Her sleepy tone made the urge to smile harder to resist, but he managed, answering mildly, “The usual.”
Without opening her eyes, she made a face again, but as soon as she did, Nik bent his head and kissed her on the mouth.
Oh!
When he lifted his head, Daria still had her eyes closed, but she wore a dreamy expression on her face. “Mooooore.”
Third time was the charm, and this time Nik failed to stop himself from smiling. “Spoiled little vixen,” he murmured in Greek.
Her eyes opened a little as Daria asked suspiciously, “Did you say something bad about me?”
“Not at all.”
“I don’t believe you.” She sighed. “But your touch feels so good, I’m going to forgive you.”
“How magnanimous of you,” he said.
“You might as well speak Greek when you use words like that.”
He allowed himself to smile again, but only because Daria’s eyes were closed now.
When her head started to fall, Nik swept her up in his arms and placed her on the bed, tucking her in before joining her under the covers.
She rolled immediately towards him, snuggling against his body. She was the only one who cared to do that. Not even Miranda had ever displayed a desire to have contact with him after sex.
“Nik?” Daria mumbled. “Maybe next time you can bring your work with you here, so we can work together and you don’t waste your time.”
Nik didn’t answer.
Beside him, Daria, who had only been pretending to be sleepy, tried not to be disappointed. No harm in trying, she told herself. She could give it another week or two, and then she would try again.
But when she woke up the next day, the first thing she saw upon coming out of the bedroom was a brand new iMac set up on an equally new office table in the corner of her living room.
Walking to it, she saw a note on the keyboard.
Out to buy breakfast.
Will be working here today.
I hope you don’t charge me for rent.
Nik
As soon as she read the message, she spun around and ran back to her room. Snatching her cellphone from the dresser, she hurriedly sent a group message to Alyx and Yanna, telling them exactly what had happened.
Daria: You guys believe me now, don’t you? Nik’s starting to forgive me! It’s God giving me a second chance!
Yanna: I think so. :)
Alyx: The devil has many disguises.
Daria: You’re so paranoid.
Alyx: Wrong. It’s called being REALISTIC. He’s the DEVIL. So stay away from the devil!
“Ready to eat?”
Daria almost jumped a foot, and the words were out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying. “Speak of the devil!”