Page 61 of Escaped
“I could get used to this.”Planting a kiss on his lapel, I glanced up to meet his eyes.“Thank you again for arranging it all, sir.”
“It’s my pleasure.”His large hand rose to support the back of my head.“And I agree about the loch.After all those hours in bed, it’s good to get some fresh air.”
“Don’t.”My hips rolled reflexively in his direction.“I can’t believe how cruel you were to me earlier.”
“Cruel?”His laughter was edgier that time, and I was glad there were no other guests around to hear him.“I was just warming you up, little girl.After my injuries, we have a lot of time to catch up on.”
“Yes, sir.”
Who was I to argue?We both knew I fucking loved the way he treated me.
“Want to walk some more before dinner?”His fingers brushed over my flushed cheek.“All those orgasms have helped work up quite the appetite.”
“Yes.”I turned back toward the loch as he took my hand.“It’s so wonderful.Why not?”
“How are you feeling about my confessions now, little girl?”His tone was nonchalant, but I sensed the anxious shift in his voice.
“With Mum and Chelle, I haven’t had so much time to think about those things, sir,” I started as we strode away.“But I would like to know more about both your old employment and the things you were seeing before we met.”
“I’ve already brokenThe Official Secrets Act, so what difference does it make?”He sounded wistful as we walked beside the water.“Give me your questions and I’ll do my best to answer.”
“The things you used to see,” I probed.“Have you had any more of those experiences?”
“Nothing since we’ve been together.”Lifting our enmeshed hands, he kissed my knuckles.“It’s like you’ve frightened my demons back to the shadows.”
“I’m happy to hear that.”I met his eyes.“But promise me you’ll consider professional help if those things ever come back.Mental health is so important, sir.”
“Fair enough.”He blew out a breath.“I hope I never see them again, but if they return, I’ll seek out professional help, though I’m not sure I can divulge much about the cause of the anomalies.”
An especially gusty flurry of wind squalled around the loch, temporarily stealing our attention from the intensity of the moment.
“I know.”I squeezed his fingers in encouragement.
“I want you to do the same, though, little girl,” he went on.“If you ever need to talk about any of the shit we’ve been through, know I’m here for you.”
“Thank you.”I turned in the direction the sun was setting in.Cavorting just above the horizon, its rays were flirting with the line where the loch met the sky.“I still can’t wrap my head around what happened with Hawkins.”
In my mind, the woman who’d picked up that gun and shot him was an avatar I’d coded; not me.I had to assume I’d taken his life that day, though, I supposed we’d never know for sure.My rational perspective couldn’t accept what I’d done, but my emotional one begrudgingly assented to the deed, knowing that while I didn’t want to be a killer, I also didn’t ever want to see Hawkins again.I’d killed for the man I adored, and if I had to, I’d do it again, but first, I’d like to focus onlivingfor him.
For us.
“It’s not something you get over.”He sighed.“Few people understand that better than me.”
I swallowed at how ominous he made that sound.“I do appreciate your honesty, sir.”
We walked on in silence, the breeze swirling around us as we considered what we’d done.I’d shot at Hawkins and one of his cronies, but Eli had done far worse in the course of his life, yet still, he’d saved me.A ‘bad man’ made good, I was prepared to overlook his past to focus on a future together.I figured we both deserved that.
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t realized Eli had stopped until he tugged at my arm and brought us both to an abrupt halt.I yelped as I bumped into him, lifting my chin to meet his gaze, and there, dancing in his eyes, were the same devils who’d tormented me in the bedroom.In the time we’d wandered the length of the loch, his melancholy had shifted to something far sexier.
“Sir?”I reached for his chin and brushed my fingers over his soft stubble.“I love you for wanting to share everything with me.”
“There’s me thinking you loved me for the red-hot spankings I give you.”He smirked.“As well as my cock.”
There was no choice but to smile at his appraisal.I did love those, as well.“Those too, sir.”
“Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you, Erin.”Reaching for me, he smoothed my hair back from my face and held me close as another blast of wind rushed us.“You’ve helped me escape from that old life, and even though I miss Baron, there’s no going back.From this day on, I vow to you there’ll be no more secrets.”
“And lots of kinky sex?”I proffered cheekily.
His gray eyes danced with emotion, and in them, I was sure I could see all the wicked and delectable things I longed for him to do with me.
I smiled.“Here’s to escaping together and a life with no more secrets and lots of kinky sex.”
That sounded just perfect to me.
The End