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It'd taken several hours before I’d finally ress, but even that had been painfully slow My thoughts had been consu I’d kept waiting for the h ned itied when I’d received the call frootten another offer on the land that TDS was in final negotiations to purchase The potential loss of my deal had shattered the last of hts I’d frantically tried to research how I’d been scooped so late in the process but I hadn’t been able toThe fear had turned to panic as I’d envisioned

As the day wore on, I’d lost track of ti panic enough to work to save my deal but then suddenly Nikolai had been there

I’d wanted to be relieved to see him but his presence had only made me feel like more of a failure He, of course, had been clueless about why I’d been so angry Deep down, I’d wanted to walk into his ar would be okay I’d wanted hiht I was and I could pull the deal back together

Then I’d remembered that I wasn’t allowed to confide in Nikolai or seek solace in his arive a shit about my problely words his way and then, thankfully, he’d leftback on track, I’d felt even un to cave in around me and I hadn't knohat to do

What I had knoas that I’d needed to escape to someplace where it didn’t matter who I was Someplace where no one would know the truth about how fucked up I really was Or even if they did, they most certainly wouldn’t care

Club Four was supposed to have been uy and a quick fuck in the bathrooone back to norranted but that I craved

I’d tried so hard to forget that Nikolai atching ed and pleaded for the music to takeover ainst s in my ear, but I hadn't heard or felt any of it All I’d felt was Nikolai and all I’d been able to think about had been my need to both escape and own him

When I’d finally realized that my mind and body wouldn’t be satisfied with anyone besides Nikolai, I’d given up on trying to lose e touches and hushed voices But when I’d looked his way in the hopes that he’d soet the hell out of there, I’d been greeted by the sight of Angel draped over Nikolai’s arm

As I’d watched Angel take Nikolai’s hand in his, I’d wanted to knohat the young man with pink hair had that I didn't I’d wanted to knohy Nikolai was so willing to follow him to some darkened corner, but not o and just not care

But as hard as I’d tried, there’d been no letting go The strange men who'd surrounded me with their hard bodies and the proh

They weren’t Nikolai, so they’d never be enough

And then, suddenly, he’d been there

I'd been so sure it was a dream

As I’d stared at Nikolai’s outstretched hand, the music had blared around us and theme on the dance floor had made their displeasure about the interruption known, but all of that had fallen away as I’d looked at Nikolai's outstretched fingers I’d understood what the heat in his eyes had been pro even as my brain had tried to warn me to walk away

But walking away hadn’t been an option and just like that, ether and I’d been able to s

No, not things, Nikolai I’d made sense of him I’d made sense of the fact that, job or not, he wanted me All I’d had to do was take that one step forward I hadn’t cared what the outcoret ers in his and letting him take care of the rest