Illicit Temptations (Tempted #1)

“You sure about that?” I asked before shaking my head. “Forget I even asked.” He was useless to me. A black car pulled up to the curb causing both of us to turn around and see who it was.

“Fucking great.” Anthony mumbled recognizing the car. The passenger door opened and Nikki climbed out. I looked back at Anthony watching as he struggled with some sort of internal war. He clenched his fists at his side as he started for the car, walking around to the driver’s side. Nikki closed the door and turned around watching as Anthony walked to the driver door. She took two steps backward never taking her eyes off Anthony. He tapped his hand on the roof of the car and Nikki opened her mouth to speak, but must’ve decided against it because as quickly as she opened it she closed it just the same.

“Roll down your window.” Anthony said, bending down so he could look in the tinted windows. “Open the damn window Adrianna.”

After I figured out this shit with Rico, I was going to uncover what the fuck was going on between those two. She must’ve rolled the window down because he wasn’t throwing a tantrum. His body was still bent and he was talking softly. Nikki looked at me distracting me from trying to listen in on Anthony and Adrianna’s conversation.

“I never want to be like them.” She said sadly tearing her eyes away from me to look back at the car. “I wish they’d get their shit together.”

“Yeah.” I said having no idea what the fuck else to say since I had no clue what she was talking about.

She turned around and stood directly in front of me chewing on her bottom lip nervously. Her brown hair was pulled back from her face in a messy bun that sat high on the top of her head. She had miles of hair. I wanted to take the pins out and let her hair fall down around her face. If I couldn’t have it sprawled out over my pillow, at least I could run my fingers through it if it was down. I must’ve frowned because she touched the corner of my mouth with her finger.

“What’s the matter?” She whispered.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Anthony shouted, breaking my train of thought. Adrianna’s car peeled away from the curb, tires screeching along the pavement, leaving Anthony standing in the street watching her car drive away from him.

Nikki glanced at Anthony over her shoulder shaking her head unhappily before looking back at me. “Ignore them. It happens at least once a week.”

I looked at Anthony for another minute actually feeling sorry for him before I focused my attention back to Nikki. Christ, she was beautiful like really naturally beautiful. She wasn’t wearing any makeup and was dressed casually there was nothing artificial about her which made her beauty even more appealing. She cast her eyes downward breaking eye contact with me. I noticed the difference in her at that moment. She was lacking the confidence that she always seemed to exuberate making her appear vulnerable. A foreign feeling crept inside of me an ache I had never known before tore through me as I realized that I had a hand in stripping her of her confidence. My stupid actions chipped away, robbing Nikki of one of her most endearing characteristics. She peered up at me for a moment, probably hoping I’d break the ice.

“There’s a coffee shop across the street why don’t we go grab a cup of coffee and talk.” I suggested. I didn’t want to bring her into the club to have this conversation because Rico was there. My jaw clenched just thinking of him and the fucking picture he painted for me when he told me about his morning rendezvous with my girl. The idea of his hands on her made me want to throttle him.

“Okay.” She said turning around without glancing at me. Great. I hope the coffee shop served Sambuca with their espresso. I’d order a double.



We sat across from one another in silence. I sipped my cappuccino while Mikey downed two shots of espresso. This was just as painfully awkward as I imagined it would be. I watched as he nervously tapped his foot against the tile floor his eyes roamed the coffee shop staring at anything but me. He had called me relentlessly throughout the day and now here I was sitting in front of him and he had nothing to say. I pushed my mug away from me grabbing his attention as the saucer screeched along the old table. I lifted my eyes to meet him and looked at him expectantly.

“For crying out loud, Mikey, you wanted to talk, so talk.” I said sounding exasperated.

“Yeah, I wanted to talk, but that was before I saw you and you looked like that.” He said with a swift nod in my direction.

“Excuse me?” I said, glancing down at myself. Well, excuse me if I didn’t put a fucking ball gown on. “I don’t always wear a mini skirt. Sorry to disappoint you Mikey.” I sneered.

He slapped the palm of his hand on the table and leaned forward anger evident in his eyes.