Bittersweet Revenge (The Patricians Book 2)

by R. G. Angel

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I saw Doctor Willis today. He gave me the all-clear to resume all my normal activities,” she announced as if it was not a big deal.

  I stopped walking just before we reached the stairs and pulled her back toward me.

  “What?” she asked with a cheeky smile that made me want to bite her just how she liked it.

  “You didn't think about telling me that before we left our bedroom?”

  “Well, if I did, we wouldn’t have made it out.”

  I raised an eyebrow, brushing my knuckles against her stomach. “That’s the idea.”

  She swatted my hand away. “Later. We have all night. Let’s go before your mother bursts a vein and sends Luke to get us.”

  “Fine!” I replied, pouting like a petulant child.

  She chuckled again and pulled me down the stairs.

  I was grateful to see that this party was much smaller and simpler in tone than the last one. I didn’t hate most of the people here either.

  We stood side by side as she accepted all of the well-wishes given in varying tones of sincerity.

  “Should we worry?” I asked, jerking my head toward William. He was scowling toward Luke who was deep in conversation with Taylor’s parents.

  “Nah.” She waved her hand dismissively. “William is harmless now, at least to us.”

  “You’re welcome,” Archibald whispered from behind us.

  He hugged Esmeralda and gave me a nod. His eyes trailed in the room to find Taylor Oppenheimer alone by the drinks station.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said. He kept his eyes on her like a predator on his prey.

  “I smell drama,” Esmeralda whispered reluctantly, following him with her eyes as she chewed on her bottom lip.

  She took a step toward them, but was stopped when Antoine came to stand in front of us.

  “Esme, thanks for the little party.”

  Esmeralda smiled, giving him a hug. “You’re welcome! You’re going to be missed.”

  “I’ll miss you too. I’ll come back to visit, see the family.” He put his hands in a prayer gesture. “I’ll miss the drama too. Can you just film whatever shit eventually hits the fan?”

  “Here we go,” I muttered. Antoine couldn’t be serious for more than five minutes or he would die.

  Antoine chuckled before sighing. “I’m glad you took over. It gives me hope that when I come back I can be me.”

  I nodded. Resting my hand on his shoulder, I squeezed it in comfort, something I would never have considered doing before meeting my fiancée. “You can be yourself St. Vincent, I’ll – No, we’ll fight by your side.”

  His eyes turned misty. This was probably the first time I’d ever really saw something other than his usual clownish persona.

  “Well, fuck,” he sniffled with a chuckle. “I need a drink. A plus tard, les amoureux.”

  “What did he say?” Esmeralda asked.

  “He said ‘see you later, lovebirds’.” I turned toward her. “Talking about lovebirds, we have some matters to take care of. I’ve been nice by staying here for an hour, but now...” I jerked my head toward the stairs.

  Esmeralda leaned toward me. “And the matter I need to take care of is your penis, I suppose? Is the little guy feeling neglected?” she whispered softly.

  I gasped in mock offence. “Nothing is little about my guy, thank you very much!” I cocked my head to the side. “But yes, he is feeling unloved.”

  She chuckled, shaking her head.

  “But the business I was talking about was more about mutual, overwhelming, and if possible, multiple orgasms.”

  She looked at me with hooded eyes, her desire just as flagrant as mine. “Okay, just let me say goodbye to a few people and we’ll sneak away.”

  I looked around the room to find Archibald, but he and Oppenheimer were glaringly missing. A wave of irritation engulfed me. If one of them cockblocked me tonight, I swore they’d regret it.

  “I’ll give you ten minutes to say your goodbyes. Then I’ll come find you and carry you to the bedroom kicking and screaming.”

  “There won’t be any kicking… But I sure as hell hope there’ll be screaming,” she teased, walking toward Luke.

  I looked at her go, hypnotized by the sway of her hips. She didn’t flirt like that often, but when she did… Fuck, it did things to my body I couldn’t control even in a room full of people...which included my mother.

  “I couldn’t find Archie and Taylor,” Esme sighed once she was back by my side.

  I growled at the concern in her voice. I was going to murder them for killing the mood.

  “They’re fine – grown-ass adults and all that.” I took her hand and pulled her down the corridor and up the stairs. I was glad she didn't put up any resistance because if she had, I would have done what I said and carried her.

  She dragged her heels when we reached her old room.

  “They’re fighting,” she whispered, stepping closer to the door.

  There was no need to get that close. The screaming match between Archibald and Taylor could be heard just fine from here.

  She put her hand on the doorknob. “Maybe we should–”

  “Oh, no you don’t!” I grabbed her hand to stop her from opening the door. “This is definitely not something either of us want to be meddling in.”

  “But–”

  “Trust me, I know your brother. They need to let it out. Shout and release all their pent-up anger.” I shrugged. “It’s been a long time coming.”

  She sighed, throwing a last look to the door. “Fine, I just hope you’re right.”

  “I am,” I affirmed much more confidently than I felt. “Let’s concentrate on us now, okay?” I asked as we walked into our room.

  “Okay, fine.” She stood in front of the door. “Now strip,” she commanded.

  I raised an eyebrow. “And why would I do that?” I asked teasingly, already starting to undo my shirt.

  “Because you owe me one for the pre-wedding party,” she grinned.

  I pretended to ponder that. “I suppose you’re right. A promise is a promise.”

  I removed my shirt. As expected, she noticed the new tattoo straight away. She was so aware of me, inside and out. She knew me like no one else - my dark corners, weaknesses, exposed nerves and all. Yet, she still loved me without restriction. How did I get so lucky? I wasn't sure.

  “New one?” she asked, coming to stand closer to me. She rested her slender, delicate hand over my racing heart and the still-raw new tattoo.

  “Yes, I had it done last week.”

  I rested my hand over hers. It felt like every time she was near me, I had to touch her one way or another. I realized it had started way before I’d realized it. She was a magnet, the sun I was orbiting around.

  “Why a compass?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. “And I’m sorry to say, but the tattoo artist made a mistake.”

  “How is that?” I asked, not able to contain my smile. My girl was all in the details.

  She moved her hand and brushed the top. “This is North, but he put East instead.”

  “Did he?” I asked, playing along.

  She nodded. “Yes there is an ‘E’ instead of an ‘N’.” She looked up and smiled. “Don't worry. It can be fixed. And it’s so tiny, nobody else will notice it because if anyone tries to look that closely at your chest, I’ll knock them out.”

  I chuckled, grabbing the back of her neck and pulling her into a kiss. My girl had a possessive, jealous streak and I loved it. She was silly to think I could even be interested in anyone else, but it felt nice to see my kitten - No, my lioness, get her claws out.

  “It was not a mistake, Esmeralda, my love. E is my north. You are my north, my moral compass, my northern star in the dark sky. You’re the only one able to bring me back from whatever dark corner I sink into.”

  “And when I thought you could not get any more romantic,” she sighed, brushing her lips on my tattoo. “I love you so muc
h, it’s surreal.” She reached for my belt and I thanked God she was taking the lead. But then the door slammed open to reveal a furious Archibald.

  His pants were not fully buttoned. His shirt was open. His hair was in complete disarray. At least someone got laid, I thought darkly.

  “She is leaving?!” he asked Esmeralda as she took in his attire with concern and a hint of disgust.

  “You just had sex?” she asked horrified, her mouth tipping downward now.

  “Gross to think about your sibling getting laid, isn’t it?” He scoffed. “Well imagine how I feel every day looking at you two.”

  “Archibald, maybe this can wait 'til tomorrow? Please?” I was not above begging at this point.

  He took a look at my state of undress. Turning to Esmeralda again, his anger faded, replaced by weariness. “She is leaving,” he repeated to her. “Did you know?”

  Esmeralda took a step back, resting her back against my chest. “No, I knew she was in the selection process, but nothing was sure and she didn’t know yet what she would do.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “England, she’s going to England.” He shook his head. “She gave me her virginity tonight and now she is leaving me.”

  Kill me now.

  “You and me both,” Esmeralda whispered and I realized I’d spoken out loud.

  “How?” He sat on the chair by the door, clearly here to stay.

  Esmeralda went to him and kneeled by his side. “How what?” she asked kindly, taking his hand in hers.

  “How am I supposed to let her go? How am I supposed to let her forget when all I want is for her to be mine?” His voice was thick with emotion. His pain was so close to the one I’d felt, it still resonated in my chest. “I love her, Esme. I think I always did and I fear I always will.”

  Esmeralda threw me a helpless look and I sighed, looking heavenward.

  “You’ll be fine, brother,” I said. It had been years since I’d called him that, but yet it still felt right. “It will hurt like a bitch. I won’t deny that, but you won’t be alone. You’re going to come with Esmeralda and me to Yale. We’ll do the whole college experience and who knows what will happen. Maybe you’ll move on, but maybe she’ll realize you are it for her too and she’ll come back.” I took a step closer. “But you’ve got a support system, man. You have your sister and you have me.”

  “You want me to...come with you?”

  I looked at Esmeralda and the look of gratitude she gave me took my breath away. She made all sacrifices, all hard choices, worth it.

  “Of course!” I scoffed. “They’ll need kings to rule over them and two is better than one. Plus, you’ll need to help me keep your sister in check and stop her from being the campus saint or she’ll bring home all the strays she can find.”

  She glared at that, but it lacked heat.

  Archibald nodded. “Yes, I’ll come with you guys.” He leaned toward Esmeralda and kissed her forehead. “Being with you will help me hurt less. I’ll feel less alone. And maybe you’re right, maybe it’s what we both need – some distance.”

  I nodded and sighed with relief when he finally stood up. I needed my alone time with my future wife.

  “Okay, well, I’ll go home now. I think it’s for the best and you can go back to…” He gestured toward us with a grimace. “Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You think he’ll be okay?” Esmeralda asked as soon as I’d closed and locked the door. I wouldn’t be foolish and make the same mistake twice.

  “I think so. It’s going to be hard, but he won’t be alone. He’ll have you, the brightest, most loving woman in the world, to help him.” I took her in my arms and kissed her deeply.

  “Thank you,” she whispered against my lips.

  “What for?”

  “For taking him with us, for knowing that I needed him close.” She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’ll love you forever, Caleb Astor.”

  “I love you always,” I answered before laying her gently on the bed.

  I made love to her that night, slowly, sweetly, reverently. Archie’s pain had awoken the memories I had of losing her, of the uncertainty over whether she’d ever be fully mine.

  But she was mine, fully, completely… Just like I was hers. Forever - until our last breath and even beyond if I had any say in the matter.

  Epilogue – Caleb

  Six months later

  Life was good, really good – in ways I’d never thought it could be, in more ways than I deserved it to be. But my heart was lighter than ever and so full of love for the petite woman now standing in the kitchen of the three-bedroom apartment we shared with Archibald. I had not been particularly excited to share our love nest with her brother, but he had taken me up on our offer to join us at Yale. I had thought he would take his own place, somewhere not too far away, but I didn’t have it in me to separate them. If he wanted to torture himself with all our PDA and our nightly lovemaking, that was his problem, not ours.

  I was tired. Recent days had been hard, what with finals and the demands of the board. But it was going to get better now; I had officially been named CEO.

  I regained some energy as I watched Esme without being seen. She looked so endearingly ridiculous with her messy bun, black leggings, multicolor woolen socks, and duck-covered apron, along with flour on her cheek and a trace of chocolate on her neck.

  I approached her slowly, then wrapped my arms around her, making her jump.

  “Oh, you’re home early,” she huffed.

  “Uh huh, my exam was done and I wanted to come back to you.” I always wanted to be with her. You would have thought that living as a real couple for the past few months would have dimmed some of my obsession with her, but no. If anything it was running deeper. “You’ve got chocolate on your neck... I’ll take care of it.” I licked her neck, making her shiver.

  “Caleb, not now,” she chastised, but the little movement of her hips, the brushing of her beautiful butt against my growing erection, seemed to say otherwise.

  “What are you doing, Angel?”

  “Experimenting for Thanksgiving dinner. I think this cake will be good.”

  I looked over her shoulder to the cake she was cutting.

  “Here, taste.” She took a small piece between her fingers and extended it to me. When I took the piece, I sucked her fingers into my mouth, making her gasp.

  “I like it.” And it was true. My woman was proficient in the kitchen. She was actually proficient in everything she set her mind to and I was not surprised. She was beyond amazing.

  She nodded. “Good. Tomorrow I’ll experiment with the stuffing and gravy.”

  “Why don't we order dinner?”

  She shook her head. “I want us to be normal during college. It’s only five of us. I’ll cook.”

  I kissed her neck again. I didn't have it in me to remind her that going to Yale debt-free and living five minutes from campus in a high-rise apartment which had cost me over one million dollars was not ‘normal college experience.’ This woman was my heart and I had no shame in admitting that I was completely whipped by her. She was the boss of me and I had made my peace with that.

  “Okay, but you know your brother will eat basically anything and my mother and Sophia can’t boil an egg, so whatever you put out will be amazing. I’m proud of you, Angel.”

  She sighed, leaning against me and I knew I had won.

  I untied her apron. Turning her in my arms, I kissed her deeply. After pulling her to the leather sofa in the living room, I settled between her thighs and felt her heat through her leggings.

  I thrusted forward. “I can’t wait to put babies inside you.”

  She smiled. “After college. We’ll have a little Theo.”

  “And a little Victoria,” I added, kissing her more deeply.

  “Fucking hell, you two!” Archibald barked.

  I sighed, turning my head to see him glaring from the entrance.

  “If you’re not happy, you can alway
s move out,” I barked. That man caused me more cases of blue balls than he was worth.

  Esmeralda slapped my arm, but at least she didn’t make me move for which I was grateful. I didn't want Archibald to see my giant boner.

  “Well, you better get it out of your system and do it everywhere during the break. I’ll be away then.”

  Esmeralda tensed under me. “It’s Thanksgiving, Archie.”

  “I know, but I’ve decided to go visit Europe.”

  Oh, for fuck’s sake! “Let me guess, England? And more specifically, Oxford?”

  Archibald shrugged. “Maybe.” He gestured toward us. “I’ll be in my room. Just– Just don’t be too loud and throw the couch out afterwards, okay? I’ll even pay for a new one.”

  I rolled my eyes, but concentrated on my fiancée again. She was certainly not in the mood anymore, looking worried more than anything.

  “I thought he was moving on,” she whispered, looking into my eyes.

  “Let him try again. He needs to try everything he can so he can say he fought to the end. Losing a piece of you is hard.”

  “You understand him?”

  I nodded. “I would have gone to the end of the world for you, Esmeralda. I never feel complete away from you. If he feels he needs to try again, we should support him.”

  She sighed. “I don't like when you’re the reasonable one.”

  I grinned. “Me neither. I’d rather be your alpha asshole who loves to worship your heart and your body.”

  She chuckled. “I love you, idiot.”

  “But I’m your idiot.”

  “Forever?”

  I smiled. “Always.”

  Epilogue – Esme

  Ten years later

  I stood by the bay window, holding Vickie’s brown teddy in my arm. I looked down at the beach where my husband was engrossed in the majestic sandcastle he was making with our four-year-old daughter.

  It was a beautiful sunny day and unseasonably warm for November in Connecticut. Vickie had wanted to make a sandcastle and there wasn’t much Caleb would deny her.

  He adjusted her coat, then her hat which sat on her beautiful blonde curls. My heart squeezed in my chest. I couldn't believe he had ever thought he would be a bad father.