by Lily Freeman
“Dance with me.”
“Oh!”
For hours they danced and kissed, whispering to each other like two people in love. And they were, Luke felt more certain about it as the night wore on and her words became tender, connecting them on such a deep level, he was lost in her by the time he took her home.
The warehouse was lit up on both sides when he pulled up, yet for the first time, he didn’t feel threatened by the other men in her life. Elliot had nothing over him but history, and history was in the past. She hadn’t run from him tonight, she hadn’t looked at him with disgust; she’d pulled him close and kissed him. She’d offered him her heart and he fully intended to keep it forever.
Chapter 25
“I love you.” Vader would obviously never say it back, but PJ could tell her little boy had a soft spot for her.
She’d been so close to saying those three words back to Luke last night, but she couldn’t. If she were brutally honest, she’d only just gotten over Sam. His last email had been pathetic; sickly sweet and so unlike him. She’d deleted it instantly without the usual pang in her chest.
Was she ready to love again? The difference between what she’d felt for Sam and what she felt for Luke was vast, incomparable even. The intensity with which Luke wanted her was overwhelming and she couldn’t deny the warmth in her heart at the thought of being loved by him. He was controlling, she knew that now, without a doubt, and possessive. If she didn’t lay down her boundaries, he’d take over her life, and that was something she definitely wasn’t ready for, might never be.
With one last kiss for Vader, PJ climbed out of bed. It was her first Christmas in London and she was alone, by choice. Indy had invited her to spend the day with her family, and Mika and Elliot had too. She suspected Elliot just wanted her dog, and she had no problem with that, so she’d accepted. Watching him fuss over Vader was the cutest thing ever.
But it was Luke’s presence she missed. She would have loved to have gone with him to meet the women who meant so much to him and pretend to be normal, even for a few days. It was in those rare moments, like with Lucy, the elderly Italian woman who’d doted over him in her restaurant, that she’d gotten a glimpse of the real man, the one she desperately needed to see right now.
While she took a shower and dressed, her emotions ran riot; happy, sad, relieved, homesick. She addressed them all by crying, emailing Alice, calling her parents but hanging up before they answered, and texting Luke. He didn’t text back. But just as she was eyeing up the vodka there was a quiet knock at her door. It had to be Elliot, Mika would’ve been halfway across the room by now, so as she headed across the lounge, she called Vader, right before she hauled the door open to find a very pissed off looking man. Clearly Elliot wasn’t in a festive mood. His brows were drawn tight, his eyes broody as he glared at her. Was she late? They’d never said what time they expected her.
“I was coming, like right now.” When she stepped aside, so did he.
“Maybe later, you have a … guest.”
From behind Elliot, Luke appeared. Dressed from head to toe in black, with his light brown hair and his gentle blue eyes, he looked exquisite.
“I couldn’t leave you all alone, not on Christmas.”
Who moved first, she wasn’t sure, but she suspected it was Elliot as he stormed off down the hall, Vader bouncing at his feet. Luke cocked a brow before carrying her back through the door, which he then nudged shut.
“What about,” she kissed him, covering his face until he chuckled, “your trip?”
“I’m … going … tomorrow. So if you want me, I’m all yours.”
It was a loaded question, but she didn’t care. “Of course I want you.”
As he sat her on the couch, kneeling in front of her, PJ watched, mesmerized by the graceful way his hands moved, flicking the buttons down his coat before he reached into his pocket.
“Merry Christmas, Darling.”
Luke handed her a box, not a little one like the diamond clamps had been in, but a long thin red one. Slowly she reached for it, her hands trembling as she pulled the little bow off then tore open the paper. The first thing she found was a black leather collar. Her heart almost stopped. Did he want her to wear it? She’d read about it on the Internet, understood the concept, but it was so far out of her reality right now that she just didn’t know what to say. Luckily she didn’t have to say anything. Turning the collar around, Luke aligned the small silver tag so she could read it.
‘Someone loves me. Please call 07340 11349 if I can’t find her. Vader.’
“Oh.” Tears blurred her vision, but only until Luke dragged her close, kissing them away.
“Please don’t cry. It was meant to make you happy.”
“Luke …” That was about all she got out before her mouth found his. “Thank you. It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever given me.”
Luke carefully took the collar out of her hand. “Open the box.”
She did. Soft golden light streamed through the window catching the iridescent beads that were woven together between the charms. PJ had always wanted a Pandora bracelet, but the price had stopped her, that along with the actual decision of choosing all the components. Fumbling with the box, she managed to extract the bracelet and the long leather support behind it. It was absolutely beautiful, all red and gold, diamonds and silver. Luke took her hand, holding her so gently as he pushed the little beads around until he found the dog.
“That’s Vader, Baby, so he’s always with you even when you can’t see him.” The next charm was a wee house with square cut diamond windows. “And your new home, so you’ll always know where you belong.”
Fuck, PJ couldn’t hold back the tears. He was killing her here, stealing her heart as she watched on helplessly. Next he found a solid gold heart with a tiny key.
“This was mine, and now it’s yours.”
“Ohh.” Her hands were shaking, her legs too, but she totally lost it when he found the intricate pair of angel wings.
“You are, you know, my angel. You’re the sweetest woman I’ve ever met and if I can’t keep you, at least I had this.”
In that one moment, with him kneeling before her and her crying her eyes out, PJ had never felt so cherished and loved. How could she not love him back? He was offering her everything she could ever want, and more, so much more. She’d never know if she didn’t overcome her fears and take a chance.
“You can, oh God, Luke. You can keep me.”
Through her tears, she saw his, but only until he pushed her back, crawling over her. Gentle turned rough as he coaxed her lips apart and plunged his tongue inside her, his erection grinding between her thighs.
“I won’t let you down, never again. We’ll do this together, take as long as you need.”
Right now she didn’t care about tomorrow, next week, the club or Luke’s sadistic needs, right now he was all she could see and he was perfect.
“Just kiss me.”
He did until she was breathless and dizzy.
“Put it on.”
Luke sat back, still straddling her as he took her hands and pulled her upward. Picking up the bundle of leather she twisted the catch, the bracelet dropping into Luke’s hands, the leather into hers. While he put it around her wrist, she watched him. He was so gorgeous, so masculine and beautifully made. To have him in her life was a dream, it had to be.
“There, look.” The bracelet was stunning, a little band of red around her wrist.
“Thank you, it’s so beautiful.”
“No, you are.” Every time she tried to speak, he kissed her until she gave up.
“You’ve still got one more present to open.”
Did he mean him? PJ reached for Luke’s shirt, but he just laughed and leaned back.
“Not me, this.” He handed her the twisted coil of leather that the bracelet had been wrapped around with a shy little smile, and when she unwound it, she discovered why. Once untangled, PJ found a long strip of leather,
one end cut square and polished, the other set into an exquisite wooden handle. The whip was strangely elegant.
“You knew didn’t you, that I’d say yes?”
“I hoped, and I prayed, but above all, I felt and I know you did too.”
“So what now?”
PJ’s heart was pounding as he climbed off the couch and pulled her to her feet. Luke kissed her once then wrapped the leather around her wrists as he smiled.
“Now, we begin.”
About the Author
Lily Freeman has an obsession for writing books that weave her characters and the events that drive them together into an intricate web that captures the imagination. She’s fascinated by the concept of fate, that people are given options: some good, some bad, some impossible to survive. But ultimately of knowing that in the grand scheme of things, they are merely pawns in a game. Thrown together by passion and lust, emotion and desire. There’s an intensity to her novels that will have you hooked from the very first word.
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The journey continues with
Due for release September 2016
Acknowledgements
Where to begin? There are so many people to thank and so many reasons to thank them for.
Firstly, to my amazing family who have put up with a wife and a mother that was merely a presence in the room, physically there, but mentally elsewhere. Thank you for all your patience, support and understanding, but mostly, thank you for believing in me. I love you.
To Anna, my proofreader, my beta reader, my best friend, my sounding board, my taskmaster. This was all your doing and I can’t thank you enough. It’s been one hell of a ride and it’s only just beginning.
To my little group of readers who have stuck with me through numerous revisions, dutifully reading each one until the end. Thank you. Your feedback and encouragement (and many humorous, shocked, delighted texts) have been invaluable. Every suggestion was gratefully taken on board.
And finally to Margot who came on board late in the game. You took something that was a little piece of my heart and made it look beautiful.
Thank you all,
Lily
