by G. Bailey
"Luke. What’s yours, sweetheart?" he asks as the bartender comes back with the drinks and my card. He doesn't ask Luke for payment, which is odd, but I don't think on it as I sip my drink and answer him. I slide my card back into my bra, seeing how Luke’s eyes trace my every movement before I answer him.
"Emilia," I finally tell him.
"That's a pretty name," he says, before taking a long sip of his beer. “Suits you.”
"So, tell me, Luke, why are you here tonight?" I ask, feeling bolder than I usually am, but there’s just something about him. "Sex, fight, or the drink? It’s got to be one of those, that’s what everyone comes to The Cage for." He smirks, leaning closer and placing his hand on the middle of my back as his lips graze my ear.
"I like a little bit of them all. What brings you here then, Emilia?" he asks, the way he speaks my name sends shivers down my arms. My repeated question sounds so much more seductive on his lips.
"Dancing. I like to dance," I admit as he places a finger on my chin, and turns my face to look at him, scanning my face to make sure I’m telling him the truth. I have a feeling Luke is good at reading people. I didn’t exactly lie, I do come here to dance, but it’s not the dancing I like to do.
"Come and dance with me then," Luke suggests, and I pause for a moment as I stare into his green eyes. They swirl playfully, promising so much more than a dance if that’s what I want. I shouldn't want more, but it's just one dance...right? No one will ever know, and there’s no price for it.
"Okay," I reply. Luke links his hand with mine, and I follow him back to the group of people dancing. He leads me through them until he finds space for us. Luke pulls me against his chest, pressing our bodies close together as we sway to the music. I keep my eyes on Luke's as he leans down, and I don't move as he ever so gently kisses me. The first moment our lips touch, it's like an electric buzz spreads all over my body and all the way down to my toes. I gasp, and he deepens the kiss, sliding his hand up my spine and to the back of my neck, pulling me further into the kiss. We kiss until my lips are tender and my body aches for more. I want more of Luke. More of everything about him, even though in the back of mind, I know I shouldn't want more.
"Want to go somewhere?" he asks, after pulling his lips from mine and his lust-filled eyes locked on mine.
"Yes," I reply, knowing I want this. Even if I can never see him again. We can have this moment and then forget about it. I'm sure he’ll forget anyway. Luke smirks before wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me out of the crowd and past the cage. We walk to the back of the club where there are private curtained rooms and walk through the thin fabric covering the entrance. The music just about covers the sounds of women's moans and men's groans as we head past the private rooms, hidden by thick, red, velvet curtains. Luke pushes one of the curtains aside, leading me into the room with a brown leather sofa pushed against the one wall. I suddenly feel a little nervous, a little worried about what I am doing. I know Meg would tell me to go for it. I'm eighteen, and I’ve never been kissed until tonight. And I sure as fuck am never going to have a chance to lose my V card any time soon. No one would know about this, and I have a feeling Luke will give me a good night. There’s just something about him.
"You can leave if you’re unsure," Luke suggests, walking over to me as I stop in front of the sofa, and turn around to face him. I reach out and slowly undo the buttons of his shirt, before pushing the sides open and running my eyes over his muscular chest and down to the v dipping into his trousers. He is gorgeous. Perfect. It makes me wonder why he wants me tonight. He could have had anyone, but I’m not going to second-guess him now.
"I'm not leaving," I whisper, and he grins before kissing me. I slide my hands up his chest and into his hair as he lifts me up, and my legs go around his waist, pushing my dress up. Luke sits down on the sofa, taking me with him before pulling his lips from my mine, and kissing down my neck as his hands roughly pull my dress down, revealing my breasts. His fingers rub my nipples, sending pleasure through me as his lips teasing graze my neck. I run my fingers down his chest, going to his trousers and undoing the belt, before the buttons.
"I want a taste first," Luke whispers to me. I gasp as he lifts me off him and lies me down on the sofa, before pulling me to the edge, keeping his eyes locked on mine as he slowly starts pulling my lacy thong down my legs. His eyes drift down my body before locking onto my core, and a small smile graces his lips. Luke doesn't waste time warming me up before his head is between my parted legs, and his tongue is diving into my core. I cry out from the intense pleasure as his tongue swirls around my clit and an orgasm crashes into me before I moan his name. Luke chuckles as he climbs up me, freeing his erection and I watch in a haze as he slides a condom on.
"You taste delicious," he admits and lies over me, lining himself up.
"Do I?" I ask, leaning up and kissing him, tasting myself and he slowly pushes his way inside me. There is a sharp pain as he breaks through my virginity and starts pounding into me, but Luke doesn't seem to notice as he loses himself in pleasure. It's not long before Luke groans loud, kissing me hard as he finishes and slides out of me. We sit next to each other, quietly catching our breath until I finally shake my head and pick up my thong off the floor as I stand up. I push my dress down and go to walk away when Luke catches my wrist.
"Wait, Emilia. That was your first time, wasn't it?" he asks, but I don't look back at him as I answer.
"Yes."
"It shouldn't have been in here. Not with me. I'm a fucked up mess, and I didn't know," he mutters, his eyes filled with guilt.
"Who says I’m any better than you?" I ask him, before walking to the curtain, and pulling it open a little. "Goodbye, Luke." I walk out of the room, and he doesn't stop me as I go. Even though part of me wants him to, even though I feel like Luke took a part of my soul tonight, and I don't want it back.
116 Emilia
Five years ago…
I watch in utter silence, pain and fear pounding through my heart as Luke is led down the steps and into a five-year imprisonment. Five years. This can't be happening. I don't know how long I stare at the place where he was last, but I don't move until a guard asks me to leave the courtroom. I push through the doors, not looking at my surroundings as I make my way outside. I stop to take deep breaths as I lean on a stone pillar, letting the cold air fill my lungs. Yet it does nothing to calm me down. In this moment, I regret meeting Luke King. I regret it all. My shaky hand goes to my stomach, flattening out as I realise something I will never regret. Even if my heart hurts and the fear I feel makes me want to throw up more than the morning sickness.
"Emilia? What’s wrong?" I hear a familiar voice ask, just before a hand lands on my shoulder and I almost jump back. I look over my shoulder before turning around, seeing long red hair and Tilly's calming smile. Tilly’s daughter is the reason Luke is gone. And I know it’s wrong to think that way. Tilly and Hope didn't ask for anything that happened to them... I just hate that Luke has paid the price. I think back to two months ago, when Luke's lips were on mine, whispering promises of our future as he told me he loved me. That night was everything. We had everything planned, and now no one can save either of us. I wish it was just us that needed saving. There’s someone else now. Someone so much more important.
"I'm pregnant. The baby is Luke's, and it's so much more complicated than even just that. If Arthur finds out I am pregnant, he’ll kill me. If my fiancé finds out, I’ll wish I was dead. I told you my job, but there is more to it. A lot more," I blurt out, before taking deeper gasps of air to try to calm myself. I don’t even look at Tilly’s reaction; I just can’t.
"Then I suggest you tell me everything and we figure it out, Emilia," Harley’s dark voice shocks me as he steps out of the shadows of the pillar and wraps an arm around Tilly's waist. Tilly looks shocked as she stares at me, but Harley... Harley looks furious.
"There is no figuring this out!" I snap. "Arthur owns me. He sold me to a man named Eric wh
o I have to marry next week. Luke was going to take me away from all this. He was going to save me...but now, now he can't save himself, let alone me."
"Why do you owe Arthur?" Harley asks.
"It’s more than a debt. Arthur owns me. My dad gambled me, and brothers’ lives away as children. He gambled my mother away, too, and Arthur...he keeps her as a pretty pet. I haven’t seen her in years. My father remarried this year to a wealthy widow as per Arthur’s demands. I have to marry her son. Arthur wants the money they have. If I leave without my mum, my dad and my brothers, they’re all dead. Luke said he knew where Arthur is keeping my mum, and he had a plan. There was a plan so we could leave," I blurt out, taking a deep breath. “I have to marry a stranger and this baby…Eric will know it’s not his. We haven’t slept together.”
"Oh, Emilia, we’ll help you,” Tilly says, pulling me into a tight hug. “I'm so sorry."
"Luke is gone," I whisper. He was my…well, everything. One night turned into so much more than that. We fought our attraction, we fought each other, but there was always something leading us back together. As soon as I finally decide to accept it, it’s over.
"I'm so sorry. Luke is locked up because he saved my Harley and my baby, and for that, I will look after you for as long as you need it," Tilly promises, but there isn’t anything they can do.
"You have our word that we will try to help however we can. If Eric won’t pretend the baby is yours, we’ll figure out a way to keep you both safe," Harley adds in, but it doesn't feel like anything, because I remember that I won't see Luke for years, and neither will our baby.
I feel nothing but a deep pain in my chest as I realise Arthur will always have me now. There is no escape.
117 Luke
5 years later…
I get out of my car, slamming the door shut and looking up at the house I haven’t seen in five long years. Everything has changed, but the house still looks the same. It still holds the same feeling of bad memories mixed in with the rare good ones. The same brick walls and large windows, the same front door is daunting. I pull my suit jacket on and walk up to the door. I lift my hand, knocking on the door of my old home. I don’t think I’ve ever knocked before.
“Luke?” Maisy asks as she opens the door, shock written all over her face. Maisy doesn’t look older, and she’s still just as beautiful with long, black hair and big, blue eyes. She holds the door open as I walk in, and she stands, keeping it open and not saying a word. The last time I saw her was in the courtroom with all my family when I was sentenced to prison. Not that I spent the whole five years there; I never did. Only, the price of being out of jail early was never seeing my family. Pretending I hated them all. Pretending for five years to be someone I’m not.
“Who is it?” I hear my sister shout just before she walks out of the living room in her wedding dress. Her long, blond hair is up in a complicated bun, and her long, white dress looks beautiful on her. I’ve seen photos of them over the years, but it’s still strange to see her so grown up.
“Luke?” she whispers, dropping the flowers she was holding to the ground before running over to me and wrapping her arms around my neck. I let her hug me for a second before stepping away. “Where the hell have you been? It’s been five years since . . .” she says, her green eyes locked onto mine.
“Izzzzzyyy!” I hear a male child’s voice, and then I look up to see a small, dark-haired boy running down the stairs with a little red-haired girl next to him. They look the same age, but I don’t know who he is. I recognize the five-year-old girl as Hope, but the boy isn’t Jake, the only boy in the family. I’ve kept my eye on them all enough to know what they look like. The boy and Hope run over to Izzy, both of them dressed for the wedding. Hope has a pretty blue dress on, her long red hair flowing around her shoulders and the little boy has a tiny suit on. He seems to be inspecting me for something before crossing his arms, a stubborn look clouding his face.
“Luke . . . what the hell?” Harley asks, walking down the stairs and stopping on the last step as we stare at each other. Harley cut his hair shorter, the sides ending around his ears and even shorter in the front. All the years of being married and having Hope to look after has made him happy. I saw photos of their wedding in Spain. It was just him, Tilly, and Hope. They seemed happy, and it was hard to see those photos. It was difficult to look at any photos that John snuck in for me.
“I know I have a lot to explain, but I wouldn’t miss my sister’s wedding,” I reply with a small smile.
"A lot to explain? Is that all you have to say?" Harley growls out, stopping right in front of me. Harley used to scare me, almost, when he got mad. He was always more of a father to me than my actual father ever was.
"If my timing is right, the car will pull up outside in five minutes. We don't have time to discuss everything," I reply, crossing my arms as the room gets very awkward, very quickly. Tilly comes out of the kitchen, only pausing briefly when she sees me and then her eyes dart to the children.
"Hope, Parker, can you come into the kitchen with Isabelle and me? We need to check something important," Tilly firmly suggests, and the kids quickly run to her side. I look once more at the boy, Parker, as he looks back at me, and I wonder who he is. He looks familiar, really familiar. I watch only him until he disappears into the kitchen.
"No fights, today. I mean it. I'm just happy to have you here," Izzy warns, placing her hand on my arm. "I missed you, Luke."
"Luke fucking King," Allie's loud voice exclaims, and Izzy moves to the side as Allie walks in the room dressed in a long, light blue dress that’s the same as Maisy's. Allie couldn't look more shocked if she tried. "Elliot is going to murder you. I'm not even joking. Where the flipping hell have you been?"
"That's what I want to know," Harley says.
"But this is Izzy's wedding day, so it's about her," Maisy interjects, stepping to Harley's side and placing her hand on his arm. He looks once more at me before nodding once at Izzy in agreement.
"Promise me you won't disappear for a while. I mean it. Promise me?" Izzy asks, looking up at me with those big puppy dog eyes she has. "Or I will cancel this wedding so we can grill you on everything that has happened in the last five years right now."
"You're marrying the love of your life, Izzy, and nothing should come in the middle of that. I promise I'm sticking around for a bit," I tell her, seeing the relief instantly fill her eyes. I knew coming back would be difficult, and this is just the start. There is someone more important than my family to see, and whatever she will say will hurt a lot more.
"Good," Izzy says, just as the car beeps outside. “I’m keeping you to that promise.”
"Who is Parker?" I ask as Izzy walks out, followed by Allie. Maisy disappears into the kitchen, leaving me alone with Harley. He rubs the back of his neck, looking damn awkward at answering the question.
"You've missed a lot," Harley replies instead, and I don’t have a clue why I press him on it, but I do.
"I know. Did you adopt him?" I ask.
"No... not exactly. We’re watching Parker because his mum is hosting the wedding. She’s an event planner," Harley tells me, but I figure there is a little more to it than he is telling me. I’m sure there is a lot more to everything I’ve missed that I want to find out. I’m back here for two months, and then this is all over. The final plan is in the works, and I will finish this. I just hope my family doesn’t hate me. I hope she doesn’t hate me in the end.
"Who is his mother?" I ask, and Harley only smirks, patting my shoulder.
"It's annoying when you don't know everything, isn't it?" he asks, before walking back into the kitchen. I shake my head, telling myself to leave it alone before walking back out the door. I light a cigarette as I lean against the wall by the door, waiting until the girls come out of the house. I watch as Maisy gets into the white limo last after Izzy, Allie, Tilly, and the children. Parker doesn’t look my way this time, but Hope waved with a little giggle. I can’t wait to see Jake, even
if he won’t remember me. I used to enjoy babysitting the little guy. As the door shuts, and the limo drives past my Audi, Harley comes out. He glances at the cigarette as I take one more puff and drop it to the floor, stomping it out with my foot. I don't smoke them often, only when I'm nervous, and I know I need to quit. I can see the disappointment without him saying a word. He must really not want to argue with me today as he leaves it.
"I'm coming with you. I hope you're a fucking better driver than you were five years ago," Harley says.
"You could say that," I say, feeling a false sense of comfort of being around my brother again. I quickly shut that emotion down, knowing I need to keep my cool and not fuck this up. After all, five years’ work can’t be over in one day. It’s just a wedding after all.
118 Emilia
"He’s back. I'm not messing around. He just turned up at the house like nothing has happened," Allie hisses, fixing Elliot's tie as I walk into the room, holding my tablet and looking around for the bride and wondering what Allie is going on about. Izzy looks frantic, pacing up and down by the window. Allie and Elliot look ridiculously stressed as they talk with each other, and I look over as the door opens. Maisy and Sebastian walk in, and Sebastian slams the door shut. What the hell happened while I was checking on the piano player? I’m sure the situation was much calmer when I called to check on Izzy half an hour ago, and they said they were just waiting for the limo. I have no clue what Allie is going on about, but surely gossip can wait until after the wedding. This is my twenty-seventh wedding, and one thing I have learnt is that weddings attract drama. My weekend job is far less stressful.
"Luke is back. Seriously?" Sebastian says, and I freeze. The tablet slides out of my hands, and the world just seems to pause as I stare at Sebastian. He can't be right. Luke is gone. He disappeared from his cell one night, and everyone just assumed he was dead. We only found out last year that he was alive because one of Harley's spies found a photo of him on the internet at some club kissing some half-naked famous woman. We all just assumed he hated his brothers for leaving him in jail and guessed we would never see him again. I always secretly hoped he'd come back to us, but after a while, I just buried my head into my daily life. To my most important task of all- being a mum. Luke is my past, and even if he is really here, he is still that. The past. No matter what.