Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 368

Chapter 368: A Strict Relationship
Ariana released a groan of frustration, but even her groan could not stifle the sound of walls crashing and crumbling onto the ground. She knew that she should be ignoring Nicolai, but it was impossible.

All this time, she had refused the very notion of being attracted to him. But last night held enough evidence to tell her how wrong she was.

Last time she had blamed it on the drug, but yesterday she was not drunk. Nope. She had drunk a few sips of whiskey, but that did not mean that she was drunk beyond reasoning.

Since pushing Nicolai away was not going to work—then she might as well let him do what he wanted.

After all, he was like a coiled spring, no matter how she suppressed him, he would spring right back up.

Maybe, if she were to let him get close, he would leave her alone once he realised what kind of monsters lurked inside of her head and heart. And during this entire time, she would keep her heart closed.

She would never let things go out of control, she would bid for her time and wait for the day when Nicolai got bored with her and tossed her aside. Then Ariana would pick herself up and leave without worrying.

A flicker of hesitation flashed in her eyes and the words of her mother echoed in her ear, but she refused to let them govern her. For the first time, she wanted to take charge of her life.

Not because of someone but for herself.

For him.

She would never let Nicolai know this but this man—he brought a kind of courage in her heart. One that she never thought she would have.

A sigh left her lips while Nicolai watched her closely as if he were trying to deduce what was going on inside her head.

‘I can’t believe I am agreeing to this stupid thing,’ thought Ari with a heavy exhale.

“No one…you can’t tell anyone —about this to anyone,” Ariana raised her head and looked at Nicolai. “You can’t tell anyone that we–we are… well… doing that.” Two pink patches appeared on her face when she finished speaking.

“Not even my bros?”

“Of course not. I don’t want Aiden to know —it will be so awkward working under him.”

“What about my sister then? She is adopted,” he added when Ari looked at her with a questioning look. “But we are really close. She gets me, you know?” Nicolai asked and Ari felt a surge of annoyance.

“No means no. You cannot let anyone know about this.”

“Wow, you really …” he shook his head before saying, “Fine. I will not tell anyone.”

“And it will be better if I come to your penthouse instead of you coming here,” Ari told Nicolai, when she thought about her nosy neighbours and Arabella, Ari didn’t think it was safe for her to let Nicolai inside her apartment.

Who knows what kind of rumours would start spreading if she was caught having a strictly physical relationship with Nicolai?

“Why can’t I come to your house?” Nicolai asked with a frown.

“Because people will talk, Nicolai,” Ari said in a stern voice. “I—I just got divorced a few months ago and if they see me getting along with another man they will start pointing fingers. The position of a woman has always been vulnerable after all.”

“I would rather not be called a harlot for moving on with my life. But that is how it is.”

“How do you know that I don’t bring anyone to my penthouse?” Nicolai asked with a grin. “Are you keeping tabs on me?”

Ari bit her lower lip, and then she took a deep breath before saying, “It was just a suggestion. And you did bring someone to your penthouse.”

“Are you still jealous over that? I told you I didn’t even touch a strand of her hair.”

“I am not jealous.”

“Whatever you say, princess.”

Ari narrowed her eyes and then said to Nicolai, “I am serious, Nicolai. You cannot go around announcing that we are sort of a thing now. Don’t try to act like we are lovers in front of others.” She did not want any more judgmental gazes.

“But I want to be with you,” Nicolai said as he moved forward and pressed his chest against her firmly. “I intend to be with you all the time and there are a bunch of places I want to take you. I planned so many dates for us.”

“I don’t want that to happen,” Ari placed her hand on his chest to make him stop from getting any closer. “This is just physical, that’s how you keep things right?” She would rather not dive any deeper into this entanglement, getting hurt once was enough.

Nicolai narrowed his eyes and glared down at her, “We will see about this.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“What do you think?” Nicolai tilted his head to one side. “Do we really have to be this strict?”

“Yes. We are nothing in public, Nicolai. Don’t you forget it,” she repeated.

“I heard you the first time, just fiiiine. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“That is all for the time being, if there is anything more then I will let you know,” Ariana replied.

“Thank the lord,” Nicolai groaned as he twisted her around and pressed her against the trunk of a tree. His lips came swooping down on Ari’s as he kissed her hard and deep.

He kissed her like he was a drowning man. With every nip, he took out the resentment that had been bubbling in his heart since the entire night.

“Since we are done with your stupid checklist,” he said as he pulled away from her. “Don’t you dare to run away from me again? If you dare to repeat what you did last night, then I will burn the world until I find you. And breaking those flimsy doors will be the first thing that I do. You are mine now, princess.”