Page 122 of Dance of Thorns

This is definitely away from the noise.

It’s away from everything.

“Holyshit…”

I grin as I pull the car into the small walled compound perched on the edge of the cliffs over the sea below. She stares at the sprawling, ivy-covered stone villa as I shut the engine off.

My parents bought this place before I was born, thinking it would be a family getaway spot. But after Mom died when I was five, Dad and I never came back.

I think for him, there are too many specific memories of her wrapped up in this place. But I don’t really remember my mother that much. For me, the place is a way to remind myselfof my mother'sexistence, not sad memories. So as an adult, I’ve started coming here by myself from time to time, as an escape from the world when I need it.

This place isbeautiful—an almost castle-like villa sitting high above the white sand and azure-blue water. But I’m not looking at it, or the view.

I’m looking ather.

I’m looking at the way the anxiety melts from her face as she drinks it all in. The way I can almost literally see the weight lifting from her shoulders.

All that shit in New York will be waiting there when we get back, of course. But for however long I can keep her here, it’s just us two.

No noise. No drama. No press shoving microphones in her face after rehearsal. No accusations of murder.

We both need that.

“Bane?”

I blink, realizing I’ve been fucking staring at her as she stands in the open double doorway leading from the living room to the terrace beyond.

She lifts a brow. “Ourluggage…?”

It’s not the first time she’s brought up getting on a plane without any luggage. That concern was immediately followed by one about traveling out of the country with all her pending legal shit.

I told her not to worry about either one. When she kept pushing it, I finally told her to bend over my lap.

Which she did,quiteeagerly.

Just as eagerly as she took every spank on her ass, her skirt pulled up and her panties pulled down, in fact.

I arranged on the flight to have clothes and anything else we might need sent here. But in the meantime…

“What are we doing for cloth?—”

Her voice falters and her eyes widen as I peel off my shirt and toss it aside. My pants are next, then my boxers, before I calmly walk toward her, completely nude.

Fully erect.

I slip my fingers under the waist of her skirt and push it and her panties down off her hips and ass, letting them fall to her feet.

“Any other questions,” I murmur into her lips, wrapping my arms around her.

She shakes her head, and my mouth descends to devour hers.

There’s still so many secrets. The sharp, lingering twinge of dishonesty, piercing my soul as I peel the rest of her clothes off and kiss her until those lips bruise. So many questions.

But right now, none of those matter.

The only thing that matters is her.

Us.