Ella’s stomach dropped.
He was flirting.
In front of everyone.
And he knew exactly what he was doing.
She could already feel the judgnt radiating off Sienna like a cloud of cheap perfu.
Ella’s face burned.
"Nicholas, please—"
"What?" He leaned in lazily, bracing his forearms on the counter. His voice dropped low enough that only she could hear. "You don’t want them to know you’re mine?"
Ella’s heart stamred painfully.
I’m not yours.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t force them out.
Because part of her wanted to be his.
Part of her wanted him to say it out loud.
To claim her.
To burn this whole damn place to the ground.
Instead, she bit her tongue, her nails digging into her palms.
Nicholas’s smirk widened, like he’d won so invisible ga.
"You ready to go, dolcezza?"
Ella clenched her jaw, hating him more with every second.
"Yeah."
By the ti they reached the car, her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe.
Nicholas opened the door for her, his eyes never leaving her face.
"You let them get to you."
Ella froze, her hand on the door handle.
He’d seen it.
Of course, he had.
She squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing hard.
"They think you’re my sugar daddy or sothing."
Nicholas’s low chuckle brushed against her skin.
"And what if I am?"
Ella’s eyes snapped open, heat flooding her face.
"You’re not."
His smirk was pure sin.
"I could be."
Ella’s heart slamd against her ribs.
Bastard.
Without another word, she climbed into the car, slamming the door behind her.
Nicholas slid behind the wheel, that smug smile still tugging at his lips.
"You’ll get used to people talking, dolcezza." His voice was low, lazy. "They always talk about the things they can’t have."
Ella’s stomach clenched painfully.
She hated him.
She hated him so much.
Because deep down, she knew...
He was right.
And worst of all—
She didn’t know if she wanted him to stop.
Ella stared out of the window, her brows furrowing as she realized Nicholas wasn’t taking the usual route ho.
She straightened in her seat, turning to face him. "Where are we going?"
Nicholas, who had one hand lazily draped over the steering wheel, glanced at her with a smirk. "You’ll see."
Ella narrowed her eyes. "Nicholas—"
"If you’re going to complain, at least wait until we get there," he cut in smoothly, tapping his fingers against the wheel. "Relax, dolcezza. It’s a surprise."
Ella folded her arms, but her curiosity got the better of her. Nicholas wasn’t the kind of man to do things without a reason. If he was taking her sowhere, it had to be for sothing specific.
She let out a breath and slumped back into her seat. "Fine."
Nicholas chuckled.
The drive continued in silence, and it wasn’t until they pulled up in front of a familiar neon-lit building that Ella’s stomach flipped.
Her eyes widened as she took in the club’s entrance—the very sa one where she had t Nicholas for the first ti.
A mix of emotions flooded her. That night had changed everything.
She turned to him, stunned. "Why here?"
Nicholas killed the engine, unbuckling his seatbelt. "We’re celebrating."
Ella blinked. "Celebrating what?"
His lips curled into a teasing smirk. "You got a job, didn’t you?"
Ella scoffed. "Nicholas, this isn’t a big deal—"
"It is to ," he said simply. "Now, are you going to argue all night, or are you going to let buy you a drink?"
Ella hesitated. The idea of drinking with Nicholas again, especially here, felt like walking into dangerous territory.
But he was already out of the car, walking around to open her door.
He leaned down, his dark eyes gleaming in the club’s neon lights. "Co on, dolcezza. Don’t make carry you in."
Ella rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched. "You wouldn’t dare."
Nicholas cocked a brow. "Try ."
Heat flushed through her, and she quickly stepped out of the car before he could make good on his threat.
The music from inside thrumd through the air as they stepped in. The club was just as she rembered—dimly lit, packed with bodies moving to the beat, the scent of alcohol and expensive cologne mixing in the air.
Nicholas led her toward the VIP section, effortlessly commanding the attention of the staff. Within monts, they were seated at an exclusive booth, a bottle of expensive liquor placed in front of them.
Ella glanced around, still feeling out of place despite the luxurious surroundings.
Nicholas poured her a drink, sliding the glass toward her. "Relax."
Ella sighed, taking the glass and sipping. The burn of alcohol was imdiate, spreading warmth through her body.
Nicholas watched her, amused. "Better?"
She shot him a look. "Are you always this persistent?"
He smirked. "Only when it cos to things I want."
Her breath hitched, and she quickly looked away.
The drinks kept coming, and before Ella knew it, the initial tension had lted away.
She was laughing more, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.
Nicholas leaned in at one point, his voice low. "Dance with ."
Ella blinked up at him, her head buzzing. "What?"
"You heard ." He stood, offering his hand. "Let’s dance."
Ella hesitated. "I don’t think that’s a good idea."
Nicholas’s smirk deepened. "Afraid you won’t be able to resist ?"
Ella scoffed. "Please."
But she took his hand anyway.
The mont he led her onto the dance floor, she knew she had made a mistake.
Nicholas pulled her close, his hands settling on her waist. The music pulsed around them, the heavy bass vibrating through the floor.
Ella tried to focus on the rhythm, but Nicholas’s touch was too distracting.
He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear. "You’re thinking too much."
Ella swallowed hard. "Maybe you should stop talking, then."
He chuckled, his breath warm against her skin. "Is that what you want?"
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t.
Because Nicholas’s hands had tightened on her waist, pulling her even closer. Their bodies moved together, falling into an effortless rhythm.
Every brush of his fingers against her sent sparks dancing through her veins.
Ella felt drunk—but not from the alcohol.
From him.
She tilted her head up, eting his gaze. His dark eyes burned into hers, filled with sothing raw and unreadable.
Her breath ca in short, shallow bursts.
Nicholas’s gaze flicked to her lips.
Ti seed to slow.
His fingers trailed up her spine, sending shivers down her back.
Ella’s heart pounded.
Nicholas leaned in—
And then—
A loud crash near the bar snapped them both out of it.
Ella jerked back, her pulse racing.
Nicholas cursed under his breath, his jaw tightening.
Ella took a shaky breath, stepping away. "I—I need air."
Nicholas’s eyes searched hers, sothing unreadable flashing across his face.
But he didn’t stop her as she turned and hurried toward the exit, her heart still hamring against her ribs.
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