Two pairs of darken gazes followed my every move. But it wasn't all lust. There was yearning too in their depths. A yearning I returned for at least one of the two. The masculine perfection of the pair.
I didn't know what Nikki was doing here. She knows just how much Eric hates her. He was barely civil with her. Despite her invaluable contribution to his organisation. I frowned mightily at them both then decided retreat was the better measure of survival. I returned to the kitchen and proceeded to clatter about in preparation for dinner.
I had already seasoned and seared the stakes both sides and had it roasting in the oven when Eric stormed in.
"I am going out. Make sure she's gone by the time I get back."
"But... ," I started to protest glancing down at the sizzling pan in which I was busy browning the onions. Dinner was still a way away.
"Don't worry," he murmured, lifting his hand to tilt my face back to his. "I won't go far," he whispered huskily before reaching across to brush his lips against mine.
"The gym?" I urgently feeling a strange dispair in the pit of my stomach. I didn't want him to leave.
Not ever.
"The gym," he agreed.
Then he was gone, stopping by his room for a quick change before he left. I sighed unhappily and went back to stirring the by now overdone onions when Nikki walked in.
"I thought you left," I huffed startled by her sudden entry. I snapped off the stove and moved to around her to reach for a bowl. Scraping out the near burnt onions, I decided, fuck it- it will have to do, and proceeded to gather the ingredients for a balsamic and wine sauce.
I struck up the stove beneath another pot and proceeded to toss in a splash of olive oil, garlic and an assortment of other spices. I liked a little heat to my sauces. A good balance of sweet and spice that was offset against the acidity of the balsamic vinegar.
I was partway through the sauce when I noticed Nikki remained silent.
"Did you just come here to stare at me?" I asked jokingly, lifting my gaze off the bubbling pot to stare up at her.
She was as always beautiful and tall. Slim and exotic. With delicate features that belied the strength of character behind them. She was strong. Every bit as strong as Eric. Yet she displayed none of it in a physical sense. Her strength lay within her inner cunning. Guileless citrine eyes now stared down at me. Instantly raising alarm bells ringing in my ears. I back up a step and offered her a trembling smile at her own advance.
She stopped just short. I gulped down hard. I didn't want to do this. Not with her. Not now and not ever.
"I love staring at you," she murmured softly, before adding almost silkily,"You know that."
I shivered involuntarily. The vibes she was sending my way was detrimental to my mental wellbeing. I bit my lip agitatedly. I didn't want this.
A flash of citrine later and her gaze dropped to my lips. I stiffled the urge to chew at my lips further and instead shot her a brittled smile before dropping my head back to my cooking.
Cooking was safe. Better than safe, it was pure escape. I edged away from her as she inched closer. But there was no getting away from her around the stove. Especially when my dinner was sizzling so nicely on it.
I turned off the stove and moved bend low over the oven. Stupidly forgetting the inches Eric's buttoned up shirt laid bare. It was the brush of Nikki's finger tip against my thigh that had me jerking up right.
"Stop it."
I turned to glare at Nikki but there was no denying the lustful intensions in her gaze.
"Stop? You never let me start!" Her gaze narrowed golden fire across my way. I cringed at the impact.
"You know I don't see you that way. I never have. I never will."
"How could you know unless you try?"
An age old argument of Nikki's that never impressed me before and held no sway now either. I was not the pushover I looked. Having known me since forever, Nikki should know that. Besides, I loved Eric. She knew that too.
The stubborn mutiny on my expression must have alerted her further, for she was swift to change tactics.
"He'll never love you. I am surprised you lasted this long. You'll only come back to me then. Broken and willing for me to put the pieces back. It will be just like that time after Jace. End this now and walk away from Eric first. You've had your fill of him. You need me. Come with me."
I shook my head mutely. Tears running mindlessly down my face at the ravaging pain her words invoked.
" I... ccan...never....How... could you... think..."
Thankfully the oven buzzed its displeasure at my shameful lack of composure. I realised it had always been like this between Nikki and me. She would bully me into tears then take advantage of my weakness. This time was no different.
Her lips came slamming down onto mine harshly and her muscled arms tightened around my struggling frame. Tears made me weak. I couldn't afford weakness now. Not of any kind.
I shoved at her chest. But her years of kick boxing made her nimble. She evaded my struggles with amazing ease.
"What the fuck is going on?"
I jerked apart all too easily at that. Nikki's shock serving to lax her hold on me. But it was too late. Eric's shirt laid unbuttoned over my shoulders and he was bound to get the wrong impression of why I was naked in her arms with my lips fused to hers.
With a distressed cry, I turned and ran into Eric's arms. I couldn't lose him. I couldn't. I wouldn't make it. I would die if I lost him now. Oh god, Nikki was right. This was going to shatter me. But this time it would be nothing like the devastation Jace left behind. This I could never recover from.
Oh dear god!
