Page 50 of Darkest Desire

“In some fucked up way, yes. It is.” He cups my face again. “God, if you were in your right mind right now, I’d finally claim you. See for myself if you’ve really been lying to me or not.”

“I have been lying,” I whisper. Damn it. Why am I saying this out loud? It’s the drug in me. I can’t control myself.

Nico’s eyes light up. “You have?”

“I really am a virgin.”

“Then why did you lie?” His grip on my face tightens. It doesn’t hurt but instead, makes me want to sink into him more.

“Because I didn’t want you having any power over me. I didn’t want you to know that you would be getting all of my firsts.”

“All of your firsts?” His tone deepens into something dark and dangerous. I shouldn’t be saying any of this. I’m putting myself more at risk. “Like your first kiss?” His lips brush over mine and pull back before I kiss him harder.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Like… the first time anyone has seen you naked?”

I swallow hard. “Yes.” I wish I could get myself to shut up but it feels sort of good to be admitting the truth. To no longer have any secrets between us.

“Like the first time a man has put his mouth on you?”

“Yes,” I moan softly.

His hands run down to my waist and squeeze. A flare of arousal washes over me. “Like the first time you’ve ever been fucked?”

“Yes.” I try to kiss him again but he pulls away from me. For a moment, I think he’s playing a game before I notice he’s frowning and looking around the maze.

“Someone else is here,” he says.

“What? Who? One of your guards?”

“They would have announced themselves if it was one of them.”

I don’t hear anything except the birds tweeting in the setting sun.

I inhale to say something when a man comes running out from behind one of the hedges. He has a knife in his hands and he rushes towards Nico, trying to attack him.

I gasp and stumble back, landing hard on the stone bench. It’s Alek/Lorenzo. I completely forgot about him at the dinner party. He’s going to get me out of here. Get me to safety.

But Nico has shown he can save me. Do I really want to leave him?”

“What the fuck?” Nico snarls as Alek comes at him with his knife. Nico dodges and grabs Alek’s arms, trying to stop him but Alek has the benefit of the element of surprise.

Alek gets a hard punch into Nico’s jaw, sending Nico stumbling back. I watch in horror as Alek stabs the knife into Nico’s shoulder. He was aiming for Nico’s chest but Nico dodged at the last second.

Nico grunts when the knife goes into his shoulder and shouts when Alek pulls the knife out and blood oozes from Nico’s wound.

Nico comes back for Alek and tackles him to the ground. The knife falls from Alek’s hand and the two men roll around on the floor, trying to kill one another.

I pick up the knife.

“Give it to me,” Nico grits out.

I don’t move.

“Give it to me,” Alek says.

I’m frozen in place. I don’t want Alek to die since he’s my chance out of here. But… I’m not sure I want Nico to die either. Despite how much I hate him, I don’t think I hate him as much as I claim.