I wasn’t a King.

My son was my only connection to the King family I had. I knew if they found out my secret, I would never be let back in their house. Luke knows my secret, and I hate that. I hate what it has done to us both. I hate what The Cage has done to us both. We stare at each other across the dinner table, neither of us willing to put the past behind us and attempt to forgive each other. I can’t forgive him for wanting to go through with the fight and eventually killing my brother. How could I?

It’s too late for any of those things. Forgiveness. Understanding. Compassion…even love.

We do nothing but destroy each other, leaving nothing but broken pieces of our souls to pick up after.

“More wine, Emilia?” Luke suddenly asks, and I hold out my glass.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

“Fucking hell this is more awkward than I thought it would be. I’d pay someone to call Elliot’s phone right now,” Seb exclaims as Luke pours wine in my glass and I put it down.

“On it!” Allie replies and Elliot just groans as his hilarious ringtone starts playing. As the Milkshake song plays, and Elliot rushes to get his phone out of his jeans, I meet Luke’s eyes.

We both can’t help but laugh. Everything has been so tense since the argument and laughing together like this seems to break some of that up for a moment.

“Allie, will you please stop setting that as my ringtone?” Elliot groans and Allie only laughs.

“Nope,” is her only response.

“Parker, how is school?” Luke asks Parker, who looks up at me and then decides to ignore Luke once again. This is not going well for them both. I know Parker can pick up on my tension with Luke and Eric is no doubt not saying nice things about Luke to him. This is all so messed up.

“It’s rude to ignore people, Hun,” I say.

“School was fine,” Parker says, rolling his eyes. “Can I go and play with Jake now? I’ve eaten all my food.”

“Sure,” I say, and he is all too quick to climb out his chair and run off into the garden with the others as they nicely play behind us. Luke pushes his chair back and walks out of the room, looking upset by Parker’s actions. I feel like a lot of this is my fault.

“Go after him then,” Allie suggests, nudging me as the others all awkwardly stare. “I’ll watch Parker.”

“Thanks,” I say, getting out of my chair and walking out of the room. I walk through the kitchen, into the hallway where the door is left slightly open. After pushing the door open, I see Luke walking to his car, looking defeated.

“Luke, wait!” I shout, and he ignores me, unlocking his car and getting inside as I jog to the other side, and pull the door open. He could have locked me out, so that’s a good sign.

“He hates me,” Luke points out as he leans back in his seat, making no effort to start the car.

“No, he doesn’t. Parker is shy, he always has been, and this is one huge change for him that pushes his boundaries. Don’t give up,” I tell him, not thinking about it as I cover his hand with mine on his lap.

“I’m never going to give up. Never,” Luke says, turning to look at me. “I love him, even if he can’t understand that right now. He is my son.”

“Time will help. We should make some plans for you to have alone time with him. Parker loves the cinema and bowling. Maybe you could take him out after school twice this week to those?” I suggest.

“Yes. Do you think he would come with me?” He asks. “I don’t want to force him to spend time with me.”

“We can ask, and I think he would come. I might have to come with you for the first few weeks, but eventually, I know he will end up loving you like everyone else,” I say.

“Everyone?” Luke asks, picking up my hand.

“W-we can’t do this…no matter how I feel,” I sputter out.

“I love you, Emilia. You know that, right?” Luke tells me and every barrier I’d forcefully put up between us just burns away as I reach over and kiss him. Luke pulls me onto his lap as we passionately kiss, his hands rubbing all over my body as I settle on top of him. I reach down, undoing his belt and desperate to reconnect with him after all this time apart. Luke pulls my dress and bra down, revealing my breasts and he runs his fingers over my nipples as I free his long, hard erection. I push my thong to the one side before lining us up, and slowly inching myself down until he fills me up.

“Fuck you are incredibly tight and wet,” Luke groans, grabbing my hips as I roll my hips, chasing the orgasm I know is close.

“I love you,” I whisper against his lips before kissing him as we both lose all control. Neither of us can do anything but move our hips, battle with our mouths as we both get close to the edge. Luke’s hand slides between my legs, finding my clit and rubbing it as fast as I roll my hips, loving the feeling of Luke’s hard cock sliding in and out of me.

“Emilia!” Luke groans against my lips as I cry out in pure pleasure, an orgasm slamming into me so hard that everything goes blurry. Luke slams me back on to his cock one more time before he explodes inside me, feeling like pure bliss. I collapse onto his chest, feeling his cock throbbing inside me as I listen to his fast beating heart.

“It’s me and you now, you got that?” Luke breathlessly tells me, lifting my head to meet his eyes. There is nothing but pure love in his eyes, nearly making me feel speechless.

“It’s me and you.”