Reclaiming Tomorrow: Kingsley Series Book 3

by Thorne, Haylee

Paul offers me his arm and I accept. He leads me to the elevator and we head downstairs. Carlos the night doorman greets us as we step off the elevator.

  “Miss Kingsley, you look lovely this evening. Where are you two headed? Do I need to fetch you a car?” He asks me as he tips his hat.

  I smile at him with genuine affection. “Thank you, Carlos. We are headed to the Pierre hotel for our winter formal. I think that Paul here has the ride covered.”

  “Actually, you two will be riding with us.”

  Annoyed I turn around. “Mika, I told you that we have this covered.”

  “And I am telling you, that you can ride with us or not go at all.”

  “You are not the boss of me.”

  I glare at Mika, who seems unaffected by the fact that I am clearly annoyed.

  “You’re right, but I can always let grandfather know that you are refusing to let me accompany you. And you know how he gets.” He says calmly.

  I’m about to argue some more, but Paul interrupts.

  “It’s fine. We don’t mind riding with you at all.”

  I don’t like him speaking for me, but I am not about to give my brother the satisfaction of ruining my evening. So, deciding to let it go, I plaster a fake smile on my face and nod my head slightly.

  “Great, that is decided then,” Mika says with a smirk.

  Eric has been noticeably quiet but seems quite pleased with the outcome of this. I follow the guys outside and walk toward the waiting limo. The driver opens the door and Mika climbs in, followed by Paul. Eric stops and offers his hand to help me get into the car, but I am more than a little annoyed at him right now. I know that it was him that talked Mika into making us ride with them. He’s just as overprotective as Mika sometimes. I throw him my best pissed off look and ignore the hand he’s holding out for me and clumsily get into the car myself. Eric pretends not to notice, but I don’t miss the small smirk on his face.

  The trip to the Pierre hotel isn’t long, in fact, we could have easily walked. But hey, it’s a formal dance and it’s a little chilly too. Besides, we still have to pick up Mika’s and Eric’s dates. Nobody speaks as the car pulls out into traffic, the silence is awkward, but I don’t want to be the one to break it. I’m almost relieved when the guys start talking about basketball and lacrosse. We drive across town to get Lexi and Rose and head back to the upper east side. We get to the hotel mercifully fast and I scramble to get out of the car. I practically storm into the lobby with Paul running after me.

  “Hey, wait up.”

  I stop and let him catch up. “I’m sorry Paul, I wasn’t planning on having my brother stalk us all night.”

  He flashes me a smile. “It’s fine, he is preoccupied now. I’ll tell you what. Let’s restart our night? What do you say?”

  I return his smile and nod. Paul takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “You look beautiful tonight.”

  “Thank you, you look very handsome yourself.”

  I connect my arm with his and we walk into our winter formal. My earlier irritation melts away as we join our classmates. We have dinner first and I am actually surprised by how charming Paul is. I feel bad when I realize that I have never even given him a real shot. I only accepted the date out of annoyance at my brother. But right now, I am happy that I did. Sitting at home, pining after my brother’s best friend, who only sees me as a little sister, is getting old. I need to move on. And Paul seems like a good way to start that process. He does his best to make me feel at ease, and he is pretty funny. After dinner, we pretty much immediately head to the dance floor and I am actually having a wonderful time. After a good twenty minutes of solid dancing, we need a break and something to drink. Paul offers to grab me some punch, so I sit down at one of the tables and wait for him. I try not to look around too much, because I don’t want to see Eric having fun with another girl, as unreasonable as that sounds. Paul sits down next to me just moments later.

  “Here you go, milady.” He says as he hands me a glass of punch.

  “Thank you, kind sir.”

  “Put it down.”

  I look up and raise a brow when my gaze lands upon a very furious Eric.

  “I said put the damn glass down.” He bellows.

  While my initial instinct is to tell him to go to hell, the look on his face, combined with the harsh tone of his voice, has me obeying instead. Eric has never raised his voice to me before and I don’t think I have ever seen him this angry. He turns his attention to Paul.

  “Get the fuck up.”

  Paul just looks up at him, somewhat perplexed.

  “Get up or so help me God, I will help you get up.” He says, a savage edge to his tone.

  Paul doesn’t respond and Eric keeps his word, grabbing him by the collar, hoisting him from his chair.

  “Eric!

  “This piece of shit put something in your drink, Mik.” He tells me, not taking his eyes of Paul.

  “He did what?” How do you—.”

  I look at the glass sitting on the table.

  “Is it true Paul? Is he telling the truth?” I demand.

  “Why would—.”

  “Don’t bother denying it.” Eric snaps.

  “But why? Why would you do something like this? It’s not like you have to work very hard to get a girl. I don’t understand.” I ask confused.

  Paul remains tight-lipped and just stares angrily at Eric.

  “It’s because of your dad, Mikaela.” Eric answers for Paul.

  “My dad?” My dad has been gone for years. What the hell does he have to do with anything?”

  Eric continues, “My date overheard him talking at the bar and saw him slip something in your drink.”

  “Mason fucking Kingsley ruined my life, my family’s life. And I will not rest before I destroy all the Kingsley’s.” Paul finally responds, ice in his voice.

  I blink. “You were trying to hurt me because of something my father has done?”

  “Hurt you? This was just the beginning of the humiliation I was going to put you through. You Kingsley’s think you are better than everyone. High and mighty. A little humiliation is nothing compared to the shit your family has done to mine.” He sneers.

  I stab my finger in his chest. “You think that you were the only one victimized by Mason Kingsley? Our whole lives my brother and I have been blamed for the collateral damage that man has left in his wake. You think that we have not suffered by his hand? I lost my mother, you asshole. My mother!”

  I’m screaming at this point and people are looking, but I don’t give a rat’s ass right now. A bewildered Mika comes charging toward us with a couple of uniforms in tow. Eric let’s go of Paul and directs one of the officer’s attention to the spiked glass. Lexi walks up then and tells the police what she overheard and saw. I’m shaking like a leaf when Eric walks back over to me and puts his arm around me.

  “Can you please take me home?” I ask in a shaky voice.

  Eric doesn’t say a word, but takes my hand in his and leads me out of the room. We walk straight through the lobby without a single word. But I’ve never felt safer. When we get outside, he hails a cab. I expect him to put me in and return to his date, but to my surprise, he slides in next to me. I look up at him as the cab pulls in to traffic, our eyes meeting. “Thank you for saving me,” I whisper.

  Eric leans down and kisses the top of my head. “I’ll always save you, Lady Kingsley.”

  I rest my head on his shoulder and sigh. I am simultaneously lost and found. Because I know for a fact that there will never be room for anyone but Eric in my heart. But I also know that I will never have him.

  7 years ago…

  “We need to talk.” Lady Kingsley announces as I open my front door.

  It is nearly two in the morning, and I am still half asleep, not to mention half naked. But without hesitation, I step aside to make room for her to enter. She is soaking wet, but even looking like a drowned cat, she is easily the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my ey
es on.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask, with genuine concern.

  She looks up at me, her eyes glowing gold. My eyes are drawn to her plump bottom lip that catches between her teeth as she nods. I nearly groan as the sight of it and I can feel myself starting to swell. Fuck. I shift uncomfortably.

  “I’ll go get you a towel or something. You’re soaked.” I tell her quickly and turn to walk to the bathroom.

  “Wait. Please.” She croaks. “I need you, Eric.”

  I turn around and search her face. “Has someone hurt you?” I nearly growl.

  She shakes her head. “No, no. Nothing like that.”

  I take a step towards her. “Then what is it? Tell me.” I urge.

  “Are you really this obtuse, Eric?” she demands.

  Mikaela sighs and shakes her head. “I don’t want to feel like this anymore, Eric.”

  I frown. “Like what?”

  “Like I am doomed to forever stand next to what I want, but never get it.”

  I’m a little taken aback by the eloquent perfection she just used to describe how I have been feeling for the better part of my life.

  “I want you, Eric. There has never been anyone else for me. And I know that there never will be.”

  I want her too, more than anything, but I know that I shouldn’t. Off limits. I tell myself in a feeble attempt to talk myself out of this. I know that Mika would never forgive me, and he’s like a brother to me. But even as I tell myself that I can’t have her, I know all the while that I won’t be able to resist her.

  As if I could deny her anything when she looks at me with those hypnotic eyes. Mikaela has the kind of eyes that renders even great men helpless, and I’m nowhere near great.

  “Fuck it,” I growl as I close the distance between us and take her face in my hands.

  I pull her towards me, my hungry lips finding her eager ones, and I nearly explode as they collide. She throws her arms around my neck and I move my hands to her waist. I’ve been dreaming about her lips on mine for years now, but even in my sweetest fantasies, it wasn’t nearly as incredible as reality feels. I pull her closer against me, one hand gripping her hair. She opens her mouth slightly, allowing me to deepen the kiss. I close my eyes and inhale her scent, she smells like rain and sunshine rolled into one. And I can’t seem to control myself as I hoist her up and she wraps her legs around my waist. Holding her tightly against me, I walk towards my bathroom. I don’t even bother stopping as I walk in and head straight into the shower. Not once coming up for air, I feel around for the knobs to turn on the water. I find them and let the hot water cascade over us. I gently urge her legs from my waist and lower her to the floor. I don’t stop kissing her—it’s like I’m physically unable to remove my lips from hers. I start to (quite literally) peel her clothes off and in return she tugs my sweatpants down, revealing my very obvious want for her. It occurs to me that we are moving very fast, and with severe difficulty, I tear my lips from her mouth and I rest my forehead against hers.

  “Are we moving too fast? We can slow down, there is no need to rush this.” I tell her, exhausting the last of my willpower.

  She lets out an almost tortured laugh. “I’ve been waiting forever to give myself to you, Eric. If you don’t take me soon, I think I might die.”

  “Well, shit. We can’t have that.” I tell her with a smirk.

  She stands on the tips of her toes and pulls my head down so she can recapture my lips. I abandon any doubt, any shred of sanity I have left, and give myself over to the passion that has been brewing between us for so long. I am damn near desperate to plunge inside of her, but I need to make sure that she is ready for me. My lips leave hers and make their way to her long neck. I gently nibble and kiss my way down to her collarbone before landing at her breasts. I take one in each hand and apply some pressure. I roll her nipples between my thumb and forefinger and she moans. It’s the sweetest sound I have ever heard. I lean in and take one of her nipples into my mouth and she gasps so deliciously, that my cock twitches at the sound. I move to the other one and give it the same treatment. I’m rewarded with another sexy-as-hell moan. I need more of those little sounds, and I am willing to work hard to get them. I trail kisses down her belly as I slowly sink onto my knees. I hoist one of her legs over my shoulder and hold her steady with my free hand. My face is perfectly positioned at her core and I lick my lips in anticipation. I am starving for the taste of her, like a man deprived of water in the desert, I dive in with eager enthusiasm. She tastes even more sweet, even more sexy and more magnificent than I ever could have imagined—and believe me, I have been fantasizing about her for a very fucking long time. I could spend ten years down here and never tire. Her hand slides into my hair and she pulls me closer against her. My mouth is hungrily exploring the most intimate part of her, and my enthusiasm grows when I’m rewarded with delicious moans of pleasure. I slide two fingers inside of her and her walls squeeze tightly around my digits. Her pussy is throbbing, and that feeling, combined with the warmth and wetness, is making my cock ache—almost painfully so. I am dying to bury myself inside of her, but I want her to come for me first. I have this overwhelming need to make sure that she is properly worshipped. And I am going to take my time, making sure to deliver. I triple my efforts and suck at her little bundle of nerves as my fingers pump in and out of her.

  “Eric.” She gasps.

  Her grip on my hair tightens as she almost violently comes for me, and my God is it a fucking stunning sight. I can no longer wait and I rise to my feet while holding my goddess close to me.

  “I have to be inside of you, baby,” I tell her urgently. “But we need protection.”

  I lift her up and wrap her legs around me. I crush my mouth onto hers and walk into my bedroom, not bothering to dry off. I gently lay her wet body on top of my bed and only tear myself away from her long enough to retrieve a condom. She lays on my bed, watching my every move intently, her golden eyes glowing with desire, driving me to the brink of insanity—the best kind of insanity. I stalk towards her like a wild animal approaching its prey. And right now, she is very much my prey. I want to conquer her, devour her, own her. Every. Last. Inch. I crawl onto the bed until I am hovering above her. Our eyes lock, and I slide my index finger from her cheekbone to her chin.

  “Are you sure that this is what you want?”

  “Would you like a written invitation?”

  I raise a brow and use my leg to push hers apart. Not taking my eyes off her once, I rip apart the foil packet with my teeth and roll the condom on. I align myself at her core and thrust inside of her. She gasps as I start to fill her completely. We’ve still not looked away, and it’s making this even more intense. This is not just a fuck. This is every fucking thing I have ever wanted and I don’t want to miss a goddamned second. I am not sure how long I can hold out, she feels amazing. I pull out slowly and slam into her. I still for a moment and repeat my actions, teasing us both. When she digs her nails into my back, my desire to tease her is replaced with the desire to show her my animalistic side. I start to move with a steady rhythm, edging her closer to the breaking point. She whimpers my name and I lose the last shred of control I was able to hold on to.

  “Yes, yes, yes. Don’t stop, I’m so close, I’m almost there.”

  Her words drive me to the brink and I slam into her with punishing strokes, and when she screams my name, I fall into an ecstasy I have not known before.

  * * *

  I hold Mikaela in my arms as we lie in my bed. Her head is resting on my shoulder and her hand is absentmindedly caressing my chest and abdomen. This feels amazing and I never want to let her go. Neither of us has uttered a single word as if we are both afraid to break the spell. I feel whole, complete like everything finally clicked together. We lay like this for long minutes before Mik breaks the silence.

  “A penny for your thoughts.” She whispers against my neck.

  I smile. The uncertainty in her tone is adorable. And the fact that she clea
rly is feeling the same way I do is making me more confident.

  “My thoughts are worth a lot more than a penny.” I tease.

  “Name your price, I’m filthy rich.” She tells me.

  I chuckle.

  “Your money is no good here. How about a kiss for every thought?”

  Without a word, Mikaela climbs on top of me. She’s gorgeous and naked in all her glory and on full display. I approve. She leans in and captures my mouth with hers. Sweet and languorous at first, but the kiss quickly turns heated. My hands start to roam over her magnificent body and I can feel myself growing with arousal. But suddenly, she tears her lips away from mine and rolls onto her side. She leans on her elbow and rests her head in her hand. She looks at me with a sexy smirk.

  “That should work as a down payment.”

  Fuck, if that isn’t a fact.

  “You’re perfect,” I tell her.

  She flushes pink as she rolls her beautiful golden eyes.

  “Be serious.” She says, averting her gaze.

  “Look at me,” I tell her.

  She bites her lip and shakes her head. I sit up and take her face in my hands, and peer into her eyes. “You are the most perfect woman on the face of the earth. There is nobody like you, and I have never even looked at another woman with anything else than platonic interest. I love you, lady Kingsley. I have loved you since I was a little boy and I love you now, as a fully grown, semi-adult man.”

  She swallows hard and tears pool in her eyes. My protective side flares. “What’s wrong baby? Did I say something wrong?”

  She presses her lips tightly together and shakes her head.

  “Then what is it?” I demand gruffly.

  “Do you really mean it?”

  I can feel my brows knit together. “Do you think I would make this up?” I say a little rougher than intended. “I’ve been aching for you for the better part of my life, Mikaela.”

  Her face breaks out in a huge smile, and she looks so breathtaking, my chest constricts. She leans in and gives me a gentle peck on the lips. “If you only knew how long I have wished for you to notice me. For you to see how much I love you, Eric. I feel so silly now that I know that we both have been feeling the same. What has taken us this long?”