The Obsession Book 2

Mira returned to the ballroom and automatically reached for another glass of champagne.

She’d just agreed to work with Nicholai Bach; he’d had his hands all over her and she’d loved it.

She was in big trouble.

She knew she was setting herself up for more hurt by accepting his proposal.

After everything they’d done together, there was no way they could keep their relationship strictly professional.

So why was she going to torture herself like that? Because she had feelings for him and they weren’t all anger.

She swallowed half the glass in the first gulp and then downed the rest in the second.

She swapped her empty glass with a full one and made a turn around the room.

Now that she didn’t have to focus on getting investors, she was planning on having a good time.

Nicholai scowled from the other side of the ballroom, while he watched Mira down her third—or was that the fourth—glass of champagne in less than ten minutes.

If she didn’t slow down and get some food in her, he’d have to haul her out of here unconscious.

She walked toward the buffet with another girl and he breathed a sigh of relief as she popped a shrimp cocktail into her mouth.

Natasha walked over to him and tapped her flute against his with a smile.

She wore a blood-red ball gown that floated around her slim frame and complimented her equally red lips.

“Seems like this event is a success,” she mused, standing at his side to survey the crowd.

“Yes, quite,” Nicholai replied and took a sip of his champagne.

Natasha noticed his eyes lingering on Mira.

“She did well tonight,” Natasha commented. “I heard snippets of her conversation with some of the investors; she can hold her own with them.”

Nicholai smiled, his eyes never wavering.

“I’m giving her the Shorelands project.”

Natasha’s lips drew together in a firm line, and she faced him squarely. She got closer to him so as not to be overheard.

“She just started here, Nick,” she whispered harshly. “I thought that was mine!”

Nicholai shrugged and had to resist the urge to roll his eyes at her.

“You’ll get another, Natasha.”

Not to be outdone by an amateur, Natasha put her hand on his arm, making his eyebrows draw together as he watched her carefully.

“Come by my place after?” she asked, “We can continue this party in my Jacuzzi.”

Nicholai carefully disengaged himself from her hand and actually regretted the one time they had slept together. It had been after a company event, much similar to this one, almost a year ago.

“Maybe some other time,” he told her gently and set her away from him, just as he looked up and his eyes met Mira’s furious ones.

“You’re sleeping with Natasha, aren’t you?” Mira hissed when Nicholai met her at the buffet.

“Would you lower your voice?” he hissed back, but Mira had seen red as soon as her boss put her hand on him.

“You are out there kissing me and then planning to meet your fuck buddy later?” she all but slurred.

Nicholai grabbed her arm and led her to the nearest exit, which, luckily for them, was right behind the buffet, so they didn’t draw any attention.

“You’re going home.” Nicholai’s jaw tensed as he led her out back.

He pulled his phone out with one hand, while the other dragged her behind him.

“Paul, bring the car to the back.” He quickly disconnected and shoved the phone back into his jacket pocket.

“Let me go!” Mira struggled, but it was futile. He had a firm grip on her upper arm.

He pushed open the back door exit just as Paul came out and opened the back door of the car.

Nicholai all but shoved her in and when she bounced right back up, he got in beside her and Paul closed the door behind them.

The partition was already up. He pulled her onto his lap and slammed his mouth down on hers, as it was the only way to silence her.

She struggled for all of two seconds and then she sunk into the kiss, her arms twining around his neck to pull him closer, alcohol ridding her of all her inhibitions.

The kiss went on and on, tongues sliding against each other, until she was breathing only him.

“You drive me crazy,” Nicholai muttered, his forehead pressed to hers.

“I saw the way she looked at you,” she said, her eyes meeting his. “You slept with her.”

Nicholai sighed and settled her against his chest.

“It was a long time ago,” he stated and felt her stiffen on his lap at his confirmation.

She tried to wriggle off his lap but he held her firmly against him.

“I haven’t been with anyone since you, Mira,” he told her honestly.

Mira didn’t believe him. He was too domineering, too gorgeous, too virile, just too everything.

“Prove it.” She was just intoxicated enough to make the demand.

She lifted her full skirt and adjusted the folds so that she could straddle him on the seat.

She brought her lips mere inches from his.

Nicholai’s hands went to her hips, stopping her.

“Mira, don’t.” But she wasn’t deterred by his half-hearted protest.

Her mouth took his, just as fiercely as he had taken hers moments before. She slid a hand down his chest and could feel the heat of him through his shirt.

Her hand pressed even lower and she lifted just slightly so that she could cup him through his trousers.

He moaned into her mouth and she felt him jump in her hand when she gave him a squeeze.

“You’re playing with fire, little girl.”

She ignored him, unbuttoned his pants, and slid the zip down, her tongue thrusting inside his to halt any further protests.

With a tilt of his hips and of hers, his cock sprang free between them. She immediately closed her fist around him and felt the shudder that went through his taut frame.

Nicholai shoved both hands in her hair and pulled her mouth away from his to look into her eyes, which were heavy-lidded and slightly glassy from the champagne.

“Tell me you want this, Mira,” he said harshly, fighting for control. She seemed to have taken it all from him. “I don’t want you to say I took unfair advantage of you.”

She smiled at him.

“But I want you to take advantage of me, Nicholai.” She reached for his lips again with her mouth, but the hands in her hair stopped her.

“I mean it, Mira. Say the words. Now.”

The smile disappeared and in its place, he saw the arousal, the longing.

“I want this,” she said softly. “I want you.”