She’s teasing me. I shake my head. ‘I never wanted to kill you but I never thought you’d be granted sanctuary. And the alternatives are far, far worse.’
She shudders against me. ‘I heard them. Just as they reached the causeway. Howling.’
I close my eyes, thankful that she got here on time.
‘I think you were always going to be safe. The white stag appearing when it did was a sign.’
‘A sign from whom?’
I shrug, desire cooling as reality makes a fast and an unwelcome return. ‘Hopefully, from the power behind The Unseelie Court itself. Vincenzo’s rule is twisting that, and I can’t allow it to continue any longer. It was the main reason I was marrying Vittoria.’
‘For the power?’
‘For the chance to make changes that might allow our world to recover. But my sister is right. I can’t do that with Vittoria by my side.’ My head drops back, and I sigh before shaking my head. The events of the evening and my orgasm have drained me. ‘I can’t do it without her either. If I’m with you I can’t become king.’
She frowns as if she’s only just realised what we’ve done. ‘So, you’re not marrying Vittoria?’
I shake my head. ‘It’s over. Tomorrow I’ll make it official. Then I’ll be back to take what’s mine.’
‘But you’re staying tonight?’
‘I am,’ I promise.
She nods. ‘I’m glad, I don’t want to be alone after?—’
I kiss her.
‘We should shower. Alone.’ Otherwise I’ll be taking her virginity in the small en suite, and that’s not where I want her, not the first time, anyway.
‘What is it?’ she asks me when I come out after my own shower, wrapped in a towel.
‘What?’
‘You’re smiling.’
‘Just thinking that we’ll both be having firsts tonight.’
‘Really? What can you possibly be doing for the first time with me, Cillian Hunter?’ she asks, clearly puzzled.
‘Sleeping in a bed all night with a woman I haven’t just fucked.’
She makes a face. ‘Lucky me. You know I don’t mindnotcreating that first for you.’
I shake my head at her. ‘Our first time, I want us both to be free.’
‘Okay,’ she murmurs, relaxing in my arms. ‘I’ll give you that.’
Chapter25
Niamh
Iwake alone, with only the thin sheet pulled up over my body. I’m still on my side, and even though he was only here for a few hours, I miss Cillian’s presence behind me. I keep my eyes closed for as long as I can, replaying the events of last night. The feel of him pressed against me. My eyes flash open at the memory of what I did to him, the feeling of his cock in my mouth, swallowing his cum as he found his release. I’m not sure I can ever face him again– except that I want… more.
Part of me is rightly pissed off about the way Cillian’s been manipulating me over the years, watching me, keeping other men at a distance, ‘dealing’ with them. But at least he looked a little shamefaced after he’d told me.
He’s returned my phone to me, leaving it on the bedside cabinet and I tap in my pin. There’s a post it on it instructing me not to contact anyone but him, and for a moment I can’t work out if that’s him being ultra-controlling or keeping me safe. There are so many red flags flying around him, this could easily be just a way of controlling me. But, I decide to give him the benefit of the doubt, this time, and wait until I’ve spoken to him.
I switch off my read receipts as a precaution and then read through all 141 messages that Rose has left since she woke up on Saturday morning. Tears pool in my eyes as her messages show that she’s losing hope.
