Touch Me Not (Manwhore, #1)(53)

“Well, I thought I’d do a surprise wedding for her,” Mike said. “I want to plan it for the day after I propose to her. I thought it would be special for us to get married in-game to celebrate.”

“That is so sweet.” Lily smiled.

“Wait, hold up a sec,” Nikoli interrupted. “You’re talking about VSL? Virtual Social Life?”

“They are.” Adam laughed at Nikoli’s shocked expression.

“You play a sex game?” Nikoli demanded, and Lily cackled like a crone. He sounded outraged.

“It’s a little more than just a sex game,” Lily told him. “It’s an online world.”

“Essentially, Lily Bells, it’s a game to meet and f*ck,” Nikoli disagreed.

“Maybe for you,” she said. “I have fun there going to clubs, exploring new places, and hanging out with my friends.”

“Do I know you there?”

“I don’t know,” she teased. “Do you?” Her grin only widened when his eyes narrowed. She was enjoying watching him struggle with this more than she should.

“What’s your username in-world?”

“Uh-uh.” She shook her head. “Not telling.”

“Dushka…”

“I asked you not to call me that.”

“Tell me your name, and I won’t ever call you dushka again.”

“Nope,” Lily said. She watched his expression harden and felt the first flutter of nerves. It wasn’t apprehension, it was more of anticipation nerves, thinking of how he was going to react. She loved the feeling, loved that it could push her fear away and let her just feel. Nikoli was accomplishing what everyone else hadn’t been able to. He was healing her. The thought brought a smile to her face until she saw his black eyes narrow further. Oh, this couldn’t be at all good.

Nikoli worked to get his expression under control. He hadn’t been able to suppress his surprise upon learning his sweet, innocent little Lily played a sex game. It was true, there were a lot of other things to do in VSL, but he had yet to meet a single player who didn’t have virtual sex. They did other things, sure, but sex was a big part of it too.

Why wouldn’t she tell him her name?

“Are we friends there?” he asked, his voice calm and even. Lily only smiled, not answering the question. He knew Mike played, and they’d hung out a few times, but Lily? Mind. Blown.

“Mikey?” Lily tilted her head to look at Mike, the question plain on her face.

He laughed. “Don’t worry, Lils, my friend list is hidden.”

“You know I am going to figure this out,” Nikoli promised, his smile feral. Lily’s eyes grew wider and even Mike looked a little alarmed. As well he should. Nikoli could make his life hell in that game, and Mike knew it.

“Don’t worry about the gems. I’ll take care of the wedding,” Lily said, sliding farther away from Nikoli. He snorted. As if that was going to save her.

“Weddings in VSL are expensive,” Mike protested.

“Couple people owe me some favors,” she said, waving his protest away. “Remember when Jan and I helped with the Sabotages’ wedding? Jan showed me exactly what she wants for her own wedding, right down to the dress and the cake design. I got it handled, Mikey.”

“What about the theme?” Adam piped in. “You can’t reserve the venue till you get the theme down.”

While the three of them discussed various in-world venues, Nikoli made up his mind. He’d been using kid gloves with Lily up until now, but he was going to push her today. They were going to the penthouse and she was going to get her first lesson in feeling his hands against her naked flesh. He felt his entire body tighten just thinking about running his hands over her.

“Lily Bells, you almost ready to go?” he asked, interrupting their conversation. He needed to get her moving. “I made a reservation at Mason’s, and you and I both still need to get cleaned up if we are going to make it.”

“I don’t know if I have anything to wear there!” Lily gasped.

“Don’t worry, I bought you something,” Nikoli assured her, “but we need to get going soon.”

Lily frowned and Nikoli ignored it. One thing he had discovered was Lily was very uncomfortable accepting gifts from him. She didn’t want him to spend money on her, another first for him. He’d only spent money on one other girl before, and only because she’d demanded it. The experience had soured him. Lily was different, though. She made him want to get her things, just to make her happy. It was cute when she’d frown and say he shouldn’t have. Another sign he was getting in too deep, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

“How did you swing reservations at Mason’s?” Mike gawked at him.

Nikoli shrugged. Mason’s was one of Boston’s most exclusive restaurants, and it usually took months to get a reservation, but Nikoli knew the owner. Mason’s teenage sons were fans of Nik’s games. They always got pre-release copies, and Nikoli got reservations when he needed them, no questions asked. An idea popped into his head, and he grinned a Cheshire cat grin.

“What are you up to?” Lily demanded.

Nikoli laughed. “Tell you what, Mike. You give me Lily Bell’s in-game name, and I’ll make sure you get a reservation at Mason’s for the night you pop the question. I’ll even pay the bill. You order whatever you want. It’s on me.”