Page 54 of Touch Me Not (Manwhore #1)

Lily let out a small scream, not expecting anyone to be bellowing at her.

“Uh, I think I better call you back later,” Adam said, hearing Nikoli’s bellowed question.

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“Love you, girl.”

“Love you too.”

She disconnected the call and placed the phone on the table before turning her attention to the six-foot-three angry man glaring at her, his onyx eyes so dark she couldn’t distinguish the pupil.

Those eyes still affected her like it was the first time she’d looked into them. Her lungs froze, and she got lost in them despite how angry they were.

“Hi.”

“Hi?” He fisted his hands and looked up at the ceiling. “That’s all you have to say to me after that bullshit I just heard you spewing?”

“I…uh…”

“You, uh, what, Lily Bells?” Nikoli asked softly, coming closer. He did not just hear her say she’d embarrass him in front of his family.

“I’m afraid, okay?” Her head bent, and he couldn’t see her expression. Fuck that. He needed to know what she was thinking.

He strode over, stopping directly in front of her.

“Eyes up.” His tone left no room for argument.

Her head snapped up, and those blue eyes of hers were brimming with emotions. It gutted him to think she actually thought she’d ever embarrass him.

“Why do you think you’ll embarrass me?”

“Because…” She bit her lip, and he held back a groan. When she did that, it always set him off, and he usually carried her to the bedroom, but not today. He was getting to the bottom of this and putting an end to it.

“Because why?” He kept his voice hard, commanding.

“Because what happens when your mother tries to hug me and I freak out?” she all but wailed, and he wanted to take her in his arms and soothe the pain he heard reverberating in every word, but if he did that, she’d never get past this.

“Then you freak out,” he told her. “I’ve already told them you have issues with being touched by strangers. They’re not walking into this blind. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“And what did they say when you told them that?”

“They were very understanding.”

She didn’t look like she believed him, but truthfully, he didn’t think his family outside of Kade understood how bad Lily’s phobia was.

They wouldn’t until they saw it firsthand, and he only hoped they’d see the beautiful, kind woman Lily was and not her disability.

His father would since he had PTSD himself, but the rest of the Kincaid clan? He didn’t know.

“ Milaya , the truth is it doesn’t matter what any of them think. You’re not marrying them. You’re marrying me, and I love you enough for all of them.”

Her face softened, and some of the worry left her expression. “I love you too.”

He bent down and hovered for a moment, letting her adjust to his proximity before pressing his lips against hers in the softest caress he could manage. Drawing back, he squatted in front of her.

“Promise me next time you worry about bullshit you’ll talk to me and not your mom or Janet.”

“I was talking to Adam.”

Of course she was. Boy Wonder had better not be part of why she was worrying about this. The two of them had become friends, but he’d never forgiven Nikoli for winning the girl he’d ignored all their lives. Not his problem Adam was a blind fucker. Lily was his, and Adam would have to live with it.

“He get in from North Carolina okay?”

She nodded. “He’s complaining about the new woman working in his dad’s office. I think he likes her and doesn’t want to admit it.”

He hoped to God that was true. It would make all their lives easier.

He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “As fascinating as Adam’s love life or lack thereof is, I want your word if you start worrying about this shit again, you’ll talk to me about it.”

“I promise.”

“Good.” He leaned in and gave her another kiss. “For the record, you could walk down the street in a burlap sack, and you wouldn’t embarrass me, Milaya .”

She hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her, standing so her feet were literally hanging off the ground. She wasn’t short, but he was taller, and it made her seem petite next to him. She smelled like apples today, and he breathed it in, content. This woman was his entire life.

“Kade called me. He and Angel want to go out for dinner if you’re up for it.”

“I asked Mike and Adam if they want to go to dinner too. Janet’s probably going to keep Mike busy, so we’ll need to keep Adam occupied.”

“Kade and Angel won’t mind if Adam joins us.”

Her lips grazed his neck, and he sucked in a breath.

“How soon do they want to meet?”

“Uh…I don’t know.”

Her teeth scraped his jawline. “I missed you.”

“Fuck Kade and Adam. They can eat by themselves.” He swung her up into his arms, and she laughed. Best sound in the entire world. “You and I are…”

The key rattled in the door, and both their heads snapped in that direction. It opened, and a guy walked in, yawning, a duffle bag over one shoulder. The dark black hair and even darker eyes blinked at them.

“Oh…hey.”

“Mason?”

Nik frowned. He’d barely sent out keys to his place to all his brothers. They had keys to each other’s homes in case of emergency. Their mother insisted on it. He never expected one of them to use it this fast, though, and especially not the night before his wedding.

Mason grinned sheepishly. “Hi.”

His baby brother was a miniature version of himself. They could be twins.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Uh…did I interrupt something?”

“Yes.”

“No.” Lily smiled at his brother and patted his shoulder. “Put me down and introduce me.”

Grumbling, he did as she asked. “Lily Bells, this is Mason, the baby of the family.”

“He forgot to mention I’m the best looking of the bunch.” Mason dropped the duffel on the floor and shut the door. “You really do look like Snow White. I can see now why Kade was laughing his ass off when he said it.”

“Excuse me?” Lily stiffened beside him, and Nikoli cursed.

“Ignore him. He was raised by wolves.”

“Don’t let Babushka hear you say that. She’ll come after you with her wooden spoon.” Mason came closer, and Lily started to tremble. “When we were kids, Nik said he hated the cartoon, and then he goes and gets himself engaged to a Snow White look-alike.”

“I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not.” The tremble in her voice set off Nikoli’s protective instincts.

“Don’t pay them any mind. My brothers are assholes.”

“It’s good to finally meet you, sestra .” Mason gave Lily his most charming smile, the same one Nik usually gave to women.

“ Sestra ?” Lily glanced at him. “What does that mean?”

“It means sister.” He pulled her into his side so her shaking wouldn’t be so visible to Mason. She was already worrying about what his family would think of her, and he wouldn’t have his kid brother give merit to her concerns.

“We never had a sister growing up.” Mason’s grin was impish. “Now we have two.”

“Why don’t I go upstairs and get ready for dinner while you catch up with your brother?” Lily murmured.

“That’s a good idea. I’ll come get you when we’re ready to go.” He kissed her, letting it linger for a heartbeat before letting her go.

She smiled at Mason then excused herself.

“Was it me?” Mason asked, staring after her.

Nikoli waited until she’d disappeared up the stairs before turning to face his brother. He’d better have a damn good excuse for showing up on Nik’s doorstep.