Page 61 of The Knight (Endgame 2)
My flesh can only ripple around him, only want and need and flux, until his thumb goes to my clit, a rough flick—that’s all I need. It sends me over until I’m pressing myself against his hips, my flesh tender against the coarseness of his hair, sex damp with his spend.
I fix our clothes and move to stand. He pulls me back to his lap.
“Look at me,” he says, voice soft with threat.
It’s a struggle, but I meet his gaze. “Gabriel.”
“I thought you were going to die in that house.”
“We’re safe now,” I whisper, wanting to reassure him. Wanting to reassure myself.
But I’m not sure we can ever be safe with Jonathan Scott in the city. He killed my mother. I know that now. That house was my family’s castle. We were invaded by a Trojan horse in the form of hidden cameras, ripped apart by a weapon in the form of a secret.
And Jonathan Scott could strike again at any time.
For now we’re safe behind thick walls.
We need to fortify them for whatever comes next.
“I thought I was going to have to watch you die, Avery. Do you know what that did to me? Seeing you in danger and unable to help you?”
The anguish in his eyes rips a hole through my shield. I have nothing to protect me, nothing to do but admit the truth. “It would have done the same thing to me if I’d left you there.”
I touch my forehead against his, closing my eyes. He pulls in a shuddering breath.
“Then we both lost,” he murmurs. “A stalemate.”
“Both of us helpless. Both of us trapped.” The fate he wanted for my father, but it bound us together instead. A curse reflected in black-and-white, each side a mirror.
Neither of us can escape. Neither of us wants to.
“To remain,” he says, his hands tightening on mine.
And that’s what we are. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Not for a million dollars. Some games you prefer to lose. I will remain on this board with him, the man I love.
“Play with me?” I whisper against his lips.
“Always.”EpilogueWe spend the next week in bed, in the library. In his office. Doing all manner of illicit things, some even illegal in a few states. Neither of us feel inclined to leave the safety of these walls. But eventually the world intrudes. Gabriel gets a call from Charlotte telling him a merger needs his attention.
He’s dressed in a suit, his jaw freshly shaved, his eyes veiled. Standing in the middle of the room, he exudes confidence and strength. I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the chessboard to him like this.
I leave the bed, my nightgown a slinky contrast to his stark power. “Have a nice day, Mr. Miller.”
He tucks me against his side, the suit fabric cool against my arms. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Of course.” I give him a chiding look. “You’re the one healing from fractured ribs. I’m completely fine.”
That’s not entirely true. I suffered some smoke inhalation during the fire. Wracking coughs that went on for days. Or maybe just minutes. And worse than the cough are the nightmares. Flames. Fear.
Gabriel’s expression darkens. “I’ll stay home.”
And every night Gabriel has been there to wake me up, to hold me in his arms, to murmur reassurance. At one time I wouldn’t have believed he could be tender. Now I know what’s underneath the muscle and flesh, the sternness and dark sensuality.
“Hey,” I tell him softly. “You’re only a phone call away. And you’ll be back tonight.”
He frowns. “A half day.”
My heart does a jump with relief. The truth is I want him to come home quickly. I don’t want him to leave at all. But I don’t want him to worry about me. If I don’t convince him I’m okay he’ll stay out of obligation. “Take as long as you need. Trust me, I need a long soak in that tub of yours with all the spray jets. Actually it will be good for me. I’m a little…sore.”
He narrows his eyes. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Is it working?”
“No.”
I smile. “Good. Because I want you home. Once I’m well rested we can spend all night getting reacquainted. Ten hours is a long time to go without seeing you.”
“Oh, little virgin. Ten hours? After two you’ll be all closed up again, your body tight and fully healed. It will be my pleasure to tear you apart again.”
Heat sparks in my core, spreading along my skin like wildfire. My cheeks heat. “Maybe you could be a little late?”
He smiles coolly, enjoying my discomfort. “I couldn’t possibly. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
I press against his side, savoring the hardness of him. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t go anywhere,” he warns, ignoring my plea. “If you need something talk to Blue.”
