She pulls away and I grasp her wrist, pulling her back to me. “It doesn’t end there.”
“Then tell me where it does end.”
“It never ends. I want every part of you. Your body. Your soul. Your heart. Your love. I want it all because you are my destiny. You were made to be mine.”
“Every part of me already belongs to you. This thing with Maddock is nothing. Less than nothing. Forget about him. This is about us and what we want.”
“I haven’t forgotten what you once wanted from me.”
“And what was that?”
“Romance.”
She smiles. “Yes, I did. And I still do.”
“Romance takes time.”
“We have all the time in the world.” Her eyes widen and she looks over at the clock. “Except for right now. He’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
And here we go with him fucking up my time with Lorna.
“I’m sorry. I have to get ready.”
“You care how you look for him?” That thought stings.
“No, but look at me. I can’t go looking like this.”
Her dress is a wrinkled mess, her lipstick, although light-colored, is smeared around her mouth, and loose strands have been plucked from her neatly upswept hair. Her appearance could easily pass for freshly fucked.
She goes to the vanity and wipes her mouth while leaning forward to examine the side of her neck. “Shite, Leith.”
“What?”
“Did you mean to do this?”
“Do what?” I try to sound innocent, but that’s one thing that I am not. I knew exactly what would happen to the skin on her neck if I kissed and sucked it aggressively.
She turns around on the stool and points to the large angry red mark on her skin. My mark.
I shrug. “I guess I got a little carried away.”
“A little? You think so?”
She squeezes some makeup on to the tip of her finger and applies it to her reddened skin.
“All right. I got a lot carried away, but I couldn’t help myself. You’re so fucking sexy.”
She goes still and looks at my reflection in the mirror, our eyes meeting. “I wish I could stay with you.”
“You don’t wish it more than I do.”
She looks back at her reflection and begins removing hair grips from her hair. “I’ll have to wear it down.”
“Do you really care if he sees my mark on you?”
“I’m unclaimed, Leith. I can’t have marks like this on my body.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t care if he sees this mark. I’m more concerned about running into a Fellowship brother who might see it and expose me. I’d be labeled as tainted for sure.”
“I don’t want you to worry about that mark. You can’t be labeled as tainted if you are mine.”
“I’m not yours in the eyes of The Fellowship.”
“Not yet, but you will be.”
“Until that time comes, I have to play by Fellowship rules. There are consequences for me if I don’t.” She rubs nude colored powder on her neck. “And this isn’t playing by the rules.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have been so aggressive with her. “Are you angry with me?”
“No. I’ll wash off this makeup after I’m back tonight and smile when I remember how it got there.”
She gets up and goes into the closet, stopping when she sees me standing in the doorway looking at her. “You’re going to watch me change?”
“I would like to.”
She stands motionless, nibbling her bottom lip, and a wrinkle forms across her forehead.
What is going on with her?
“I’ve seen you naked a million times.”
“I know, but so much time has passed since the last time.”
What is happening here? “You’re uncomfortable with my looking at you without your clothes?”
“A little.” She shrugs. “What if I don’t look the same to you?”
“I already know that you don’t look the same. You’re more beautiful than you were four years ago.”
She looks at me for a second before reaching around and lowering her zipper. I don’t fail to notice the deep breath she takes before sliding the dress down her body.
Black strapless bra. Tiny black knickers. She’s hot as fuck, but it’s the single sparkling jewel sitting on the surface of her skin between her tits that steals all of my attention. “What the hell is that?”
She reaches up and touches the wee jewel. “A sternum dermal piercing.”
“How long have you had that?”
“A few years.”
“Fuck, Lorna.” I’ve never seen anything like that on a girl.
“You don’t like it?”
“I like it very much.”
“The look on your face makes me think otherwise.”
“It’s super sexy but I wasn’t expecting it.” I’m thrown for a loop; I thought I knew every inch of her body like the back of my hand. I see now that I don’t, and I’m not sure what to make of it. “Anything else that I don’t know about?”
She twists her body and I see the black ink over her ribs.
Fuck, she has a tattoo?
“Saorsa.” A single word in a formal font. Scottish Gaelic meaning redemption. “I thought this tattoo would be therapeutic, a stepping-stone to heal the pains of the past, but instead it’s been a daily reminder of what happened between us.”
“We’re going to make new memories, and those old ones are going to fade. They’re not going to hurt you anymore.”
She lowers her arm, using it to cover the tattoo. “You don’t know how badly I need that.”
She’s so fucking beautiful standing before me in only her bra and knickers. I’m dying to wrap my arms around her and never let go, but she has a duty to the brotherhood—one that she must fulfill.
“You have obligations. I should go.”
“You’re unhappy. I don’t want you to leave like this.”
“There’s no other way for me to leave. Seeing you get ready for him is killing me.” My chest is literally aching on the inside.
“I want to be very clear about this. I’m not getting ready for him, and I’m not trying to make myself pretty. Take a look at me. Can’t you see that I’ve done nothing special to myself for tonight?”
It’s in this moment that I notice she isn’t wearing her typical amount of cosmetics. Her hair was up before I marked her neck—her least favorite way to wear it. And now that I think about it, the dress that she just took off didn’t accentuate her perky tits, tiny waist, or perfect bum.
And she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“Makes no difference what you do or don’t do to yourself. He’s going to think you’re gorgeous.”
“He can think whatever he likes. It means nothing to me. I only care what you think.”
I go to her and place my hands on each of her hips, pressing my forehead to hers. “Call me after he brings you back.”
“I will if that’s what you want.”
“It is. I don’t care what time it is.” I’ll be losing my fucking mind until I know that she is back on Fellowship territory and no longer within another man’s reach.
Everything about this is rubbish. It shouldn’t be happening.
“I’m going.” I can’t be here when he arrives; I have no idea what will happen if I see him.
I’m short of breath and my chest aches. The sickening feeling I have in my gut is worsening.
I pull her against my chest. Hard. I’m probably squeezing her petite wee body tighter than I should, but it’s my final act of showing her how precious she is to me.
“I’ll call you as soon as it’s over.” Her voice is so soft and sweet against my ear.
I’ve never sat anxiously by the phone waiting for any woman to call me, but I will be on pins and needles––no, I’ll be on fucking daggers and swords—while I wait for her call.
; Can you feel my love in our kiss? Hear it in my voice? Sense it within your very core?
I love you, Lorna Frazier.
I want to tell her the full extent of how I feel, but now isn’t the right time. But the timing won’t always be wrong. And the moment that it isn’t, I’m going to say those three simple words and forever change our lives.
Chapter 6
Lorna Frazier
I’m so fucking nervous.
Most people are anxious that their first date with a new person won’t go well. Women worry that men won’t think they’re sexy enough. Fellowship women worry that a brother won’t see her as wifeable. The opposite is my fear with Maddock Hendry. I’m afraid that he will see me as wife material.
I enter the reception room and find that Maddock has already arrived. Shite. How long has he been here? Did Leith make a clean escape without coming face-to-face with him?
“And there she is,” Sin says.
Maddock turns around as I enter the room, and I’m immediately uneasy. He doesn’t even try to hide the fact that he is appraising me from head to toe. But I suppose there’s no reason to pretend otherwise. We both know what this introduction is all about.
“Miss Frazier.” He comes to me and offers his hand. “It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.”
He’s so similar to his brother Kieran. Nearly black hair and eyes. A distinct, square jawline with the perfect amount of facial scruff. Tall with broad shoulders. He’s a very attractive man. Any Fellowship woman would be thrilled to be matched with such a handsome man.
But not me.
“Westlyn has told me many wonderful things about you.”
Dammit, Wes. I don’t get it. Why would you campaign for me with Maddock when you know how much I love Leith?
“I’m sure that my good friend embellished about me to be kind.”
“Perhaps, but she was definitely on point about how beautiful you are.”
Shite. He likes the way I look. That’s not what I was striving for when I chose to wear this striped boatneck blouse and pleated skirt. It’s fashionable but doesn’t scream sex appeal at all. Hell, it doesn’t even whisper it.
“What are your plans for Lorna tonight?” Sin’s voice has taken on what I call his alpha tone. He uses it when he wants to flex his muscle for other brothers and let them know that he’s in charge.
“I made dinner reservations at One Table.”
Bleu’s eyes light up. “One Table is my favorite restaurant. They have a great wine flight. I think you’d love it, Lorna.”
Bleu and I tend to enjoy the same kinds of wine. “I’ll give it a try.”
“And what are your plans for after dinner?”
Sin sometimes takes his responsibility for me a little too seriously. He sounds like an overprotective father questioning his daughter’s date about his intentions.
“I was planning to take her to the estate. Is that satisfactory?”
Is that satisfactory? Who the fuck talks like that?
And do neither of them give two shites if it’s satisfactory to me?
The estate. Home of The Hendrys—leaders of The Order. God, I hope he isn’t taking me there to discuss a marriage proposition. That would be dreadful.
“The estate is fine,” Sin says.
I hate the way these two men are discussing tonight’s plans for me as though I’m not standing here. I want to jump up and down, waving my hands, and scream, ‘Hey, I’m right here, and I have an opinion if you’d care to hear it.’
“We should go so we aren’t late for our reservation.”
I straighten my skirt when I’m buckled into my seat, and I place my clutch on my legs, overlapping my hands on top of it. I don’t dare look in his direction, but in my peripheral vision, I can see him studying me. And it’s so damn unnerving.
“Sinclair is protective of you.”
“He is.”
He has been since my parents died, but it’s never been on the same level as Leith. That man would take a bullet for me. In fact, he has taken a bullet for me.
“Why would a married man be so protective of you?”
“He and Thane took responsibility for me after my parents died, but we’ve been friends since we were children. Now his wife is one of my best friends.”
“Sinclair didn’t do a very good job of hiding the fact that he didn’t want us to spend time together.”
I don’t care for the suspicious tone that I’m hearing. “Are you implying that there’s something more than friendship between Sin and me?”
“Should I be implying that?”
Wow. What an asshat. “That’s a ridiculous notion without any basis at all. And it’s insulting as hell.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you, but I had to be sure since The Fellowship doesn’t hold fidelity in the same light as The Syndicate.”
I recall Westlyn talking about Kieran and his beliefs about marriage. The people of his former brotherhood are never unfaithful to their spouses. Ever. It’s one of their most absolute laws.
“Sin loves his wife and children. He would never stray from them. And as for me, I would never have a relationship with a married man. If you believe differently then you should take me back now.”
“Forgive me, Miss Frazier. It wasn’t my intention to offend you. I was obviously wrong to suspect that Sinclair didn’t want us to spend time together.”
I probably shouldn’t be so harsh on Maddock. I’m sure that he did pick up on some reluctance from Sin and wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“It’s all right.”
My phone vibrates inside my purse and I take it out, turning down the brightness on the screen when I see that it’s a text from Leith.
Leith: I wish you were with me instead of him.
Lorna: Me too.
Leith: I wasn’t finished with you.
Lorna: You weren’t?
Leith: No. I have lots more things to do to you.
Lorna: Like what?
Leith: That’s for me to know and for you to find out.
Lorna: When?
Leith: ASAP.
Lorna: I want that too.
I notice Maddock’s gaze on me. He clearly disapproves. “Am I interrupting something important?”
Yes. “Sorry. Just one of the girls checking on me to see how things are going.”
Lorna: I have to go.
Leith: Everything ok?
Lorna: Mr. Grumpy doesn’t approve of texting in his company.
Leith: Fuck him.
Lorna: LOL!
Leith: Where is he taking you?
Lorna: One Table
Leith: Ok. Call me the second you’re back.
Lorna: I will. XO
The restaurant is just as Bleu described. A long table with ten guests on one side and a chef on the opposite side to create and serve dinner to ten guests.
“Bleu can’t get enough of this place.”
“I’ve only eaten here once but I enjoyed it. I’ve been meaning to come again, but I’ve not had anyone to bring.”
A whisky is placed on the table in front of Maddock along with a wine flight for me.
“I’m not a wine drinker. Is there a particular order you’ll drink these?”
“You start with white and work up to the richest red.” I pick up the prosecco from the tasting sheet. “If there’s a sparkling white, you begin there.”
A wine flight. That’s something that Leith should consider offering at the pub. It wouldn’t be a big seller with the brothers. They’re mostly ale and whisky drinkers, but I think it would go over well with the women.
If I have to be here with him, I might as well have a decent conversation to pass the time. Plus, he’s the brother-in-law of one of my best friends and a member of our alliance. It’s inevitable that we’re going to see each other from time to time.
“How is your transition into The Order going?” I ask.
“It’s been a little more difficult than expected.”
> “That’s not surprising. You and your family took away their fun.”
The Order members, both men and women, are savages. I’ve never seen a group of people who love violence as much as they do, and I’m certain that they’ve not taken kindly to being told they must stop the violence and align with The Fellowship.
“By birth, we are the true leaders of that brotherhood, but we aren’t welcome there.”
“Have you considered how some of your actions are being interpreted?”
“What do you mean?”
“There are five Hendry heirs who will come into power and two of you have taken spouses from outside of your own brotherhood. Have you considered the message that sends to your people if a third heir takes a wife from The Fellowship instead of The Order?”
Oh yeah. Let’s keep rolling with this idea. Make him see this as a legitimate reason to not consider me as a candidate for his wife.
“Kieran’s marriage to Westlyn created an alliance, and Shaw’s marriage to Mitch strengthened it. My marriage to a Fellowship woman would reinforce the alliance between our brotherhoods even more.”
“Perhaps, or it could send the message that your family believes your own people aren’t good enough, which would result in weakening your connection with them.”
Damn, I’m good.
He’s quiet for a moment. Perhaps allowing that to soak in?
“That’s one way to spin it.”
It’s the only way to spin it, at least until Leith and I are officially together.
“Between you and me, I’ve yet to meet an Order woman I’d trust to not kill me while I sleep.”
“I can see where that would be a concern.”
The Hendrys are leaders but over what kind of people? A vicious group who doesn’t want to change or better themselves. Even if I was power hungry, that would be a definite con for marrying into the Hendry family. Westlyn has no idea how much I worry about her.
“I hope that what I’m about to say doesn’t sound as though I think too highly of myself.” He grins and a light chuckle vibrates in his chest. “I thought that Order women would be lining up at my door in hopes of a match, but the opposite is true. They act as though they hate me.”
“That’s surprising.” Even for Order women.
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