“Because and stop looking at me like that.”
His mouth ticked. “Like what? Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Like that. Like you care about me. And put some clothes on!” My hands clenched at my sides. I couldn’t think properly with him standing in front of me naked and smelling like fresh sin. His words had me feeling unbalanced and I didn’t like that.
When he reached up and fiddled with my collar, I didn’t blink. My body stiffened.
“You’re not used to someone giving a fuck about you, so you doubt my intentions, but I keep telling you they’re genuine. I don’t want to be your enemy, but at the same time I want you to fight me. From the moment I caught you in my shower, my infatuation with you started and it’s only grown. These drawings don’t even compare to how much you consume my thoughts.”
My teeth sank into my bottom lip when he released me and turned away with his book in hand.
“Tonight’s Summer Bash at the club. Try not to use your knife on anyone.” He tossed a smirk over his shoulder and headed for the closet. My skin felt too tight and itchy, as if fire ants were running wild under it. Nothing made sense. Since I was born, no one had given a fuck about me until Carson was born. He was the only person who ever loved me and that was only because we were literally all we had. Nazai’s confession of having feelings for me,real feelings,didn’t make sense. He had only known me a few months and most of that time was spent with us at each other’s throats. So how could he have feelings for me?
“I didn’t say I was going to the club tonight,” I called out shakily.
Nazai poked his head out the closet. “You don’t have a choice.”
I scraped my teeth over my bottom lip. “If I agree to go, I need a favor from you.”
Nazai stepped out the closet now in a pair of boxers and a couple hangers with clothes on them in hand.
“What’s that?”
“I need to talk to your dad.”
Pausing, Nazai raised a brow and eyed me. “Why?”
“I know he has to have some connections that can help me get legal custody of my brother. Eventually I want him to go to school and live like a normal kid.”
“You do realize his life isn’t normal, right? He’s surrounded by killers and corruption daily.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t try to give him a life outside of this. My parents kept me isolated from society, basically trapped in a prison, because they didn’t want me exposed to the outside world. They wanted to mold me and control me and that was easiest if they made sure I didn’t know any better. All they cared about was my training and making money. I don’t want that life for my brother. He deserves better than that.” My muscles grew more taut with each word I spoke.
Nazai stared at me for a long while, not speaking right away. “I’ll talk to him. I’m sure he knows someone.”
Stiffly, I nodded. “Thank you.”
A crooked grin formed on his face. “No problem, wifey.” He winked. Heat submerged through my body.
“Are you going to stop drawing me?”
He licked his lips and ate me up with his orbs. “Now why in the world would I do something crazy like that?”
____
My leg bounced wildly, my eyes darted around the club with my bottom lip tucked into my mouth as I tried to calm my nerves. I had been unsettled since I laid eyes on Nazai’s sketchpad. Between my legs continued to throb and leak each time he walked into the section. Apparently tonight was one of the biggest events The District threw, so he was in high demand up- and downstairs. I wasn’t even sure why he was so persistent that I came because I’d barely been able to lay eyes on him longer than two seconds before he was whisked away. Ezra was here, but downstairs for once, so it was just me in the section.
Slowly I sipped on the lemon drop and observed the scene. On the floor, a bunch of girls were giving lap dances and men made it rain. The last girl on stage had just made her way to the back and I knew it would be a small gap until the next girl’s set. The music was loud, causing the bass to thump in my chest.
“Fuck, we’re gonna make a killing tonight.” I flickered my eyes up as Nazai made his way closer to me. Dressed in a wine red, short-sleeved button up that hugged his arms and black slacks. He made his way to the couch and sat down, tossing his head back and closing his eyes. I studied his face for a second before shifting my eyes down his body, admiring how the button up looked against his gingerbread skin. His chest looked broader behind the material. Continuing down, I paused at his dick. I could see the bulge under his slacks. Heat flooded my stomach. My veins buzzed as if bees were running wild through them.
I licked my lips and shot my eyes up when a deep, low chuckle left Nazai’s mouth. He was eyeing me through low eyes with a crooked grin on his face.
“See something you like.”
My cheeks heated. Since he had stripped out his towel I’d wanted him to take me, but I’d never been the initiator when it came to sex. I always acted as if I didn’t want it, but in reality I loved feeling Nazai inside me and the way he roughly took advantage of my body. Although I was growing more comfortable when it came to the act of sex, I still felt awkward when it came to the thought itself. Nazai was more experienced than me and he never seemed to complain at my performance in the bedroom, but if I initiated things then would he expect me to take the lead? Would I even want that? In my life I was so used to being the leader and problem solver. I was never meant to be a follower, but with Nazai, in the bedroom, that all changed. My body seemed to submit willingly, no matter how much my mind protested.
It was one reason I’d been so unsettled. My body craved my husband and I felt foolish because I wasn’t sure or comfortable enough to vocalize that without fearing I sounded pathetic or looking like a fool.
