Quill
Christopher informed me that Black was returning. I had spent days worrying about him. I knew everyone who ever hurt me or threatened to hurt me was dead. I thought I’d feel sad knowing my brother was gone, but I didn’t. I was relieved. The only person in this whole world who had the power to cause me pain ever again was Black. If he told me to go, I’d die inside.
“He’s here,” Christopher said as he rose from the couch and walked to the front door. I followed, stopping a few feet behind him. When he opened the door, Black stood there. His gaze met Christopher’s briefly before landing on me.
I was frozen in place for just a moment, but the thaw was fast, and as soon as Christopher moved out of the way, I raced over to Black and leapt into his arms, breathing for the first time when he tightened his embrace. I could feel the air crackle, it was the feeling right before a thunderstorm. When his breath coasted over my neck, it was like I was plugged into life.
“Black,” I whispered before kissing him breathless.
It was like I was in an impenetrable cocoon and it was just him and me. Every inch of me melted, feeling him love me through unspoken words and possessive touches. I didn’t need the words. I felt them and they were everything I’d ever dreamed of.
“It’s over,” he said against my lips.
“Are we over?” I asked, knowing we weren’t but still needing to hear it.
He was shaking his head before I was finished asking my question. “No, I don’t want us to be.”
I couldn’t believe it. I had wished my whole life for a fairytale ending. For my prince to come save me from my life, and I got so much more than a prince or a knight, I got the king.
As much as I wanted to fall to the floor and make love to my king, I knew we couldn’t. I needed to make sure everything that happened wouldn’t come back to bite Black in the ass, ever.
Poe arrived an hour later and Black had a chance to change and get comfortable before the inquisition.
“Mrs. Sterling will be given the seventy-five million dollars to tell the press a very believable story about her husband stealing their son’s trust fund and fleeing with his mistress. When Ronnie doesn’t show up for his hearing, things will get sticky. And let’s just say when he can’t take it anymore and he’s found in a seedy area beaten to death in an alley, well, you get it. After a few months, the shame will be too much for Mrs. Sterling and she will disappear, seventy-five million dollars richer,” Poe explained.
“And you’re sure she’s not going to be an issue?” Christopher asked.
“Don’t you worry about the matriarch, she’ll be watched.”
Poe didn’t stay long. He thanked Black for protecting Mr. Hart and bid us all a farewell. Snow followed him out and after all the last of the details were finalized, the hour showed it was past midnight. While Black’s people were running last minute sweeps over his apartment in the city, we took up Snow on his invitation to stay one last night. The gorgeous house I had made into a Christmas wonderland would need serious cleaning and I really just wanted to be in Black’s arms, I didn’t care where. Black and I returned to the bedroom hand in hand and lazily got ready for bed.
“Christmas is in five days,” Black said as we slipped under the covers.
“Yup.”
“I have this ridiculously huge apartment in the city that’s devoid of any holiday cheer.”
I laughed against his chest. “Is that so, Mr. Blackrose?”
“It is indeed. Happen to know of any quirky, gorgeous men who love to decorate that could come and jingle it up?”
“Hmm.” My finger danced around his nipple. “I may know a guy.”
“Think he can join me tomorrow…” He hesitated for a minute, and I waited patiently. “And maybe stay?”
“Stay?” I lifted my head, his silver eyes glittering. “How long?”
“I was thinking forever.” It was like he was holding his breath, nervous. I couldn’t believe it either, and the tickle in the pit of my stomach was pure excitement.
“I’m thinking I could be persuaded.”
“I’ll persuade you for as long as you need,” he mumbled against my lips as he laid me on my back and spent the entire night loving every inch of my skin until I quivered. The air smelled like Black, and there wasn’t any part of my body he didn’t touch.
If this was my life now, then I was so glad to be wrong. It seemed I was, in fact, destined for a happily ever after.