God of Wrath (Legacy of Gods #3) by Rina Kent

But before I can lower my head, Cecily slaps a hand on that spot and spins around. “No, nope. I told you I’m visiting my parents tomorrow, and if I do that with a visible mark the size of the ocean, my father will probably conduct a search and seize.”

My hand splays out on her lower back as I push against her so that she’s trapped between me and the desk. “Is he that scary?”

“No. Well, maybe a little. We were always so close, and he doesn’t respond well to guys touching me.”

“Looks like I have my work cut out for me.”

“Don’t do anything.” She flattens her palms on my chest, touching, exploring, imploring.

Her advances have become a bit more daring in the last couple of weeks, but still not sure or confident enough. She only touches me when she’s either holding on to me or wants to stop me. No time in between.

“I really would rather not piss off Papa.”

“Take me with you, and I’ll change his mind.”

“No way in hell,” she blurts. Then, seeming to think better of it, she says more calmly, “He just needs time before I can tell him all about it.”

My jaw clenches and it takes everything in me not to tighten my hold on her waist. “Are you sure he’s the one who needs time and not you?”

She swallows, her touch growing unsteady. “I just don’t know how to explain your background to my parents.”

“Did you have to explain Annika’s?”

“She’s different. She won’t be inheriting a mafia empire and she never really liked that part of your lives.”

“And I do.”

“Isn’t that true?”

“My background and who I am changes nothing, Cecily. If you think you can use that as an excuse to leave me, then you have no fucking clue who you’re dealing with.”

“Seems that I perfectly do, considering your threats whenever something doesn’t go your way.” Her lips purse. “You need to stop doing that. This isn’t how relationships work.”

“Then how do they work? By hiding me from your parents like I am the dirty little secret?”

“I never said that.”

“You don’t have to. Your actions speak louder than your words.”

“Can’t you understand my perspective? This is new to me, like I’m sure it’s new to you. Would you take me to see your parents?”

“Tomorrow if you like.”

Awe and surprise mix and clash on her face. “You…would?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“But aren’t you supposed to marry a Russian? Someone like Maya?”

“That’s a preference and in no way mandatory.”

“Wow. You really would introduce me to your parents.”

“As I said, you’re not my dirty little secret. I’m not embarrassed of you, which can’t be said about you.”

“I’m not embarrassed by you, Jeremy. I just…need to come to terms with all of this on my own before I involve other people.”

“Is that what you truly believe or are you just too scared to admit to what we have?”

Her face blanches, and it’s all the answer I need. I release her and step back, forcing her to let go of me.

She takes a step forward, but whatever she has to say is interrupted when the door barges open and hits the wall from the force of it.

Nikolai strolls inside, followed closely by his cousin Gareth.

“Ever heard of knocking?” I say in a tone that doesn’t hide my displeasure.

“You zip it.” He holds up a hand that will be fucking broken in about a second, along with his ribs because he’s shirtless again.

Gareth remains at the door, watching the scene intently while his unhinged cousin circles us with the aura of a lion. “What do we have here? I placed a bet and called the guards liars when they said you brought a girl—who isn’t your sister—over. Looks like I lost a few bills, but this shit is worth it. I say, why her, Jer? You said she was dull and more boring than a nun.”

This motherfucker.

Cecily’s face goes red, a different shade from the color that covered her cheeks when these two came in. That one was embarrassment mixed with discomfort. This one is anger.

And yes, I did say she was dull and fucking boring, but only to deflect Gareth’s and especially Nikolai’s interest from her. This asshole likes to fuck around a lot, and Cecily was simply not going to find a way onto his list.

That incident happened long before I chased her in the woods and metaphorically staked a claim on her.

“You were duped, Niko,” Gareth says with a knowing smile. “You can be really slow sometimes.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He glares back at his cousin, who’s still nonchalantly studying the scene, probably sensing that I’m approaching the point of an explosion the more Nikolai keeps talking, or even existing, near her.

Not getting a reply, my friend, who’ll soon lose those friendship privileges, slides closer to Cecily. “Your name is Cecilia, right?”

The red has slowly disappeared from her face, but she’s turned cold both in expression and voice. “Cecily.”

“Tomayto, tomahto.” He stares at her funnily. “You’re close with lotus flower, aren’t you? You have this whole shared love of unicorns, cakes, and saving animals.”