Page 30 of Touch Me Not (Manwhore #1)

His own thoughts stopped his thought process.

Shocked didn’t even begin to describe what he felt right now.

He wanted to frown at his own self, but he kept his face neutral and amused.

He liked calling her his girlfriend, liked that she belonged to him.

Something inside of him cracked open, and pleasure leaked out.

Now, that he didn’t like, not one little bit.

He lifted his eyes and saw his buddy Craig in the corner not paying attention to anything but the girl all up in his business.

Cute blonde, big boobs, and Craig’s hands were full of her ass.

Just the sight made him start to get hard.

He let out a slow breath and looked down at Lily nestled between his legs, her head only inches from his cock.

He got harder thinking about her lips wrapped around him, her nails digging into his ass as he pushed deeper into her mouth, making her take all of him. Fuck, he needed to get laid.

But he couldn’t. Dammit. It had been weeks since he’d had sex, all because of the woman sitting in front of him.

He needed to alleviate the pressure. He wrapped her hair around his hand and marveled at how soft it was.

Slowly, so as not to startle her, he pulled the heavy mass of black hair back and started to braid it, an idea forming in his head.

They would go back to the penthouse in the city when she was done here and he would push her, push her the way he’d wanted to for weeks.

He was going to touch her, kiss her, show her that his touch brought only pleasure and desire.

Plans began to form, and his smile was slow and full of the promise of naughty things.

So caught up in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed the last two opponents taken out and the group around them dispersed.

All that was left were Mike and Adam. Even Luther had gotten up and headed somewhere.

Lily sat peacefully, letting him braid her hair.

He’d done it several times over the last month, so she was used to it.

Adam and Mike were openly staring, their faces a mask of shock and disbelief.

He sighed. Why had none of them ever pushed her?

They were supposed to care about her, yet they had let this go on.

In two months, he’d made more progress than either of them had in years.

“Lils?”

“Hmm?” she answered Mike, leaning her head against Nikoli’s knee, thoroughly relaxed.

She loved it when he braided her hair. Her mom used to do it when she was little, but it never felt like this.

Nikoli made each movement feel like a caress, like a gentle touch she felt everywhere, even though he only held her hair.

“You got gems for sale?”

She perked up at the mention of the form of currency used for their online social game.

Mikey had been hinting for a week or so he might be doing some big spending.

He always bought from her because she always had a lot of gems. She bought and sold gems at a discounted rate.

It had made her a small fortune in the game and kept her bank account healthy.

“How many you need?” she asked, sitting a little straighter.

“Five thousand at least, maybe more later in the week.”

“What the hell do you need five thousand gems for?” she asked, trying to calculate how much it would cost.

“Gems?” Nikoli asked, his voice a little sharp.

Lily ignored him and focused on Mike. “Well?”

“I bought Janet a ring,” he confessed sheepishly as he pulled a tiny black velvet box out of his pocket.

Lily squealed and jumped up, ignoring Nikoli’s grunt when he was forced to let her hair go.

“Let me see,” she demanded and held out her hand.

Mike put the box in her palm, careful not to touch her.

Lily opened it and gasped with delight. Inside lay a simple diamond engagement ring.

It wasn’t huge, but it was elegant, and so very Janet. She would adore this.

“It’s beautiful, Mikey,” she told him and handed it back. “You did good.”

“I hope Jan likes it.” He shoved the box back into his pocket. He sounded so nervous, and Lily couldn’t help but smile.

“She’ll love it,” Adam assured him. “Don’t worry so much, bro. It’s not about the ring, anyway.”

“Adam’s right,” Lily agreed. “She loves you, so she’ll love the ring.”

“I guess.”

Lily and Adam both laughed at Mike’s nervousness. They knew how anxious he could get over things he really cared about.

“Now, why do you need so many gems?” she asked.

“Well, I thought I’d do a surprise wedding for her,” Mike said. “I want to plan it for the day after I propose to her. I thought it would be special for us to get married in-game to celebrate.”

“That is so sweet,” Lily cooed.

“Wait, hold up a sec,” Nikoli interrupted. “You’re talking about VSL? Virtual Social Life?”

“They are.” Adam laughed at Nikoli’s shocked expression.

“You play a sex game?” Nikoli demanded, and Lily cackled like a crone. He sounded outraged.

“It’s a little more than just a sex game,” Lily told him. “It’s an online world.”

“Essentially, Lily Bells, it’s a game to meet and fuck,” Nikoli disagreed.

“Maybe for you, but I have fun there going to clubs, exploring new places, and hanging out with my friends.”

“Do I know you there?”

“I don’t know,” she teased. “Do you?” Her grin only widened when his eyes narrowed. She was enjoying watching him struggle with this more than she should.

“What’s your username in-world?”

“Uh-uh.” She shook her head. “Not telling.”

“ Dushka …”

“I asked you not to call me that.”

“Tell me your name, and I won’t ever call you dushka again.”

“Nope,” Lily said. She watched his expression harden and felt the first flutter of nerves.

It wasn’t apprehension; it was more anticipation, thinking of how he was going to react.

She loved the feeling, loved that it could push her fear away and let her simply feel.

Nikoli was accomplishing what everyone else hadn’t been able to.

He was healing her. The thought brought a smile to her face until she saw his black eyes narrow further. Oh, this couldn’t be at all good.

Nikoli worked to get his expression under control.

He hadn’t been able to suppress his surprise upon learning his sweet, innocent little Lily played a sex game.

It was true, there were a lot of other things to do in VSL, but he had yet to meet a single player who didn’t have virtual sex.

They did other things, sure, but sex was a big part of it too.

Why wouldn’t she tell him her name?

“Are we friends there?” he asked, his voice calm and even. Lily only smiled, not answering the question. He knew Mike played, and they’d hung out a few times, but Lily? Mind. Blown.

“Mikey?” Lily tilted her head to look at Mike, the question plain on her face.

“Don’t worry, Lils, my friend list is hidden.”

“You know I am going to figure this out,” Nikoli promised, his smile feral. Lily’s eyes grew wider, and even Mike looked a little alarmed. As well he should. Nikoli could make his life hell in that game, and Mike knew it.

“Don’t worry about the gems. I’ll take care of the wedding,” Lily said, sliding farther away from Nikoli. He snorted. As if that was going to save her.

“Weddings in VSL are expensive,” Mike protested.

“Couple people owe me some favors,” she said, waving his protest away. “Remember when Jan and I helped with the Sabotages’ wedding? Jan showed me exactly what she wants for her own wedding, right down to the dress and the cake design. I got it handled, Mikey.”

“What about the theme?” Adam piped in. “You can’t reserve the venue until you get the theme down.”

While the three of them discussed various in-world venues, Nikoli made up his mind.

He’d been using kid gloves with Lily up until now, but he was going to push her today.

They were going to the penthouse, and she was going to get her first lesson in feeling his hands against her naked flesh.

He felt his entire body tighten just thinking about it.

“Lily Bells, you almost ready to go?” he asked, interrupting their conversation. He needed to get her moving. “I made a reservation at Mason’s, and you and I both still need to get cleaned up if we’re going to make it.”

Lily gasped. “I don’t know if I have anything to wear there!”

“Don’t worry, I bought you something,” Nikoli assured her, “but we need to get going soon.”

Lily frowned, and Nikoli ignored it. One thing he had discovered was Lily was very uncomfortable accepting gifts from him.

She didn’t want him to spend money on her, another first for him.

He’d only spent money on one other woman before, and only because she’d demanded it. The experience had soured him.

Lily was different, though. She made him want to get her things just to make her happy. It was cute when she’d frown and say he shouldn’t have. Another sign he was getting in too deep, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

“How did you swing reservations at Mason’s?” Mike gawked at him.

Nikoli shrugged. Mason’s was one of Boston’s most exclusive restaurants, and it usually took months to get a reservation, but Nikoli knew the owner.

Mason’s teenage sons were fans of Nik’s games.

They always got pre-release copies, and Nikoli got reservations when he needed them, no questions asked.

An idea popped into his head, and he grinned a Cheshire cat’s grin.

“What are you up to?” Lily demanded.

“Tell you what, Mike. You give me Lily Bell’s in-game name, and I’ll make sure you get a reservation at Mason’s for the night you pop the question. I’ll even pay the bill. You order whatever you want. It’s on me.”