Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 170885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
I couldn’t exactly text her, ‘Hey, little princess, for the love of fish and chips, please tell me I was seeing things and you weren’t at the Heathens’ initiation,’ because that would give away that I was there. Although, she did do a double-take, so she could have recognized me despite the mask.
Either way, it’s absolutely not happening.
My love language is shielding those I love, my precious sister included, from the mess that is my existence.
So there’s no way I would’ve voluntarily divulged I was there. I did text and meet up with her and she seemed fine. Aside from the fact that Killian Carson, another member of the Heathens, posted a picture of him kissing her—or, more accurately, eating her face.
I must admit I was alarmed and Lan lost his damn mind over it. Killian, coincidentally Nikolai’s cousin, isn’t the type of guy we want our sister with.
But she assured me it’s okay and that she knows what she’s doing. Lan definitely didn’t listen to her and made me join him when he went to threaten Killian and give him a deadline to leave our sister.
Of course, I had to apologize on his behalf when he was rude to Killian’s cousin, Mia. Despite being Nikolai’s sister, she’s nothing like him.
She accepted the apology and invited me over for pancakes and gaming.
Not Lan. Me.
I really didn’t want to go to the Heathens’, but Mia insisted, and I wanted to see Killian for myself, so I went.
Fortunately, Nikolai wasn’t there, but Glyn came along and I could see how she was longingly looking at Killian the whole time.
After that, I was a responsible brother and reminded her to be careful and tell me if anything happens. However, giving any sort of advice always makes me feel like a massive fraud.
So I let the whole thing go. Barely.
Reluctantly.
It’s not my place anyway. It was the first time I’ve seen Glyn put her foot down and vehemently refuse to listen to Lan’s orders—
A weight crashes against my back and I stumble as both AirPods are plucked from my ears and Nikolai stands in front of me, breathing as hard as I am.
No, he’s panting, but the up and down of his chest doesn’t compare to the frantic thumping of my heart against my rib cage.
“What the hell is your problem?” I snap, then bite my tongue because I don’t snap.
Ever.
“I was calling your name, but you weren’t listening,” he supplies casually, as if he’s not witnessing my temporary loss of control in epic proportions.
I shove whatever demon took over me into the darkest corner of my mind and stretch out my palm so he’ll give back the AirPods.
Nikolai throws one of them in his other hand, then squeezes my palm in his, his lips curving in an unhinged grin. “Oh cool, you remember! Nice to officially meet you, Brandon. Or, hold on! I actually found you a perfect nickname. Lotus flower. You know, because you managed to bloom so beautifully while surrounded by the muddy swamp that is Landon. Isn’t that so fucking poetic?”
I’m momentarily paralyzed, my neatly tucked thoughts almost topple me over into the inky-black hole headfirst.
But that doesn’t happen.
Because I’m in control.
I attempt to pull my hand from his warmer one, but he squeezes, tight, as if he’s attempting to crush my bones.
His grin widens, kicking the creep factor up a notch. “Do you like it? Your new name? Do you?”
“Let go,” I mutter from between clenched teeth.
“But why?” He appears genuinely puzzled. “You’re the one who offered to shake hands. I forgive you for pretending not to remember my unforgettable presence.”
“You need to check your ego.”
He looks down at himself and then smirks. “Perfectly awesome, thanks for asking.”
I want to pinch the bridge of my nose, but I can’t, because the bastard is holding my hand hostage, tightening his grip incrementally. The worst part is that I don’t think he even notices what he’s doing.
It hurts, damn it, but I’d dig myself a hole and rot in it before I’d admit that out loud.
“My hand,” I say in a thoroughly unaffected tone.
He squeezes more. “What about it?”
“Let it go.”
“Do I have to? It’s kind of soft and nice.”
He tightens his hold again, mushing the fingers together, and I have to stifle a goddamn…groan? What in the bleeding livid gates of hell?
Pain. It’s only pain.
“I need my hand, so yes, you have to release it, Nikolai.”
“Fuck. I love the way you say my name. Though everything sounds amazing in that hot accent.” The gleam that I never quite managed to erase from my mind rushes back to the depths of his harsh eyes.
Turquoise blue. Brimming with sharp…curiosity? Violence?
It’s impossible to tell with the crazy twat.
He’s intensity on steroids.
An element I have no interest in whatsoever.
“I wonder how you’d say my name in other…more intimate situations.”