Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 100

Ria's POV:

It was like the world around us disappeared, the loud roar of the fountain masking the sound of our ragged breathing. I couldn't think straight, not with him standing there, so close, his words still echoing in my head. I hated him. I hated him so much it was driving me insane. And yet, at that moment, all I could think about was him, about how much I wanted him, needed him.

Without a second thought, I grabbed him by the tie, the smooth silk tightening around my fist as I yanked him toward the fountain. I didn't say a word-there was nothing to say. I was beyond words.

Nikolai followed without resistance, his eyes darkening with something dangerous as I pulled him through the water's curtain, the world around us fading into oblivion. I pushed him down on the stone bench hidden behind the fountain's stream, the water falling around us in a loud, protective veil. His body was drenched, but he didn't care. I didn't care.

I climbed onto his lap, straddling him, my hands gripping his collar as I crashed my lips against his. It wasn't a soft kiss, nothing tender or sweet about it. It was angry and desperate, a kiss that tasted like everything we had held back for years. And God, he kissed me back just as hard, his hands immediately finding my waist, his fingers digging into my hips like he was trying to hold on for dear life.

"I hate you so," I whispered against his lips, my breath coming out in harsh gasps.

"Yeah?" His voice was low, dangerous, laced with something dark that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Mmmh." I nodded, biting down on his lip hard enough to make him groan, my teeth sinking into the flesh possessively.

He let out a deep, guttural sound, and I felt him harden beneath me. It was so wrong, so messed up, but God, it was intoxicating.

"I hate you so fucking much," I repeated, my voice shaking as I grinded down on him, feeling the full length of him against me.

"I know, baby," he rasped, his hands moving up my back to grab a fistful of my hair, pulling my head back so he could kiss me deeper, rougher. His lips were hot and demanding, leaving me breathless as he devoured me like a man starved.

"I wanted you dead," I hissed, the words spilling out of me like venom, but my body betrayed me as I pressed harder against him, my hips moving of their own accord.

"Oh, fuck." Nikolai groaned, his hands gripping me tighter, almost painfully, as if he couldn't get enough. "Say it again," he growled, his voice thick with lust.

"I wanted you dead." The confession slipped from my lips like a prayer, and I felt him twitch beneath me, his hardness pressing against my core.

"Fuck, Victoria." His voice was rough, almost pained, as his hands moved to the ties of my dress, fumbling with the corset, his desperation palpable. He was losing control, and the thought of it, of him losing that iron grip he always had, made me bite my lip to stifle the grin spreading across my face.

I chuckled softly as he struggled with the ties, his fingers clumsy in his eagerness. "What's wrong, Nik? You're usually so put together."

"Shut up," he growled, but there was no real bite to his words, just pure, raw need.

The second he managed to loosen the ties, he turned me around, his fingers deftly pulling the top of my dress down, exposing my breasts. I gasped as the cold night air hit my skin, making my nipples instantly harden, but the chill was quickly replaced by the heat of his mouth. He latched onto my nipple without hesitation, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin as his tongue flicked against me. I moaned, the sound ripped from my throat before I could stop it.