by K L Clare
“Forgive me.” No longer a plea, it was a command. There would be no compromise. William Hastings, the conqueror, would get what he came for, even if he had to fight for it.
I was locked into his stare and wanted him with a madness that couldn’t be explained. I wound my arms around his neck and breathed against his lips the one word he planned to take if it wasn’t offered. “Forgiven.”
He lifted me into his arms and held me with ease, like a comfortable extension of his own body. I lost my breath when he took my mouth and slipped his tongue past my lips again. We kissed with unrestrained, fierce, breathless desire.
I once read you need only to breathe when you’re not whole. I’d scoffed, called it rosy poetry. But the moment I forgave him—forgave myself—our combined strength became our breath, and I got it.
“You are everything, Elle. You’re the purest part of me—the one piece that’s good. The piece that holds the rest together. You are mine, and I’ll never leave you. Don’t doubt me again.”
I was high. My own words escaped me.
“The world round us will change, baby. But how I love you will not.”
We pressed our mouths together again, and then I confessed, “I can’t find myself when you’re away.”
“Look harder. You’ll find us both. I promise.” He kissed my forehead, temple, lips.
As individuals, we were broken and lost. But as a couple, we were whole. I cemented his pieces together, and he anchored me to the place where I belonged.
I smiled at the thought of how well we fit together. “Come shower with me.”
Will’s chest rumbled, and his warm mouth found my butterfly. “And then bed.”
I wiggled my fingers through his shorter hair. I had loved his hair before, loved watching him rake it back when he was frustrated, but the textured, disheveled style he came back with was quite suitable to his handsome face.
John banged through the door. “Uncle Robert is here. . . . He insists on a family meeting.”
“Goddammit, John,” Will said without moving his eyes from mine. He grinned. “Bunch of cock blockers round this house.”
I laughed.
“I told him you are the only one who can call a meeting, but he carried on until I couldn’t stand it any longer. He’s waiting with Mum at the table.”
“Christ. All right. We’ll be there soon. Go on—wait upstairs for me.” He hesitated while his young brother left the gym. “First, there’s something I want you to see, baby. If I don’t get this off my arm, it’ll drive me mad.”
I hadn’t noticed his left arm from elbow to wrist was wrapped with a thin layer of gauze. “You’ve been injured?” I slid down the front of his body.
One brow lifted, and then the corners of his mouth twitched as he unraveled the gauze.
I sucked in a sharp breath and gaped.
“It’s not finished. When I called, when I heard you cry, I couldn’t get out of that chair fast enough.”
I swept my fingers over the inflamed skin. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the tattoo that swallowed the mass of his left inner forearm.
It was a masterfully detailed dagger draped with an elegant, intricate vining rose. The artist used feminine details—butterflies and swirling patterns—to design the dagger’s masculine hilt. Running along the length of the blade was my name, spelled the way he said it: Elle. The letters had been crafted so artfully they looked as if they were engraved into an actual blade. The overall detail was extraordinary, in black and varying shades of gray. There were just two splashes of color. Deep crimson drops of blood clung to and dripped from the tip of the blade onto his wrist, and a brilliant green gem adorned the center of the hilt. He said it wasn’t finished, but I couldn’t imagine what he intended to add.
I raised my eyes to his. “It’s so beautiful, Will.”
“You are more beautiful.”
I couldn’t stop touching it, circling the gem with my fingertip until it hit me—I recognized the icy shade of green. “Is that—”
“The color of your eyes.”
My skin tingled. My breath caught. I shook my head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you love me, Elle. There’s nothing more I’ll ever need.”
I shoved my hands into the back pockets of his jeans and met his eyes from beneath my lashes, flashing the secret smile that belonged to him alone. “I love you, Will. I’ll love you always.”
A tiny flutter tickled the walls of my empty stomach when he smiled from his eyes for the first time since Ethan’s death. He lowered his head and joined our lips, and then, hand in hand, we walked out of the gym to slay together the next demon in our path.
35
Will stopped in front of a door obscured within a small alcove inside the billiard room. I had never noticed anyone using it before, and it hadn’t been on any of Lissie’s secret castle tours, so I had assumed it led to an unfinished room or storage.
“Ready?”
I nodded. “Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
He agreed. “You can. You’ll learn things in this room you’ve not heard before, but it changes nothing. It doesn’t make you less safe.” He pressed his palm to the electronic pad, and the door slid open with a whoosh similar to that of the weapons room, revealing a high-tech conference room.
It was more like a situation room—a war room.
There were maps and photos pinned to the walls. Some were old, some new. The security monitors I’d heard him reference consumed most of the space on the far wall. A carved wooden table and its twelve high-back leather chairs occupied the center. There were two sophisticated computer stations present as well.
Will placed his hand at the small of my back and guided me into his war room.
Robert Moore stood, cleared his throat, and rubbed his pointed, gray-stubbled chin as he stared at me. Warm honey-brown eyes like Mary’s twinkled beneath his drooping lids. His wide mouth curved upward. Then he moved his gaze from me to Will. “Come, William. Take your place at the head of the table. Bring the little rose along to keep you in line.”
Will ignored his uncle and pulled me with him to the other side of the room, where his mother waited.
Mary hugged her son before positioning me in the chair to his left, instructing me with tact and discretion. She sat on my left and held my hand, her smiling eyes drifting to Will’s tattooed arm before lifting to meet mine. Her warm eyes crinkled more, though the slight upward curve of her lips remained subtle. She squeezed my hand in approval.
I returned the squeeze and smiled to assure her Will’s enthusiasm was reciprocated.
“Let’s get on with it,” Will said. “What news have you brought, Uncle Robert?”
“I found the leader inciting the Order. Jack Lewis is the name, and he seems to have aligned with someone within the community for information, but I’ve yet to hear any local names. Proceed with caution at tonight’s dinner. Certainly that informant could be someone we’ve invited to Eastridge.”
“Find him, Thomas.” Will gripped his brother’s shoulder. “Quickly.” He turned his attention back to Robert. “Thank you. I appreciate the help. Is there anything else?”
“Your mum and I have questions about your time away that we’d like answered.”
“I suppose you do, and I’ll provide what’s appropriate. But know you’ll not press me the way you did my brother. You’re a guest in my house, not its master.”
Leader, informants, dinner. Anxiety knocked hard at my mind’s door. I reminded myself not to open it. To defeat it, I needed to face it, but only through a locked window. I had what I needed to win, the one thing strong enough to keep me away from that door—Will’s support. The bitter, metallic taste in my mouth dissolved, and my breathing slowed after I reached out to him, clutching his thigh beneath the table.
His hand found mine. He leaned in and spoke in a soothing tone. “You all right, baby?”
I pasted on a smile and inhaled the warmth of his breath. “Yes.”<
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He raised his voice, anger and menace seeping into it. “The Order will soon learn with whom it is they’re fucking. I’m neither my brother nor my father. I’m the one without mercy. The one who planned for this day. I’ll honor the pact, of course, if ever another descendant to the line is revealed, but there’s something more important that should be understood. I will not tolerate threats against Ellie on any level, and any man who challenges this will pay.”
“I’m with you, brother,” Thomas said. “Zero tolerance.”
Ben nodded. “I’m with you too, my brother.”
“So am I,” Joe Taylor added.
After accepting the allegiances with a modest bow of his head, Will leaned forward and addressed Mary. “What questions do you have for me, Mother?”
She smiled, pride gleaming in her eyes. “Did you meet with the Queen’s ministers this week, dear?”
“Yes. The Prince attended the meeting as well, though his only genuine interest was to discuss his investments. My terms were made clear. The Crown either eliminates the Order or uses its prerogative to allow me to do so without penalty or prosecution.”
“But what leverage do you have to make a demand so great?” Robert asked.
“The Queen and her son will aid me, or I’ll break them financially. I can take the resulting hit—my wealth is greater. Ethan and I worked hard to pull their private assets into the firm and manipulate their investments, not because we needed their fortunes, but because I knew this day would come.”
Thomas cleared his throat. “In what form do we come away from the attack and resulting deaths in London?”
“We’re okay. The Crown exercised its influence with Scotland Yard and the NCA.” Realizing I’d have no idea what the NCA was, he turned to me, and with a gentler voice said, “The National Crime Agency.” Then he went on, addressing Thomas, “In order to preempt speculation and avoid additional public rumor—because the public now knows Ellie’s home—the ministers pressured the director general to keep the case out of the hands of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office. It’s been buried.” He paused, looked at his mother, and softened his tone again. “What else, Mum?”
“They’re all right with the fact that she’s here? Certainly they may never truly approve, but they’re settled with it?” She placed her hand on my arm protectively.
Will nodded and exchanged a perceptive smile with his mother. Their exchange, his hand holding mine and hers on my arm, caused my heart to flip.
Uncle Robert shifted in his seat. “What about her claim to the throne?”
“Ceded. No revocation.”
Robert frowned. “And the earldom?”
“I haven’t yet decided.”
My head was spinning. I couldn’t have imagined the escalated depth of the situation. Will had anticipated it, and his knowledge and steadfast readiness was staggering.
Robert pushed his luck. “You’re rather terse with your answers.”
“I’ve shared what’s appropriate. Anything else is our private business. And as for your disapproval—move past it. Elle and I decide what we want and how we’ll live.” Will looked at his watch as he stood and then offered me his hand. “Thomas, find me in two hours.”
“Are the two of you joining us for lunch?” Mary asked as we attempted our getaway.
“No,” we said at the same time.
“Have something sent up,” Will added, winking at his mother. Disarmed by her son’s charisma, she blushed. And with that, I fell deeper in love with him.
We stopped near the bar in the billiard room, where he discussed the Six’s schedule and estate security with Ben, and I sorted through my thoughts, trying to wrap my mind around everything. He’d done as I had asked and ceded my contentious claim to the throne. No matter what he chose to do with his own claim—ascend to his title or deny it—I would support him without question. I would follow Will anywhere. Give up everything to have him. Wasn’t that what I’d already done?
“Elle,” Will said, drawing me out of my head.
“I’m sorry . . . what?”
“Come on, baby. I’m mad for you.” He eased me against the bar and kissed my neck. “Go upstairs with me now, or I’ll have you right here.” His mouth roamed in a playful frenzy.
I shrieked, delighted with his relaxed behavior. “I’m getting into the shower first.”
“You have ten minutes while I get my things from the car. Then you’re all mine, and I don’t care where I find you—mine.”
36
My room was filled with dozens of fragrant English roses. Again.
Lily followed me in with a tray of food. “Most people are afraid of him, but not me. I see how lovely he is with you. Oh, to be so lucky in love!” She was quite fun when Mrs. Bates wasn’t around. She made me smile.
“You’ll find it too, but first you’ll need to get out of this house a little more,” I teased. “Would you mind taking the tray down to his room? He’ll be coming up soon.”
She left with the tray, and I raced into the bathroom. I showered and slipped into cropped jeans and a T-shirt, then plucked the pins from my upswept hair. Will’s voice resounded in the corridor. His presence was as considerable as the estate itself, and neither thrived without the other. I grinned and opened the door.
God, I’d missed him.
He’d been intercepted by the kids. Lissie clung piggyback-style to her superhero while John made a case for an afternoon of freedom at the beach with friends. I watched him interact like the father of two children who had lost theirs, and wanted him even more.
“Go on, John, but remember what I said about tonight.” He swung Lissie around to his chest, kissed the top of her head, and nudged her in Nanny Sue’s direction. Then, with scorching eyes and impatient hands, he pulled me into his embrace. “Already waited years for you, woman, and still you keep me waiting.”
“You know what’s said about those who wait. . . . Now take me to bed, Will.”
He swooped me into his arms with a grin and carried me to his room, locking the door behind us. The same heady fragrance from my room crashed into me. I stared at his bed. It was turned down and covered with a blanket of white rose petals.
“Elle.” He pulled the shirt over my head and unfastened my bra. His tongue played with mine, and then his kiss moved down to my breasts. “So beautiful,” he said as he caressed them and lowered his head to take one and then the other into his mouth.
I moaned and twined my fingers through his hair.
He was fiercely gentle as he tugged down my jeans and panties in one swift move. “Show me your back, Elle.”
I stepped out of my clothes and turned around.
Will gathered my hair and hooked it over one shoulder. He stared at my back before putting his hands on my hips and kissing the tender pink blemishes. He’d worked through his anger, but his heart still struggled with having been so lost that he’d allowed the stone to abrade my skin.
“It’ll never happen again, baby.”
“I know,” I said, shivering as another of his velvet kisses caressed my skin.
I faced him and placed a kiss at the base of his throat, gripping the hem of his shirt. I pushed upward until he yanked it over his head and tossed it. His chest was beautifully sculpted, lean but well muscled, broad and smooth, and bore two scars. I kissed it, kissed both scars and the shield inked on his shoulder.
His powerful arms with their fine, golden hair pulled me tight against his body, making me aware of the sexy trail of hair that began at his navel and led into his jeans. I pulled back. He watched while I worked his zipper. His fingers tangled in my hair, and he made sure my mouth couldn’t escape his when he bent to kiss me. I slipped my hands beneath his waistband and shoved his jeans from his hips.
I dropped to my knees and kissed my way down that golden path.
“You don’t have to do—”
He lost the words when I took him into my mouth. I’d never given oral to anyone other than Will—
never had the desire before—but with him, it was something I couldn’t imagine either of us doing without.
With a savage grunt, he worked to control himself, wrapping fistfuls of my hair around his hands as he fought the urge to thrust into my throat. His eyes glowed when I looked up to meet them. “Ah, Christ, Elle . . .” He jerked me to my feet and into his arms and carried me to bed, and we fell into a deep kiss that I prayed would never end.
“Open,” he commanded as he positioned my legs where he wanted them and pushed his fingers inside me.
I cried out. And even before I did, I knew he’d cover my mouth with his and swallow it. It wasn’t meant to keep me quiet, not when we were in his room. He needed to control the sound so he could feel its vibration. When he saw or heard my reactions, it wasn’t enough—he needed to feel it in his soul. It was who he was. There was nothing violent or threatening about his desire for control in bed, so I gave it to him. There wasn’t much I wouldn’t give up for him. Still, I clawed at his shoulders, crazed for release.
A knowing smile claimed his face as he gathered my wrists. “You’ve a long way to go, baby.” He raised my hands above my head. “Hold on to the pillow. Do not release it. You’ll want to. Don’t.”
I clung to the pillow, and he continued to wear that smirk while I pleaded with him.
“Will, please . . . I need . . .”
He shut me up with a fiery kiss. A kiss that wasn’t destined to stay in one place. He used it to devour my body as he took it lower and harder. He buried his face between my thighs.
I screamed his name sooner than I wanted. He drove me so well, forcing me to shatter with such intensity that a billion stars danced throughout the galaxy in celebration.
Our eyes connected, and a sense of urgency gripped him. He shot up and slammed into me with one fierce thrust, swallowing the sharp cry it tore from my lips.
He immediately restrained his body and locked his gaze into mine. “I can’t live without you,” he told me softly.
Will kissed me and circled his hips before subduing himself again. Nothing less than full control would do. Even as his muscles strained, as his breath quickened and his eyes burned, he made deliberate, measured moves. He was proving to us both that he’d never again lose himself to rage or volatility when he made love to me.