ve never had to pursue a woman before, and it stings my pride.

  I don’t want to give in and allow her to call the shots, but my dick’s protesting the idea of backing off just to prove she doesn’t have the upper hand.

  I’m frustrated, and yet at the same time, quite intrigued.

  ELEVEN

  Blakely

  The next night, I’m distracted as I work behind the bar.

  While I smile and fill drink orders, my mind is on Nikolai. It had been late last night when he’d left, and this morning, I’d been focused on my job at the distribution center. I haven’t had much chance to reach out to him through text, and I’m not sure I should.

  Ava is non-negotiable.

  If Nikolai wants to pursue this thing between us, he needs to accept that Ava is in my life, and we meet on my terms, not his.

  I grimace inwardly.

  There’s no doubt in my mind that Nikolai won’t easily give up control. It’s not like I want him at my beck and call.

  I like his…demanding ways.

  However, I want some say in how this plays out. It can’t just be about him and what he wants. If this becomes more than just sex, we need to find a balance so that we’re both equals.

  When I was his prisoner, I was determined not to become some sex toy that he played with when he was bored. Nothing’s changed now that I’m free. Sure, sex is great, but I won’t be used. I’m tired of men getting what they want from me, and then easily discarding me when they’re done. If this thing with Nikolai looks to be just sex and isn’t going to go anywhere, I’ll have to bail.

  That knowledge brings on another wince.

  Well, shit.

  Going into this, I didn’t know what I wanted, but now I think I do. I’m tired of casual sex. I’m tired of feeling worthless when a man’s interest goes no further than my body.

  I want more.

  Unfortunately, I don’t know if Nikolai is capable of more, but my gut insists I remain here in Chicago and find out.

  When my shift is over, Nikolai is still on my mind as I exit the club. The cold winter breeze greets me, but Nikolai is nowhere in sight. My heart sinks, and I’m immediately annoyed with myself as I begin walking to the nearby ‘L’ station.

  I need to stop looking for him everywhere I go. He’s made it abundantly clear that he likes to keep me unbalanced. Honestly, I can’t blame him considering I’ve kind of bulldozed my way back into his life.

  A few minutes later, with my purse tucked close to my body, I find a seat on the train and sit down. I’m tempted to pull out the phone Nikolai had given me to text message him during the short ride, but yet I don’t want to come across needy.

  Someone sits down beside me, and I immediately recognize his scent.

  I look up to find Nikolai sitting in the seat next to mine, his eyes focused on his phone as his fingers move across the screen. He’s wearing a different coat today, but still the usual black that he prefers.

  My purse vibrates on my lap.

  Hiding a pleased smile, I open my purse and pull out the phone. His message reads, Evening, Blakely.

  I look back at him to find him watching me with those intense gray eyes of his, waiting for my reply. “Why wait until now to approach me?” I ask curiously.

  His eyes drop to his phone, and I turn back to mine as I wait for his reply. I don’t like to do the expected.

  No kidding, I think to myself.

  The man is such an enigma, and I’m itching to peel back all his layers to see what he’s hiding. I look at him with firm eyes. “Ava is non-negotiable.”

  His lips tighten, and his fingers move across his phone’s screen. You trust her?

  “Yes,” I say without hesitation.

  At least I mostly trust her. If I fully trusted her, I would have used a little of the money I have saved at the bank to make life easier in the beginning when we’d first arrived in Chicago. However, I still find myself holding back with her. I don’t think she’d ever betray me, but I’m not one hundred percent certain. Because of who Nikolai is, I don’t dare confess any of this to him.

  Nikolai doesn’t look thrilled and sends me another text. How did you two meet?

  “I was bartending at a club she worked at.”

  His eyes remain on his phone as he sends his next question. Why is she rebuilding her life?

  I shake my head even though he isn’t looking at me. “That’s her story to tell, not mine.”

  His attention returns to me, and he nods in agreement, letting me know that he won’t press further about the topic.

  I’m curious about Jonah, so I ask, “What does Jonah think of this?”

  His eyes shift back to his phone as he types. I don’t care what he thinks.

  Interesting.

  My stop has arrived, so I slip my phone inside my purse as Nikolai and I rise to our feet to exit the car. We make our way down to the street level, and then begin the walk to my apartment building.

  Do I try inviting him up again? Last time, my intention was to continue our conversation, but now I know that if Nikolai gets me alone, sex is going to be involved.

  Butterflies flutter in my lower belly.

  I’m more than okay with sex.

  For now.

  When we reach the apartment building, I look up at him. “Ava’s probably not home yet, if you’d like to come up.”

  I don’t know what she does after the strip club closes, because on my nights off, sometimes she doesn’t come home right after her shift. This began last week, and I’m suspecting a man might be involved. I’m hoping I’m wrong. Ava needs to find herself again, not get wrapped up in a new man.

  My attention shifts back to the present when Nikolai motions for me to lead the way into the building. Excitement immediately rises, and I use my keycard to open the door and we walk to the elevator.

  Both of us are silent inside the elevator, but a thick sexual tension is wrapping around us. When I open the apartment door a moment later, the interior is dark.

  I grab Nikolai’s hand and lead him straight to my bedroom, firmly closing the door behind us and turning on the lamp on the floor.

  Nikolai begins to stalk me with a predatory gleam in his eye. But then he pauses when he notices the mattress without a box spring or bedframe. The last time he’d been in my room, he hadn’t noticed that I’m lacking a real bed; he was too busy being furious over the fact that I had a roommate.

  His eyebrows instantly pinch together as a frown comes over his handsome face.

  I give him a look and reach out for his coat, unbuttoning it while he’s distracted. “You can either get over that that’s what we’re having sex on, or you can leave,” I murmur. Now that his coat is open, I run my hands up and down his fabric-covered chest, enjoying the feel of his muscles hidden beneath.

  Nikolai, deciding it’s not worth discussing, focuses on me as he slips off his coat and makes quick work of mine. We both lose our clothing in a matter of seconds before he pushes me down onto the mattress, immediately following as his body covers mine.

  My lips part beneath his as my legs open, enjoying the nakedness of his body pressing against me. His hardness is nudging my thigh, and I slide my hand between our bodies to tou
ch him. He’s firm in my hand, and I stroke him, enjoying the sensation of his velvety skin beneath the pads of my fingertips.

  Nikolai’s hips thrust momentarily, savoring my touch before he pushes my hand away and trails his lips down my neck. I release a sound of encouragement when his lips find the tip of my right breast. He circles it with his tongue before drawing the peak into his mouth and flicking it repeatedly.

  I arch my back and reach up, sinking my fingers into his hair as his tongue mercilessly works the distended bud before turning his head and giving my other breast the same attention.

  This feels so good, and yet I want to explore as well.

  I know enough not to touch his back, so I arch my hips forcefully into his, trying to push him onto his back. He doesn’t go easy, and his eyes lift to mine and narrow before I give him another push, indicating what I want.

  His eyes remain locked on mine for a moment longer before he gives in and lithely shifts onto his back.

  I’m on him in an instant as I straddle his hips, his dick pressed against my wet folds as I lean down and capture his lips with mine. He briefly allows me to control the kiss before he takes over, his hands cupping the back of my head and holding me there as my right hand slides down his sculpted chest and rigid abs.

  While his tongue controls the kiss, I reach between our hips and stroke him. He’s already wet from coming into contact with my folds, so I take advantage of it and begin to firmly stroke him up and down. The kiss becomes hotter, and more demanding, letting me know that he’s very much into what I’m doing.

  I quicken the strokes, moaning when my fist comes into contact with my clit since he’s still nestled between my legs.

  Nikolai releases a low growl into my mouth, and then his lips leave mine as he abruptly grabs me around the waist and flips me onto my back. I’m about to playfully protest when I see him turn and reach for his discarded pants on the floor, yanking out his wallet and pulling out a condom.

  I watch him with anticipation, my legs parting and giving him full view of how much I want him.

  Nikolai, not one to ignore such a provocative display, focuses his gaze on the flesh between my legs as he rolls the condom onto his engorged length. As soon as he’s properly covered, he turns on me and grabs my hips, arching them upwards as he comes down on me, his hardness easily sliding into my depths.

  Ahh…he feels so good and so right.

  Nikolai’s expression turns fierce as he braces his weight on one arm near my shoulder while flattening his hand under my ass, tilting my hips just the way he wants as he nearly pulls out of me and then slides back in.

  With my hips tilted at this angle, he’s lightly brushing my G-spot, and I whimper as he begins to set a relaxed pace that isn’t giving me what I want. It’s pure torture, and I grip his hips and urge him to move faster.

  A sinful smile forms on his lips as he watches my expression.

  He’s torturing me on purpose. Asshole.

  I thrust my hips every time he slides in, aching for more pressure. Slowly, his expression darkens with lust, and then he’s done playing. He roughly tilts my hips up into his and drives into me harder, setting a faster pace.

  Sweat has broken out across my body, and I hiss, “Ahhhh yes!” as I meet each brutal thrust.

  He’s slamming into me now, and I see sweat slickening his upper body. His dark hair has fallen across his forehead, and his expression is full of pleasure as he ruthlessly hammers into me, every thrust moving my entire body.

  The sight of the raw sexual determination on his face triggers me to go over the edge. I release a drawn-out cry of pleasure as Nikolai chases his own until he growls his release.

  Then, we collapse and our sweaty limbs tangle as we both try to catch our breath.

  * * *

  I stir in my sleep, sensing that something had woken me.

  Sleepily, I open my eyes and squint in the light cast from the lamp. All sleep abruptly fades when I take in the sight of Nikolai standing beside the closed bedroom door. He’s wearing nothing but his pants, and he has a gun in hand and ready to use while he appears to be listening intently to something beyond the door.

  My eyes widen with alarm as I scramble up from the mattress and stand there, disbelief etched across my features. Where the hell did he have that gun hidden?

  He glances at me and puts a finger to his lips, signaling to be quiet.

  A thud comes from further inside the apartment, and then it’s followed by a feminine giggle.

  I take a step towards him, hoping to calm the situation before it can get out of hand. “It’s Ava,” I hiss.

  In the moonlight, his eyebrows pull together.

  We hear a door close down the hall, and a soft moan immediately follows.

  I put my hands on my hips, still completely naked as I glare at him. “Put that thing away!” I whisper fiercely. If Nikolai had confronted them with the gun…

  He looks annoyed as he slips the gun inside the back waistband of his pants.

  “Why are you carrying around a gun?” I demand.

  He grabs his shirt from off the floor and straightens, giving me a pointed look. Apparently, he thinks I’ve asked a stupid question, and frankly, I kind of agree. I just never considered that he might be walking around with a loaded gun.

  “Don’t ever bring a gun into this apartment again,” I warn, still rattled by the close call that I’d awoken to.

  He ignores me as he slips on his shoes, and then reaches for his discarded coat. Once he has it on, he gives me cursory look before opening the door and leaving my bedroom, firmly closing the door behind him. He’s making it clear that he doesn’t want me to follow, because for him, the conversation is over.

  I have no urge to chase after him, so he can go back home and sulk for all I care.

  I’m furious that things could have become deadly for Ava if I hadn’t woken when I had. I’d known it was a risk allowing him to be in the apartment, but I never foresaw this happening.

  With a loud sigh, I go back to the mattress and drop down onto it. This wasn’t how I’d expected our night to end.

  What if I hadn’t woken up?

  Would he have really confronted Ava and the man she’d brought home? This is the first time she’s brought someone back with her, so I hadn’t thought to plan for a situation like this.

  I like to think that I have some sort of control over what’s going on between Nikolai and I, but the truth is, Nikolai is an incredibly dangerous man.

  I’m startled when I hear one of the phones vibrate on the floor beside the mattress. I’m holding onto my old phone until I know where this thing with Nikolai is going to lead.

  I lean over and reach for the phone Nikolai had given me and turn it on. I have a new message. My gun goes with me everywhere I go. Non-negotiable.

  Another exasperated sigh escapes.

  Is this worth arguing over? He’s throwing my words about Ava back at me, so how am I suppose to tell him that I won’t accept his?

  The fact is, there’s going to have to be compromises along the way, and with his…occupation, this is one argument I’m not going to win.

  Good night, Nikolai, I send, letting the subject rest.

  Good night, Blakely.

  TWELVE

  Blakely

  While I’m in the shower the following morning preparing for my job at the distribution center, I think about last night.

  It had been alarming to wake up and find Nikolai standing by the door with a gun. I’m going to have to make certain that nothing like that ever happens again. If Ava should ever find out the truth of how Nikolai and I met, or what he does for a living besides being a corporate raider, I have no idea what Nikolai would do.

  I don’t ever want to find out.

  After my shower, and once I’m dressed and ready for work, I head down the hall to the kitchen and living room. Ava is standing by the door, wearing just a sweatshirt that barely covers her naked backside, and saying goodbye to a cute gu
y.

  Once he’s gone, she relocks the door and turns around, still looking sleepy. When she spies me, she gives me a contented smile. “Morning,” she says as she tucks a strand of tangled, blonde hair behind her ear.

  I frown at her. “Is he the reason you’ve been coming home late sometimes?”

  She blinks from my tone and then shrugs.

  “Ava, it’s been barely a month since you left Rob,” I feel the need to point out. It’s way too early for her to be getting involved with someone.

  Her brows pucker as she folds her arms across her chest. “So I’m not supposed to have fun?” she asks a bit defensively.

  I wince, realizing how terrible this conversation is beginning. “I didn’t mean it that way,” I say apologetically.

  Ava walks over, her expression frustrated as she pauses before me. “What am I supposed to do, Leah? You’re always gone, and I can’t just hole up in this apartment. I don’t want to be alone.”

  At the sound of my fake name, guilt slams into me. I am keeping so much from her. There are times that I really want to come clean and tell her everything I’ve been hiding, but her safety is more important than my guilty conscience.

  I gaze at her with regret and sincerity. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more,” I say softly.

  She grimaces. “It’s not your fault. You’re holding down two jobs.” Her blue eyes search mine. “You know we can downgrade, right? We don’t have to stay in a place as nice as this.”

  I’d picked this place for the security, but now that I know Nikolai isn’t going to try to take me against my will, we don’t have to stay permanently. If we were to rent a cheaper place, it would be a lot easier to make ends meet financially. Granted, Ava makes more than I do with all her tips at the upscale club, but lower rent would certainly benefit me.

  Perhaps I could quit my full-time job at the distribution center and get a part-time one instead. It would take me longer to save money, but I wouldn’t be running myself into the ground. That would also leave more time to spend with Ava…and Nikolai.