Page 17

An intense memory slammed into her. The glint of a blade, the gasp of a child. Blood spreading further and further across a man’s tunic. An ache hollowed out her chest, and then she was running.

With a jerk, she came back to the present. Niko hadn’t even noticed. She was beginning to see the man beneath the easy-going mask. When she could no longer take the raw emotion she found there, she brought both of her hands to his cheeks and her lips descended on his.

A punch of desperation fueled their kiss, frantic and all-consuming. His fingers dragged against her scalp, pulling her into the heat of his body, all tension and need.

She lost herself to the sensation, bliss blocking rational thought.

Moving to the slender column of her neck, Niko’s teeth gently scored against the tender flesh.

It ignited her passion for him like an incendiary flame.

Every part of her wanted this man, and it overrode her need to follow the rules and clouded her ability to think rationally.

For once, she didn’t care what Julian thought, she only cared what Niko did.

When he grunted and the smell of blood permeated the air, Jade retreated. His wound had started bleeding again. A shiver of guilt immediately cooled her ardor, and she grabbed the needle and thread.

“Sit still, or I’ll be forced to tie you up before dealing with your wounds.”

“Bondage.” Niko’s cocky smile reappeared. “Kinky.”

Despite the subtle sting and pull of the stitches, he never winced. And when she was finished, he didn’t wait for an invitation. Cupping a hand behind her neck, he drew her into his body, standing up so they were flush together.

Jade had never lost herself so fully in another. It should’ve scared her, but she couldn’t find it within herself to stop where this was leading.

***

Bright light filtered in steadily through her eastern window the next morning. It danced across her closed eyelids, waking her from a deep sleep.

Shifting slightly between her blankets to get comfortable, her leopard purred at the subtle scent of mint and man that permeated her haven.

She nestled backward into the enticing cove of his body, appreciating the way his forearm cinched tighter around her waist. He’d been understandably exhausted last night, and she couldn’t bring herself to send him halfway across the continent again.

It’d been ages since she’d share a bed with someone she trusted. Part of her was reluctant to let it go.

To her surprise—and admittedly, dismay—Niko had insisted that nothing more than kissing should happen between them. He’d assumed, rightly so, that she might regret the intimacy in the morning.

After all, they had work—

Jade sat bolt upright in bed at the sight of the clock on her bedside. The glaring red letters mocked her, showing a time that couldn’t be right.

Her bare feet flew over the cool wooden flooring as she tore into her bathroom to start getting ready. One hand grabbed her toothbrush, while the other attacked her frizzled hair.

“We’re late!” she shouted through a mouthful of minty foam. “We’re late, Niko, get up!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him roll over and check his watch before groaning and snuggling further into her lavish bedding. “It’s only seventy thirty, dove.”

“And our first meeting is at eight— get up !”

Heavy artillery time. She threw a bundled towel at his head.

Niko caught it in midair before it hit him in the face.

He finally sat up in bed, casting her a perplexed look.

Even in her panicked rush, she could appreciate the way his mussed hair softened his features.

The sleepy look he sent her way beckoned her to return to bed.

His chest was bare, and the toned perfection had Jade nearly drooling.

The alarm on her phone blared its warning note.

Glancing away before she had a chance to truly get her fill, she refocused on her morning routine. In the ten minutes it took for her to apply a dash of makeup and twist her hair into her customary bun, Niko had commandeered the shower on the other side of the wall and jumped in.

She paused to listen to his movements more than she was comfortable admitting. When the shower shut off, she dutifully went back to work, staring at herself in the mirror and pointedly ignoring Niko’s half-naked form sauntering out in a towel.

“Good morning, dove.”

In her mind, the leopard sprawled on its back, showing him a soft white belly. Shameless feline . “Good morning, Nikolas. I’ll be taking my town car to the office. I’ll meet you there.”

He appeared behind her in the mirror, a devilish pout formed on his features. “Leaving me all by my lonesome without a way to work? I’m gutted.”

Miming a knife to the heart, Niko grinned.

“Are you insane? Just imagine the rumor mill if we walk in together!” Mockingly, she pantomimed a conversation between employees.

“What’d you see this morning? Oh, just my new boss and my old boss both getting out of the same car, both late, both giving off walk of shame vibes.

I’m sure nothing happened between them, wink wink, nudge nudge. ”

“Oh, you’re serious?” Astounded, Niko’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. “We’re two consenting adults who aren’t on the same payroll and never will be. Where’s the issue?”

“Niko, you acquired my company. What are people going to conclude about why we’re together?”

His puzzlement dissolved into a tenderness that made Jade’s breath catch. Unable to dignify the change, she turned back for the finishing touches on her lipstick.

“Who cares what they say? I only care what you think.”

Through the mirror, she searched his eyes—now emerald once more—then grunted as he phased a suit over his frame.

Phasing on clothing was something Sagani learned when they were children, and was easy so long as they knew exactly where their clothing was and how it fit over their bodies.

Niko’s suits must’ve been hanging precisely arranged in a closet—just like hers.

Jade had stopped expending the magic required when hers had become unstable. She only gave in to the temptation on special occasions, like the day before.

“Come on, otherwise we really will be late.”

Ever the gentlemen, he indeed ceded the town car to Jade and hailed a cab for himself. They arrived at the same time regardless. When they walked into the conference room to find everyone else seated and waiting, he fell on the sword of his own free will.

“Jade’s tardiness is entirely my fault,” Niko explained, sitting down at the opposite end of the table.

“I called her before dawn this morning with an idea that couldn’t wait.

We’ve since spoken and arrived at a conclusion; however, we’re not ready at this time to divulge what it is.

Let’s proceed before we lose any more time. ”

And the matter was put to bed.