by Lana Davison
“I don’t know what else to suggest.”
“Then again, Sara did see the ring and she knew how emotionally ruined I was because of you.” I playfully thumped him.
“I never meant this to go on for so long. Call them, Holly, because you will have to get rid of your phone. We don’t want the Royal League tracking us.”
“OK,” I said looking at my watch and then opening up my clutch purse to retrieve my phone. I dialled my home number knowing I would wake Sara and Stuart up, but I had no choice.
“Hello,” came Sara’s sleepy voice.
“Sara, it’s Holly, I, I…um, don’t want to worry you but…”
“What is it? Are you OK?” Sara said, suddenly wide awake, “Holly what is it? Do you need me to collect you?”
“No Sara, nothing like that. I, um, well I just wanted to tell you some good news actually. I saw Leo tonight and I’m getting married.”
“What? Have you got a gun to your head?”
“No, it’s a long story. I haven’t got time to tell you. I promise I will tell you soon, but I don’t want you to worry, we’re eloping. I’ll be in touch soon,” I said and hung up the phone.
“Do you want to give me the phone?” Leo said.
I handed it over reluctantly. Leo turned it off and pulled the battery out then walked over to the bin and threw it in. “It’s best this way,” he told me.
“I just know Sara will be up and frantic right now. She’ll wake Stuart up and tell him and the two of them will be going out of their minds. They’re going to be so worried.”
Leo held me close, the way he used to “I know, but you’re doing the right thing. In the long run this will only protect them. The Royal League will find them and question them. If they send a Truth Collector with a Hunter they will know if they are lying. This way the less they know the more protected they are.”
“I know, but they deserve more from me.”
“It’s just until I know they have given up on us. I hope they do eventually.”
I pulled away and looked into Leo’s eyes. “You mean they might not give up?”
“I don’t know, I hope they will.”
“They won’t give up on the Prince of Avalon.”
“They might if they know I am married to you. Can you imagine if it got out that I was married, matched, paired with someone other than my chosen one? It’s my only way out, our only way out. The Royal League and my parents can tell Avalon society that I absconded, or I have given up on the throne. I don’t care what they make up, but I don’t want it, I only want you,” he said pulling me into his arms again.
Leo opened up the garage door and revved up the bike. “Come on then,” he said patting the back seat “Hop on, crazy biker chick.”
I smacked his arm and straddled the seat. Leo handed me a helmet. “Have you got that, or do you need some help?”
“No, I can put it on.”
“Hold on tight,” he said pulling my arms around his middle and putting my hands where he wanted them. “We’re goin’a ride fast.”
“Ready,” I confirmed closing my eyes tight as Leo put his foot down on the peddle and we took off like a flash of lightening. It gave me a thrill I had never experienced before, a type of ‘feel the fear and do it’ sensation.
Leo touched my hands every so often to make sure they were warm and fastened tight. I was just so pleased to be with him, leaving all my concerns for others behind. I was living in the moment and loving every minute of it.
The roads were pretty empty in the early hours of the morning giving Leo the perfect opportunity to push the gas even further as we road on for another hour, going at speeds I had never known before now. As the sun started to come up, we got even closer to our destination, London. Leo sped through the streets like someone who knew the city well, curving round the roads with speed. He started to slow down when we approached Park Lane Hotel, next to Green Park. Parking right at the front of the hotel we came to a halt and I slowly lowered my body off the bike handed the motorcycle keys to the parking attendant while I let the leather trousers fall off my body and took off the jacket. Leo took them from me and held them with of his arms while he took my hand with the other and led me inside.
The interior of the hotel was exactly what I expected. Several large paintings were mounted on the wall; grand sofas and luxurious furniture in rich colours were carefully placed into small groups for guests to sit on. Indoor plants were tastefully dotted around the room and the marble floor was freshly polished. We walked towards the receptionist desk and Leo asked for a room for the two of us. The receptionist looked me up and down, unsure of my age. “Do you have some ID?” she asked me.
“Yes,” I said handing over my driving licence which I had brought to ensure entry into the nightclub.
“It’s me,” I confirmed as the receptionist looked at it closely.
“Yes it is,” she said handing it back to me. “Can you give me your credit card?” she asked Leo.
“No, but I’ll give you a deposit,” he said handing over five hundred pounds. “That should cover it.”
The receptionist looked at the wad of cash and counted it, as fast as a bank teller. “OK that should be fine. This is your key. I’ve given you a suite, a free upgrade.”
“We’re on the third floor,” Leo said looking at the key.
“Great.”
“You must be tired.”
“I am.” I said making my way to the elevator.
“It’s been a long day.”
“It has.”
We stepped into the lift and made our way up to the third floor then found our suite about ten metres from the lobby. Leo slid the key card into the door and it clicked open. We walked inside, the two of us having a good look around. “This is huge,” I announced.
“I know. This is a pretty big suite.”
“It’s like an apartment.”
“Check out the bathroom,” Leo said as I stepped into the gigantic room; the double sized bath which would easily fit two people and the massive open shower with nozzles coming out in every direction.
“Oh I am going to need a shower,” I said.
Leo walked over to me standing in front of the showers and said nothing. Oh boy, my heart pulsated excitedly, the tiredness depleted and transformed into adrenaline. He feathered my arm gently with his hand and I looked at him directly and did the same to him. I didn’t have much to take off, I was wearing my strapless formal dress and heels, but Leo stood there in front of me in a navy blue jacket, t-shirt and jeans. I removed his jacket and let if fall to the ground, neither of us looking at where it landed, the two of us continued to keep our eyes on our prize. I lifted one of my arms up to reveal the side zipper and took Leo’s hand and guided him to undo it. He didn’t need to be told twice as he unzipped it and I slowly manoeuvred myself free from the fabric. I stood in front of Leo wearing my strapless silk bra, matching pretty silk knickers and heels. Leo smiled. “You are simply breathtaking. It’s a mystery as to what someone like you sees in me.”
“What are you talking about?” I said lifting his t-shirt up and over his head. I hit his firm chest playfully. “Look at you, you are so fit, you’re… hot.”
Leo laughed at my use of words. “If you say so.”
“Oh I do,” I said lifting my eyebrows for emphasis.
He undid his jeans and stood before me in his cotton boxers. I moved closer to him and he took me in his arms and looked down to meet my eyes again. “This is it I guess,” he said referring to what was about to occur.
“Yes.”
“I thought about you all the time, you know. I will never let you down again,” Leo promised.
I looked up at him and put my fingers though his velvety dark hair, admiring this perfect Adonis in front of me. I undid the straps on my heels and took them off, now standing two inches shorter. He put one firm hand around my neck and used his other hand to hold my chin and guided my face back so that he could kiss me. I closed my eyes
and kissed him instantly, feeling his soft mouth, the mouth I had desperately missed for way too long.
“I don’t want this to ever be over,” I said.
“It never has to be. I won’t go anywhere again, not without you,” he said leaning down to meet my lips again and gently kissing me.
I left his embrace for a moment and turned on the enormous showers, a space easily big enough for four people, but there was only the two of us. The steam began to build a haze in the room but we were close enough to each other to see. I removed my bra and knickers and Leo followed by taking his boxers off. I wasn’t nervous. I took a step closer to him, our flesh on flesh, a sensation both of us had privately dreamt would one day become a reality.
To think I had thought about doing this with Henry only the day before, I shivered at the idea. It wouldn’t have been the same, but I know I was only trying to escape my desires for Leo, trying to rid him from my head and my heart. But here he was now, with me, he was all I ever wanted, like some kind of miracle.
I led Leo to the shower and made him stand under the large rounded showerhead, the water flowing down his magnificent body. He was happy for me to take the lead for now and I instinctively knew what I wanted without previous thought. I placed my hands firmly over his wet chest and pushed him to the shower wall, kissing his mouth delicately. Leo brushed my cheek with one hand and with the other he put me under the shower and began to sensitively kiss down my neck. Using both my hands I pulled his face up to meet mine and insatiably kissed him, he returned my kisses ravenous to move on further as I was.
He picked me up; my thighs straddled around him and pushed me towards the shower wall still kissing. I managed to mumble, “I hope you’re strong enough to hold me.”
“Oh there’s something else I need to tell you about myself, but later.”
I stopped kissing him and looked at him, my legs still wrapped around him while he held me with ease using both his arms under my buttock. “What is it? Is it a deal breaker?”
He shook his head and hungrily kissed me again. I stopped him for one second, looking into his eyes. “What is it?”
“I’m strong, really strong. It’s an ability and I’m fast, very, very fast, faster than a train,” he said thinking nothing of it, only interested in resuming what we had started.
I moaned dreamily, my eyes closed, lost in the moment. “Oh Leo, this is what we have been waiting for.”
“Yeah,” he agreed his tongue now circling my breast.
I murmured, “S’pose this isn’t the best time to tell you I’m a healer?”
“No, not really,” he said. “I wouldn’t care if you turned into a monkey, I just want you any way I can have you.”
I threw my arms around his shoulders holding onto him now wanting things to progress so much further and faster. He slowly guided himself into me, pushing gently, easing himself, the tightness of my core allowing him in little by little, until he was fully inside me.
“Oh my lord,” I moaned.
He moved his lower half gently as if not wanting to hurt me, but I wanted it, enjoying the moment and ready to be pushed to the brink of existence. “You don’t have to be so precious with me, I’m no princess. I promise I won’t break.”
“Oh but you are a princess. Don’t you remember? I told you, you’re my princess.” He continued to thrust his lower body into mine.
I laughed. “I guess I am, given you’re the prince.”
“Exactly,” he said pushing deeper and deeper into me, the sensation driving us wild.
“Leo, I want you now.” I ran my fingers hungrily through his beautiful thick hair.
“You’ve got me baby.”
“We’ve waited too long, I want you now.”
“If you want it, I’ll give it to you. I want to give you everything.”
“Now,” I shouted.
‘Right now,” he confirmed.
“Now.”
“Now,” he said releasing himself into me as my muscles clamped around his erection several times, my body shaking once from the undeniable thrill, then going limp, having worked through the tiredness. Leo continued to hold me up using one forearm around my buttock, the other arm resting on the shower wall for added support.
He kissed my lips. “That was amazing.”
“Wasn’t it?” I smiled.
He lifted me off and we stood under the shower enjoying the water.
Leo held me and continued to kiss me. “You are so worth it.”
“And you,” I agreed moving my head and looking up at him.
“So, you are still going to marry me, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll get someone to do it. That way, my parents and the Royal League will leave us alone. If I am with you, I cannot be with Laura.”
“Can’t have that,” I said throwing my arms around his back, holding on tight. He was mine now no one was going to get in the way.
We stood under the shower for a long time, washing, kissing, hugging, laughing and talking. My eyes began to feel heavy, as sleep beckoned. Leo turned off the shower and wrapped a warm towel around me and then one around himself. He took my hand and walked me to our bed and pulled back the covers. “You need to get some sleep, I can tell how tired you are.”
“But there’s so much to do, and I have no clothes.”
“All in good time. Get some sleep first,” he instructed.
The moment my head hit the pillow I fell into a deep slumber and slept like the dead.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I woke up, for a moment confused, then remembering where I was and who I was with. I smiled, happy in the knowledge that I was once again with Leo. I thought about the early hours of the morning and how perfect and spontaneous it had been, and pleased I was using the mini pill because my period pain had been causing me grief during the last half of the school year. Neither of us were ready for a baby. Leo and I had no more secrets from each other, the truth revealed, and our path together clear and moving forward. I looked around the room and wondered where he was.
“Leo,” I called out, but he was not there.
I turned over and saw a small note on the pillow next to mine: To the most amazing person I have ever known, I am out and about and will be back soon. I have bought you some clothes. Look in the wardrobe. Always, Leo xxx
I held the note at my chest and got up, slipping a bathrobe around my body and placing the one size fits all hotel slippers on my feet. I shuffled over to the wardrobe and opened it. I lifted the items out one at a time, and couldn’t believe my luck. Leo had bought me three pairs of designer jeans, half a dozen t-shirts, two cardi’s, two hoodies, a jumper, gilet, a tweed fitted jacket and a skirt. There was certainly enough for me to be getting on with. I opened the drawers and found new underwear. I loved everything he chose for me. The shoes lay on the floor of the wardrobe; trainers, boots, wedges and my heels. I bit down on my lip, my eyes wide with enthusiasm.
The hotel room door opened and Leo stepped into the room holding a suit holder and a large paper carry bag under one of his arms.
“You’re awake,” he said coming over to me and kissing me on the lips. “You slept a long time.”
“I thought you were tired too.”
“I was, but I don’t need much sleep and I had so much to do.”
“What did you have to do that couldn’t wait?” I asked.
“A lot, I got your clothes, bought a few toiletries, bought these,” he said lifting the suit holder and paper bag. “I’ve rented a flat for us for three months, I paid up front, and of course I organised a wedding. Well, technically the hotel organised it for me, for us. We’re due downstairs in an hour.”
“What? In one hour.” I looked shocked.
“Yes, we need to get married, and let Ryan know. If the Royal League comes looking for us, they will realise it is too late and that I am married to you. There will be no wedding for me on Avalon, if I am already married to you. My main concern of course is you, and al
though I am doing everything to prevent them from getting to you, to us, I can’t risk them knowing where we are. We need to get out of this hotel tomorrow morning. The ten grand is running out fast, but I’ll get a job.”
“And so will I. I am in this with you. It is you and I against…. everything, everyone… against the world,” I concluded.
He brushed my cheek. “That it is.”
“Thank you for all these clothes, I can’t wait to wear them.”
“It’s only a few things,” he shrugged.
“Thank you though,” I said and gave him a kiss. “You are really very good to me.”
“You deserve more. I only hope I can give it to you.”
“You are all I need.”
“And I am the luckiest guy to have you,” he said as he pulled me into his embrace.
“I’ll get dressed,” I said looking up at him.
I got into the shower, closing my eyes as I put my whole body in and wet my hair ready to wash it. I put some shampoo into my scalp and began to build up lather and cleaned the suds off my face. I opened my eyes and caught Leo sitting on the corner of the bathtub watching me.
“Everything all right?” I asked.
“Everything is perfect.” He looked me over.
I finished my shower and took two towels from the rail, wrapping one around my body and the other around my head.
Leo walked over to me gave me a tender kiss. “I wish we had more time,” he said.
“Yes, can you imagine what we might get up to if we had more time?” I said lifting my eyebrows, recollecting having a shower with him last night. “Your turn.”
“The paper bag on the bed is for you.”
I walked to the bedroom and looked at the bedside alarm clock; time was running out. I needed to get ready quickly I thought as I opened the paper bag and pulled out a beautiful long white dress. I held the dress up in front of me and then laid it out neatly on the bed. I felt the fabric, silk, soft and luxurious, with thin spaghetti straps, low yet tasteful cleavage and split right up to the top of my thigh. Could I pull this off?
Knowing I had limited time, I walked to the dressing table and released my hair from the towel and began to blow-dry my hair, while I sifted through a toiletries bag Leo had left there. He had purchased a small set of everything I needed, a few eye shadows, eyeliner, bronze and a couple of mini lip-glosses. He had not forgotten anything.
