Page 16 of The Sinner’s Touch (Manwhore #2)

“I called him a prude last night when he got all embarrassed over your closet.” Laughter bubbled up at the memory of his face. “He was like a virgin on prom night.”

Nikoli chuckled. “I would have paid good money to see that.”

“I told you we should have cleaned out the closet.” Lily picked up some of the bags and moved to the kitchen. Nikoli rolled his eyes and did the same, leaving Angel to follow them.

“You just miss all those silk bindings.” Nikoli moved up behind Lily, and Angel noticed how he didn’t touch her for a moment. It was odd, like he was giving her time to get used to him. When he leaned down and placed a kiss on her neck, she tilted her head and closed her eyes.

“Perhaps you miss being tied to the bed.” She let out a wicked little laugh herself when his breath hissed out.

“Yeah, maybe we’ll collect a few things before we go.” Nikoli’s eyes had gone all sleepy with desire. His arms swept around her, and he nestled Lily under his chin.

“Still a manwhore.” Lily shook her head in mock disgust.

Nikoli let out an outraged gasp but hugged her tighter. “But you love your manwhore.”

“Yes, I love you.” She leaned into him, turning her head up so he could kiss her properly.

Angel turned away and walked into the living room, leaving them alone for a few minutes.

Manwhore? Well, some of the college girls called him that, but she hadn’t been aware Nikoli knew about it.

Angel sat back down on the couch and picked up her pizza to munch on while they played lovey dovey.

To be that young and in love. She smiled, remembering the first few months of her and Kade’s relationship.

“Sorry.” Lily came and sat on the couch with her. “We can get carried away sometimes. How are you, really?”

Angel didn’t know Lily all that well. She’d only met her twice, both times when Nikoli dragged her to the bar. Sweet girl who had Nikoli wrapped tightly around her finger. No small feat in itself.

“I’m good, I promise.”

“Did Nikoli tell you that I was kidnapped myself?”

“What? No, he didn’t.”

“They thought it was the serial killer, but it turned out to be a stalker I didn’t even know I had.

I was terrified, trapped in a trunk, no phone, no way to get out.

Then when the car wrecked, all I remember is the pain and the realization I’d never see Nikoli again.

I wasn’t fine after it. I told everybody I was, including the manwhore over there, but it wasn’t true.

I was scared all the time, and the nightmares…

” She shook her head and closed her eyes for a minute. “I still have nightmares.”

“I’m so sorry.” Wow. She’d never known that. Angel remembered Nikoli coming in and saying something about an accident, but he hadn’t said a word about an abduction.

Lily smiled warmly at her, and Angel understood why Nikoli said everyone loved this girl.

He’d come into her bar one night, ranting that he couldn’t even get close to the girl without everyone blowing up his phone warning him off her.

The kindness in Lily’s eyes said more about her as a person than most people’s actions did.

She was a sweetheart. How Nikoli managed to land her was beyond Angel.

The boy was a manwhore in the truest sense of the word, or at least he’d been before Lily.

“The reason I’m telling you this is because I understand some of what you’re going through, and if you need to talk, I’m here. Or I can recommend a good therapist for you. She’s excellent. Helped me a lot.”

“You mean the quack who adores me?” Nikoli came back into the main room and plopped down between the two of them.

“She’s not a quack,” Lily admonished. “She just thinks you have severe commitment issues.”

“I do not.”

Lily gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. “Nikoli, how many poor girls did you chew up and spit out since you came to BU?”

His expression turned wary. “That is something we’ve agreed to disagree on, Lily Bells.”

“You are the manwhore of Boston University.” Angel grinned when his expression soured.

“I am not a whore. I am a connoisseur of women.”

Lily and Angel both burst out laughing at his haughty reply. He looked so pious.

“Besides, I’m committed to you, aren’t I?” he challenged.

She leaned her head against his. “Yes, you are, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have issues. Especially after what happened between you and Kade.”

Happened between him and Kade? Angel’s ears perked up. What was she talking about?

“That was a long time ago, Lily Bells, and Kade and I got past it.” The steel in Nikoli’s tone shut down any questions either girl would have asked. “Angel, you have groceries in the fridge for at least a week. Is there anything else you think you need?”

“You didn’t have to do that, Nik. I could have gone after work and picked them up.”

“I know, but why put yourself more at risk than you have to? This guy is serious business. It’s not good to take chances. I’m surprised Kade’s even letting you go to work.”

“Your brother, as arrogant and bossy as he is, can’t stop me from working. I have bills to pay.”

“You think he’s bossy and arrogant?” Nikoli’s eyes zeroed in on her.

“Annoying bastard, too,” she said darkly.

“Ohh, now, what is this? Do I detect more than hostility, perhaps?” Nikoli’s voice turned sly. “Perhaps a little attraction?”

“Your brother is the last person I would ever want anything to do with.”

“Did he do something to you?” Nikoli’s expression darkened. “If he did, I’ll beat him.”

The phone rang before she could reply, and Lily bounced up to answer it. She frowned but then said something into the phone before hanging it up. “Are you expecting a package, Angel?”

“No.”

“Someone from the front desk is on their way up with a package for you. It was dropped off a few minutes ago.”

“Who knows you’re here?” Nikoli stood, his eyes growing more and more alert.

“No one except Kade and the detective from last night. Not even my boss knows I’m here.”

They waited silently until a knock sounded at the door. Nikoli opened it and took the package, thanking whoever delivered it. It was a simple brown box, like any mailing box you’d buy at Walmart or the post office. It was addressed to Angel with the apartment number emblazed on a printed label.

Nikoli set it down on the kitchen island, inspecting it. His bent his head, listening.

“What are you doing?” Lily joined him at the counter.

“Listening for ticking.”

“Good Lord, it’s not a bomb, Nikoli.”

“It might be,” he grouched.

“You’ve been watching too much Castle .”

“Kate’s hot.”

“Castle’s hotter.” Lily gave him this innocent smile that belied the devilment in her eyes, and Angel found herself laughing despite the seriousness of the situation.

The two of them were too cute. If she wasn’t as fond of Nikoli as she was, she could almost hate them for being so happy when her own broken past was currently mocking her every time Kade so much as entered her line of vision.

“Let’s just open the damn box.” Angel walked over to the knife block and pulled one so she could open the box.

She picked it up and turned it upside down to open it.

She didn’t want to slice through the address label.

She was a big Criminal Minds nut herself, and at times like these, she was glad she’d picked up on a few things. Like not damaging address labels.

As she flipped the box back over, a small white cloth fell out with a handwritten note. Her hands started to shake even before the strands of red hair tumbled from the pristine fabric. She recognized the writing on the note. It was the same as from the night before.

“What the fuck?” Nikoli reached for it, but Angel stopped him.

“Don’t touch it. Call your brother.”

“What…”

“It’s him.” Her voice started to shake as badly as her hands were. He found her.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the note.

Soon, my Angel.