Niko(Love Me Harder #2)(27)
The woman who woke me up the next morning looked like my mom, but she wasn’t her. That morning a man was sitting at the table when she fed me breakfast. He was the first of many. My mom taught me that a body could be used to make a way in this world. Never to think of it as special or even as totally yours. It was more like currency.”
She rolled to her side not wanting to see his face. Would he be looking at her with pity or disgust? She never claimed to be like the others.
He rolled her back over. He caressed her face. That same gentle move that he had done before. She blinked fast to keep any tears from spilling.
“Where’s your mother?”
“Dead. She killed herself on my twenty-first birthday. She left me a note. Dear Dee, I am so sorry. You are grown now, baby. I have done everything in my power to teach you how to deal with this hard and sometimes cruel world. You’re equipped. I know you can make it. Don’t judge me too harshly, baby. I miss your father. I left you two things. Money for college – get that education you always dreamed of, Dee. You can do it. The second is love. I didn’t do a good job teaching you about it. I was always so concerned about you making it in this world. I love you Dee and your dad loved you too. You hang on. I promise I will petition the man upstairs every day until he sends you someone to love forever. Your mom.”
Her silent tears fell fast. He held her close.
“Pitiful.”
“No, kitten. Tragic.”
She shook her head in agreement. It was tragic.
“Why did you tell me that story, Niko?”
“For the same reason you told me about your mother. I wanted you to see me. My past is violent. I was created to be a killer and I filled that role with enthusiasm.”
“I did things, not nice things.” Dee added.
“I know.”
“There is one last thing you should know about my mother’s people.”
“What’s that?”
“According to the males I have spoken with, they allow the women to believe they are picking them. When a male picks a female, he never gives her up.”
Chapter Sixteen
She woke up on Niko’s chest. Nope, she wasn’t draped over him like a comfy throw. She was laying on him. Her whole body was on top of his and her head was pillowed over one of his nicely developed pecs. She could hear the thud of his heart in her ears. She had slept like a baby. Not one nightmare had dared bother her.
She was doomed.
How did you ever leave someone like Niko?
Untangling her body, she tried to slip out the bed unnoticed. He was laying there with his eyes closed, but she wasn’t buying it.
She tiptoed across the room, dressed and picked up her cell phone. She dialed a number and waited for it to ring.
“Rena.” She whispered, darting a glance at Niko. “You have to come get me while he is still asleep. No, I need to leave now. If he wakes up, he will never let me go. No, Rena. Last night was the worse night of my life.”
He surged up from the bed. “How could you…”
She fell to the floor laughing as she held up her cell phone that was off. “You know what they say if you listen to closed doors, or pretend to be asleep?”
His lips quirked, then he smiled. “You did that on purpose.”
“That’s what you get. Ask me. Don’t pretend around me. I hate that.”
“Forgive me. I know that. I thought it would be easier for you, if you thought I was still sleeping.”
“Don’t give up your day job. Your calling is not acting.”
He got out of bed and walked over to her, hugging her to his body. Leaning over, he kissed her long and hard.
“So if last night wasn’t the worse night of your life, what was it?”
She smiled and laid her head on him. Her big fierce alien needed reassurance too.
“It was one of the best nights of my life.”
He smiled and kissed her again. “I was thinking we could go to the mall and get you some clothes that fit.”
“Really?” She frowned in suspicion. “You said to yourself, what would Dee like to do? I know, let me take her to the mall and spend my money buying her clothes.”
He averted his eyes, staring over her shoulder at the wall.
“Well?” She nudged him with the same shoulder he was overlooking.
“It is possible that Rena may have whispered in my ear on her way out last night that a trip to the mall might be something you’d enjoy.”
Her body hummed in joy. “See. People wonder why we are besties, but she knows me so well and always has my back.”
“You’re not mad?”
“That my best friend told you to take me to the mall, buy me lots of clothes and ply me with strawberry lemonade? Nah, I think I am good. Remember to bring all of your credit cards.” She said the last over her shoulder as she headed to the bathroom for a shower. She would try the tub again later.