Page 77 of Conquered

Or the time when they were fourteen, Ash decided to run away and become a concert pianist. According to Kai, Ash was an extraordinary piano player. His music was apparently so full of emotion that you were swept away and transformed into someone new.Ash the Ice K?

He'd convinced them all to tag along, but they were caught by Mr Vanderbilt, trying to catch the bus and taken promptly home.

His eyes darken then, a haunted look entering into them.

“We didn't see Ash for weeks, or Luc, Ash’s twin, either. And when we next saw them, well, Ash no longer played piano, and Luc, he had an anguished look in his eyes that I’ll never forget.” His own eyes are full of sadness mixed in with rage, a combination I’ve not seen in them before.

My heart breaks for Ash. What terrible thing happened to not only keep him from his friends, but stop him from doing something he loved? And I’m more than a little intrigued about Luc, Ash’s twin.

Not knowing what to say, I reach out and grasp his hand, interlocking our fingers and squeezing. I hate the sadness, the hopelessness I can see in his eyes. I can't help feeling there issomething more here, and although I feel so comfortable and safe with the guys, I can't seem to find the words to ask more.

I can’t stand the tormented look in his eyes, and I'm racking my brain for something to take it away when inspiration strikes.

“When I was seven, we had a talent show at school,” I begin, “and I decided to dance like my mum. She danced at Grey’s, a club in London…”

“Wait. Your mom danced at Grey’s? LiketheGrey’s? In Soho?” Kai asks, his tone impressed and eyebrows raised.

“Yep. I practically grew up there, watching them all dance. I used to think they were beautiful ballerinas, who, you know, happened to take their clothes off.” I chuckle, the memories flooding back over me. The soft lighting, the sound of the sensual music wrapping round me as the dancers moved with a grace that defied gravity. The memory doesn’t hurt like I expected, and that surprises me.

“Anyway, I stole one of my mum’s costumes, her routine was based on belly dancing, and I remember the beautiful turquoise silk outfit that was the softest thing that I’d ever touched. I hadn’t told her what my talent was, I wanted to surprise her.

“Cue the night of the show, and I darted onto the stage when the music started playing. I’d danced like I’d seen the girls at the club do, like I’d seen my mother do, starting to remove some of the silk scarves that made up the skirt, just as Mum did. She definitely was surprised, that’s for sure!” I tell Kai with a laugh as I remember my mum’s face and that of the other parents as I basically started stripping. Kai joins me, and his laugh is music to my ears.

“Did you get into trouble?” he questions, wiping his eyes.

“Surprisingly, no. Mum and Lexi, who came to watch, just cheered and then took me out for pizza and ice cream afterwards.” I beam at him, and even though my heart twinges at the memory, I’m not crippled by it.

Kai’s eyes soften, his laughter fading away as he looks at me. Reaching out his hand, he cups the side of my face in his palm, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

“Your mum sounds like an extraordinary woman, Lilly,” he murmurs, and tears spring to my eyes. “And she brought you up to be the rarest flower.”

He leans over, his lips brushing mine in the softest of caresses. I moan softly, my hand coming up to tangle in his thick hair and pull him closer, fusing my lips to his. A deep growl escapes his throat, surprising the shit out of me as he lets go of the hand he’s holding, grabbing my wrist and pulling my hand away from his hair, pinning it behind me.

The hand that was on my face moves up into my hair, grasping a handful and tugging sharply, angling my head to allow him deeper access. I moan in earnest this time, as he plunders my mouth, holding me immobile as he takes what he wants. It’s not the gentle kiss it started out as. It’s full of possession, fire, and passion and I realise that Loki hasn’t been lying when he’s mentioned Kai’s dominant tendencies.

Abruptly, he releases me, his eyes a little wild and his breathing as hard as my own.

“We should start heading back,” he says, his voice a little gruff. I just nod, my heart racing with the remnants of our kiss.

He starts to pack away the picnic stuff, and I help him gather it all up and put it in his backpack. I can't miss the bulge in the front of his trousers. Shouldering it, he turns to me.

“I'm really glad you came here, Lilly,” he says, his voice now soft and a blush rising on his cheeks. “I think you're exactly what we all need.”

He reaches for my hand, looking deep into my eyes, his own honey coloured ones full of hope. Finally, after some soul searching moments, we start to walk back, hand in hand.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

LILLY

My fourth week at Highgate is mostly uneventful. The guys and I settle into a routine of sorts, having breakfast and dinner in our dorm, which Kai usually makes, and lunch in the dining hall.

Things between Kai and I have changed since our hike, and that kiss. He’s certainly not shy anymore, stealing touches and dominating kisses that leave me breathless and weak kneed.

We spend a lot of time cooking together, with Kai teaching me all that he knows. Earlier in the week, when I was helping him make fajitas for dinner, he came up behind me, placing his hands over mine and showing me how to chop the peppers correctly, into thin even slices. Ordering me to keep chopping, and not make a sound, which would alert the guys who were sitting on the sofas a couple of feet away, his own hands left mine to dip into my leggings, his fingers proving to me how skilled he is with them, and not just for cooking.

Every time he shows me his dominant side, and I embrace it wholeheartedly, it’s like he opens up more with the acceptance I give him, becoming firmer in his demands the next time.

On Wednesday morning, I made French toast and bacon, drizzled with maple syrup for them all.