Page 33 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

Chapter Sixteen

Mercy

A s I finished my final epilogue for the project that had taken me through every emotion I could possibly think of, I let out a deep breath. Because there wasn’t a sound from next door.

Even though the holidays were over, Lex could have begun his construction again at any point.

The addition was almost done, in fact every time I had been at his home, there hadn’t been any construction going on at all.

The calendar from before had said there would be construction going on today.

But he had kept everything silent, calm, stagnant since I had kicked him out of my house.

I pinched the bridge of my nose before forcing myself to put everything away and get out of my booth.

Because I should have let him speak. Or maybe I should have said something other than to get out.

I had been so ashamed in my part of him losing that job, that I had let every lash of his words slice into me—however his words had been a mistake he hadn’t meant to speak.

And I hadn’t called him back. I was going to today though. It was time for me to finally fight for myself.

I didn’t fight for myself when it came to Justin, but in the end that was a good thing. Not only had he cheated on me, embarrassed me, and ruined what we had, he had sent a bookie after me.

I had been so wrong in my judgment before, that I couldn’t help but worry that I had done it again.

But placing my worries about what Justin had done on Lex was wrong.

So I would tell Lex that.

If he ever came home so I could see him again.

Mr. Darcy meowed at the back door, gesturing towards the catio, and I sighed, letting him out on his own.

“Lex put a new lock on the back door that you cannot open. Do you understand me? I need you to stay safe inside. While it’s too cold for snakes, it is also too cold for you to be out for too long.”

My cat blinked at me as if he understood me, or maybe that’s just what I wanted him to do, and I closed the sliding door behind him. He stretched, and I resisted the urge to say good stretch, and went back to his little bed. He curled up, a little black void of poof, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I wasn’t the greatest cat mom in the world. I was still learning. But he was my everything. And I could tell from the way that he frowned at me, and pouted, that he missed Lex as much as I did.

I was going to fix this. Because there wasn’t any other option. Was there?

My doorbell rang as I tried to think of how to approach Lex other than just going over to his house, and I froze, slowly pulling my phone out of my pocket. He stood there, hands in his pockets, looking as lost as I felt.

Part of me wanted to reach out and trace his face with my fingers on the screen, but that was ridiculous.

Because he was here now. And I would hear what he had to say. And then figure out what I needed to say along the way.

I opened the door, heart in my throat, and he stood there, looking so handsome that it was hard for me to breathe. But that was usually the case with Lex. He always made it hard for me to breathe.

“You answered,” he said softly, and I nodded.

“I’m sorry for not answering my phone yesterday. I was in the booth, and then I didn’t know how to call you back. I just needed time to think.”

“I understand. I wouldn’t have blamed you for never answering your door. I was such an asshole.”

“Maybe, but I didn’t listen either.”

“Can I come in? I can stand on the porch if you’d like, but I’d like to come in. If you’ll let me.”

I took a step back, my heart aching. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. But looking at him? It was as if every moment that I had been trying to forget slammed back into me, and I couldn’t breathe.

“I shouldn’t have blamed you. I know you were just trying to help with the Gia thing, and it was exactly what we needed.”

My eyes widened, but I didn’t say anything.

“Gia was trying to rub her relationship in my face. She cheated on me, dumped me, made me feel like shit. And she was trying to lord it over me. I hadn’t realized how many times she had tried to do that.

And you stood up for me. But Mercy? The moment I held your hand at the JW?

It was real. Everything was real to me.”

“I’m still sorry for lying. But you’re right, it was the both of us.”

“And it was real. And frankly? If we would have had more time, it would have been real from the start.”

My eyes widened. “What are you saying?”

“Mercy. I wanted you when we were teenagers. When we were out of college, I wanted you, and was ready to ask you out and stake my claim in that growly way that we both joked about, but then Justin did it first.”

“So he staked his claim?” I asked, my voice dry.

“And I thought you loved him.”

“I thought I did too.”

“So I stepped back, and then as soon as I saw you here again, it was like I had a second chance. Only I wasn’t sure how to take it, and then the facade happened first. I don’t regret anything that happened. Other than the fact that I hurt you.”

“You did hurt me. But I should have listened. I should have taken a moment to just figure out exactly what we were doing.”

“You didn’t owe me that. You should have yelled and thrown things and called me bad names. I said shitty things. And I’m sorry.”

“I wasn’t looking for you, Lex. When I moved here. I was trying to figure out how to live again without my twin. To be alone. And I don’t know how to do this.”

He moved forward then, cupping my face. I sucked in a breath, his touch warm, familiar.

“I love you, Mercy. I didn’t mean to fall this fast. But I don’t regret it.

It would have been inevitable because I fucking love you.

And I know I’m not the easiest man to be with.

I work too hard, I’m sometimes too far into my head, and my family’s ridiculous, but I love you.

And I want to be with you. I want to figure out how to live in this new world of ours together.

And I don’t want to forget where we came from.

I don’t want to forget Emily. I don’t want to forget what we’ve lost. I love you.

So please, take me back? Forgive me? I’m an asshole.

An idiot. A stupid man. But this stupid man loves you. ”

I hadn’t realized that a tear had fallen until he wiped it away, and I shook my head.

His eyes went wide in that moment, and I realized he took the shake of my head wrong.

“I’m sorry. And of course you’re forgiven. I was going to forgive you as soon as I saw you next. Because we just needed to talk. Something that neither one of us is very good at when it comes to each other. We’re both great at listening to others, but not ourselves.”

“Damn straight. But I’m figuring it out. With you. I love you. And it was always real to me, Mercy. You have to believe that.”

“I do. And I love you too.”

He smiled so wide then, I couldn’t help but kiss his chin.

“I hadn’t realized how long I’d been waiting for those words.”

“Well, I’m just going to say it, and you’re going to have to deal with the fact that I am ridiculous sometimes.”

“Same. And my family’s even worse.”

“I don’t mind.”

Something scratched at the glass door behind us, and I turned to see Mr. Darcy there, on his back feet, meowing loudly at us.

“I guess we should let him in. And I know he thanks you for fixing the door,” I said with a laugh.

“Ah. I get it. You just love me for my handyman skills?”

“Well, that’s part of it.”

He brushed his lips against mine, and then we went to let Mr. Darcy in, and I couldn’t help but laugh as the cat wove his way around Lex’s legs before nearly tripping us both.

“I see how it is. I’m not forgiven by him, am I?”

“Probably not. But I don’t think I’m forgiven for breathing either.”

“Again. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. So you’re just going to have to coach me with this whole falling in love and wanting to be with someone thing, okay?”

“The last time I loved somebody, it turned out they were a lying snake who decided to send people after me. So yes, let’s work on this whole being together thing together.”

“Deal.”

And when he crushed his mouth to mine, I melted into him.

Because I hadn’t meant to fall for Lexington Montgomery. But if I was honest with myself, I knew it had always been inevitable.

Because he had always been the one there for me. Even when I hadn’t expected it.

And now there was truly nothing fake about this.

And there was never going to be again.

* * *

“Why is it that you wearing my shirt and nothing but my shirt while cooking me brunch is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life?”

I moved the eggs off of the burner and turned to Lexington, raising a brow.

“I feel like you telling me you like me barefoot in the kitchen means you want to get slapped.”

He rolled his eyes and then moved so he pressed his front to my back, hands on my hips. I groaned—I couldn’t help it, considering what exactly was pressing against my lower back.

“I just like you near me. Sorry. I can’t help it. You do know I’ll cook for you anytime you want. As long as you’re naked.”

“Oh. That’s nice.” He licked up my neck, biting down gently. I shivered, grateful that I had already turned off the stove.

“Brunch is going to get cold.”

“I think we’ll be okay.”

He slid his hand between my legs and froze. “You’re not wearing any panties.”

“You just said you liked me wearing only your shirt. When was I supposed to put on panties?”

He groaned. “Woman.”

Before I could say anything though, he speared me with two fingers, and I let out a gasp. “So fucking wet for me. Do you hear yourself? Do you hear the sound of your wetness on my fingers? Your pussy is just calling my name.”

Before I could even think, he had me twisted so my back was to the other counter, and he was on his knees.

“Lex,” I gasped.

But he didn’t say anything, instead he lifted one of my legs, set it on his shoulders, and licked up my cunt.

“Sweet. Tart. A perfect appetizer to brunch.”