Free Licorice Whips by Bridget Midway Page B

than just some little, white pills. A large, pink vibrator sat on top of miscellaneous papers and pens. His mind conjured an image of Nikla’s nude form on her bed, writhing in pleasure as she drove her faux phallus in and out of her pink channel. He almost emitted a growl just thinking about it.
    Sweet didn’t close the drawer right away. He stared at Nikla for a moment.
    She kept her gaze down before finally connecting her stare to his. “Aspirins are in my bathroom.” She pointed to an opened doorway across from her.
    Sweet closed the drawer and walked into the bathroom. As soon as he opened the right side of the medicine cabinet, he saw a bottle of aspirins. He grabbed it and a cup from a dispenser next to her sink and filled it with water.
    As soon as he walked into the room, Nikla found the strength to talk.
    “I don’t use that all the time.” She laughed nervously.
    “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” Sweet hated lying. He wanted to know everything about the toy.
    When did she buy it? Did she buy it or did her stupid ex-boyfriend? Did the ex use it on her? Did Nikla use it on herself while he watched? How often did she use it? The next time she used it, would she think of him?
    Sweet handed her the cup of water, then opened the bottle.
    “I didn’t want you thinking that I’m some sort of repressed freak or something, one cat shy of being a shut-in.”
    He deposited two pills into her hand and placed the bottle on the nightstand. Nikla downed the medicine and followed it with the water.
    Sweet accepted the empty cup. “I happen to like repressed freaks.” He slid his hand into his pocket.
    From the way Nikla looked at him, she appeared as though she thought he would be pulling out a string of condoms. Even though he hated himself for even thinking it, he wanted them because he really wanted her. Every time that thought hit him, it scared the shit out of him.
    He pulled out her keys and handed them to her. “Hope you feel better. I’ll let myself out.”
    “You know I’m still going to come to Decadent Treats and hand out my fliers.”
    Sweet turned at the doorway and stared at her. “I’ll be out there with you. Is that going to bother you?”
    Nikla stared at him pointedly before she shook her head. She licked her lips, then brought her hand up to undo her hair bun. She fluffed out her long, wavy, chocolate brown hair, then brought her attention back to him.
    The sizzling electricity that zipped between the two of them couldn’t be denied. With every part of his being, he wanted this woman. If she didn’t want every part of him, both his vanilla and his kinky side, he didn’t want to chance opening his heart again.
    Before another word could be spoken, Sweet walked out of her apartment. He hated that his body craved her already without really touching her. Somehow she managed to worm her way to his soul. Now he needed to figure out a way to purge her from his system.

 
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Days after his encounter with Nikla, Sweet couldn’t get her out of his thoughts. Her lips, her eyes, her smell, the way her body felt next to his—he couldn’t get enough of her. He now ached for a woman’s touch more than before, more than when he and Melinda had been together.
    Considering Nikla had come back after her panic attack to hand out her hate propaganda in front of the store every day that week, and—as he promised—he went out to confront her each day, he assumed she had wanted to see him. He also knew how brave she had been to admit—and confess—a lot of personal items to him.
    Although her panic attack and her relationship with her father came as a surprise to him, he couldn’t stop thinking about her vibrator and how she used it...and how often. He also wondered if she had used it after their encounter in her bedroom.
    Her closed-off yet determined nature intrigued him. Maybe he’d gotten too used to the women at The Dollhouse.
    Women who had just met him did