Her ankles follow. I kneel to bind one, then the other, lingering longer than necessary on each of them. I never knew I had an ankle fetish until today.
“What else?” A tortured moan escapes her when I kiss the top of one foot.
“Hate that it’ll take me forever to get back to you.”
I stand up, admiring my handiwork. Struggling to breathe.
Elowyn is right there, framed in gold. She’s spread out comfortably, the ropes holding her in place, without stretching any part of her body.
And she’s vibrating with lust. With need.
Perfect.
“What I don’t hate…” I brush my thumb over one nipple. Pinch her through her shirt. Stroke. Move to the other and repeat until they’re both hard and she’s panting. “Is that I get to do my job, and that’s protecting you.”
“Okay. Just so you know, I support whatever decision you make.” She’s grinding on air, and my dick begs to be inside her. Hard. Deep. Over and over. Fuck. “Even if you end up killing him, I’m on your side. I choose you.”
My eyes cut to hers. To the honesty and determination bleeding from them.
Fire burns in my chest. My fingers curl at her throat, guiding her into a kiss that means a lot of things, none of them a goodbye.
“You have no idea, no goddamn clue, just in love I am,” I groan when I eventually take a step back. Feels like a million of them. “I fucking love you.”
“I fucking love you too.” She jerks her chin toward the door. “Now go. I’ll be here. Waiting for you. Always.”
24
DUNCAN
As soon as the Montgomery house comes into view, a bitter taste floods my mouth.
My hands clutch the wheel. Knuckles bright white.
Up until yesterday, I was willing to let go of my revenge. Barclay, unbeknownst to the bastard, settled the score by saving Elowyn’s life.
I didn’t forgive him. Didn’t forget that if he hadn’t forced me to leave in the first place, I would’ve been there for her.
But wasting time on hate seemed pointless when I was happy.
When I could wake up to the most beautiful gray eyes and a smile that warmed me to my core.
When I could bury my face between the sweetest thighs. When I could fuck my woman out of love, not out of revenge.
Barclay had no place in our bedroom. Our world. Our lives.
That is, until he had to fuck it up.
In a way, it’s my fault.
Throughout high school, I practically enabled him. Every time I’d gotten my best friend out of trouble, he wasn’t grateful. He felt righteous. Owed.
For far too long, the world has been his to ruin.
No more.
At the gates, I let the SUV idle and dial one of the live-in nurses.
Neil answers on the second ring. “Hello?”
