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“Lacey.” Dorrian’s deep drawl distracts her, and her touch disappears at once. “That’s not decent.”

“Oh, hey, Dorrian. I didn’t see you standing there,” she chirps and stands up, smoothing her hands down her dress as she walks towards him.

Dorrian makes small talk with her and when I feel her presence pull away, I open my eyes and blow out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, only to find Jordie is gone.

5

Kain

5 Years Ago - Aged 18

Istart towards the only room I know she would have headed to—my room. The only place we can both be sure we wouldn’t be caught together. It’s remained our meeting place for years. I have my own wing in the castle, which means no one ever comes by—it also makes it easier for me to hide from Father’s mauling.

With Vivian making her way up the hierarchy within the Blackcastle women, Jordie practically grew up here. Whenever her mother was helping with a town event organisation, or volunteering at the church, the planning would always be done here at the castle—the headquarters. When Jordie wasn’t at school, she was here, mostly hiding out in my room and playing with all my superhero figurines.

It took her weeks to finally speak to me when they first started coming around.

I remember the day I fell in love with her—she was sitting on my windowsill, chocolate bar in hand, and her feet tapping on the cushions. She turned when I walked in and her face lit up at me like the moon—a light in the darkness. That’s when I knew.

She was my first. First in everything. First kiss, first person I had sex with…

First love.

And she’ll be my last in everything, just as long as we can get out of here.

Jordie is the only thing that keeps me sane. Keeps me from completely surrendering to the darkness that has been steadily eating away at me for as long as I can remember. Her, Asher, and Blake are my only reprieve from this family.

I only saw her yesterday, but her sultry voice plays like a siren song in my ears, caressing my tense posture like always, beckoning me to her as my eyes adjust to the darkness of my room. “What took you so long?”

Kicking the door closed behind me, I stalk towards her where she’s sprawled out on my king-size bed. She leans back on her elbows as I hover over her silhouette, resting my fists on the mattress either side of her hips. I inhale her sweet scent, brushing my nose against her slender neck. She sighs, tilting her head, allowing me unrestricted access.

“I was thirty seconds behind you,” I murmur against her.

“Thirty seconds too long,” she whispers in my ear, nibbling on my lobe as I place a hand on the side of her thigh, tiny bumps erupting under my fingertips, her soft skin igniting every nerve ending on my body.

I pull away just enough to see her, taking in the soft features of her face, which are now more visible with the dim glow of the moon. Her button nose, the dusting of freckles over rosy cheeks which are currently hiding deep dimples, and wispy eyelashes that dance just under the arch of her eyebrows.

“Don’t worry. I’d always chase after you. I will always be right behind you.”

Her make-up free eyes soften and her mouth curls up as she tangles her hand into the back of my hair.

“Let’s not waste any time, please,” she whispers desperately.

Though we both want this moment to last forever, we know we’re on borrowed time before someone notices we’ve disappeared.

Gripping the back of her neck, I press my lips to her plump ones. I swipe my tongue across her bottom lip and she opens, meeting me with the same longing and desperation, our tongues entwining with each other. She slides my blazer off my shoulders and I shrug it off before guiding her to lie flat on the bed, never breaking our kiss. Then I feel my way up her thigh, gripping the generous curve of her ass which has her moaning into my mouth. Every move she makes becomes more urgent as she fumbles with the buttons of my shirt, revealing my lean muscles, along with bruised skin.

Breaking apart, she rips the shirt off me and throws it to the side. Her throat works with a swallow as she feathers her fingertips over the bruises before looking up at me, unsure.

“Don’t worry about me,” I whisper. Jordie has always known, but there’s nothing either of us can do. She peppers gentle kisses over my damaged flesh like her lips alone could heal me. This is just a long-standing Blackcastle rule. You disobey—you rue. Still, it doesn’t stop her from worrying. “I’m fine,” I reassure her.

My dick threatens to tear through the confines of my trousers as she bites her lip and beckons me closer with her finger, sliding further up the bed. She pulls in a breath when she sees the evidence of what she does to me every time without fail.

Reaching behind her, I graze my fingers over her exposed back slowly, finding my way to the zip, and sliding it down. Her chest rapidly rises and falls as I gently pull the corset away from her, revealing her ample breasts and the rose tattoo between them—absolutely not helping the situation in my boxers, but I don’t want to rush us. I want to revel in every second of her, and I want her desperate for me. We’ve been exploring sex together and my tastes have definitely been growing with every kiss and touch, and I find that I quite like it when she begs me.

If making love to the love of my life is a sin, then send me to Hell, I don’t care. How could something so connecting be a sin?

I pause when I see concern on her face. “Jordie?”