Love Renewed (Entwined Hearts #3)

by Maria Macdonald

  He pulls his eyes away from Soph and looks at me. “Of course brother. What about?”

  I love that from him. Automatic yes, without even asking why first.

  “Our mother.”

  At my mention of that woman, Saul’s face goes hard but he nods. I’m not going to push it anymore as it’s his time, but I want him to understand that I need to know. I want to know how bad it was for him, and where things stand with them now. If anywhere at all.

  Two hours later and I’ve had enough sun. I’m ready to hit the gym, shower, relax, and then lose myself in Nova for a while, before we part ways tonight.

  “I’m going to the gym,” I tell Saul and he sits up from the lounger, where he was trying to look relaxed, but was really watching the girls. I glance over at them and they’re all in the pool now. I watch Nova, her hair is wet and slicked down and she throws her head back with laughter as she leans on the side of the pool.

  Shit, I can feel myself getting aroused like a fucking schoolboy.

  I look over at the barman, who I’ve been intermittently watching, and anything that was happening downstairs has now fallen flat. He’s staring at the girls, specifically Pea and Nova. I’ve not worked out yet whether he likes brunettes, or he’s heard Soph talking about her wedding, so he’s ruled her out. I’ve noticed him chatting to them when they go up for drinks. He’s building it up, making them laugh, trying to ply them with drinks, even when they ask for water. His end goal is getting nearer—he thinks.

  “I could use a workout, rid myself of the restlessness I feel,” Saul tells me. I know what he means, neither of us are really the lounging around types. We’re doing—not lazing. It’s who we are.

  “Go tell the girls. I’m gonna grab a bottle of water,” I say nodding to the bar area. Saul looks down next to my lounger at my nearly full bottle of water and smirks.

  Yeah. Much too perceptive.

  When I get to the bar, I make sure nobody is around. Now I’m nearer, I take note of the guy. Around late twenties. Blonde. Tall, as tall as me, but he’s broader, with a bulky gym body. I can see why he gets his fair share of dumb women. But our girls are not dumb, and where this guy is big and obviously works out, he’s also clumsy and uncoordinated. He ambles to me, puffing out his chest.

  “What can I get you dude,” he asks not taking his eyes away from the pool. A frown crosses his face, which must mean Saul is talking to the girls. This prick is trying to work out whether he has competition with Saul. I snort and his attention comes back to me. The frown still covering his face. He looks me over and his frown turns to a smirk.

  “Those three woman that you’ve been staring at all day—one blonde, two brunettes—now with the guy,” I say without even looking behind me. He immediately looks over at them again. “They’re off limits.” His eyes snap back to me, but he has a grin on his face. He’s about to test me. He thinks he can take me. Silly boy. I stare at him narrowing my eyes and I can see the moment he realises the look I have, as his features completely change, his eyes widening and his mouth slightly opening with shock.

  That’s right, you can see what I’m capable of now.

  I lean into him speaking softly, “I can break your neck in half a second, right here, and the only point that someone might notice, will be when they’re thirsty and you’re not available to pour their drink. Those women you’ve had eyes on all afternoon are my sister, my brother’s fiancée and my woman. I’m going to the gym now. Don’t fuck with them. This is my nice warning.” I move away from the bar slightly. Then finish with, “Did you get that order?” At my words he nods, looking everywhere but at the girls.

  I walk away saluting the girls and winking at Nova, who has a grin. I’m pretty sure she knows what happened. Not what I said, but the point I made with bar guy. I shake my head with a smile as Saul falls in line next to me.

  “No water?” he asks with a chuckle.

  Dick.

  I don’t know what Dane said to that bar douche, but he definitely said something as he hasn’t even looked at us since then. I must admit, it was nice that he took care of us in a quiet way. Not making a scene or acting all jealous, like Davy would have. A shiver runs down my body when I think of Davy now. It’s only been five days since things ended, although if I’m really honest, I think it ended when I went to England. Still, it hasn’t been long, and yet it feels like a lifetime ago, it also feels weirdly wrong. Like I should never have been with him. Maybe he was just showing me attention at the right time, and that’s why we started dating. I mean he’s hot—not Dane hot. I don’t think anyone is that hot. But, I don’t know, there’s just something off about Davy. I think he wanted to control me, but not in the sexy bedroom way that Dane does it. I always saw something different, something well hidden in his eyes.

  “Right, well, I need to go rescue my man from my daughter…or maybe it’s rescue my daughter from my man…hmm,” Pea says and we all giggle.

  “Yeah, I should go rescue Saul. I mean he’s healed completely from the car accident, but he likes to train with Dane whenever he can. Unfortunately, he can’t keep up with Dane that man is like a machine. I don’t want Saul pulling something before tomorrow, now do I? Where would I be on my wedding night then girls, hey?” Soph says winking and we all laugh again.

  “Well, tell Dane I’ll be up in our room, I have the key in my bag,” I say pointing to the sun loungers.

  Soph separates from us moving toward the gym and Pea and I get in the elevator. “How are things between the two of you? Neither of us has asked you yet, but we’re dying to know. The last conversation we had was you telling us Davy and you were history,” Pea asks.

  “Really good. There are some things that take me by surprise. I’ve never had a good relationship and Dane hasn’t ever had a relationship, well, apart from with me, but seeing as I can’t remember that, along with the fact that we were kids, it seems kind of unconventional. Sometimes I wonder if what we have is real,” I confess.

  She places her hand on my arm. “One thing that you will know if you ever get your memory back, or you will learn if you don’t, is that Dane will not play games. Ever. If he says he’s in a relationship with you, then that’s exactly what he means.”

  Her words bring me comfort, really just reinforcing the feelings he already tries to show me. “He told me he’s all in,” I say and watch her eyes light up.

  “Libby, you have to understand. He loved you. You were his person. I know you’re not her anymore, even if you hadn’t lost your memory, you would still have changed, as we all do. But ultimately you will always be his person. Dane is one of those…you know, the kind of man who loves once. And forever. If it’s not you, then it’s nobody. Just remember that. I know you’re a good person, but his exterior promotes a different person. What you have is something nobody else has. You have the ability to destroy him, completely. Handle him with care,” she tells me softly and pulls me in for a hug. I feel the air that has just been sucked out of my body, and I try to regulate my breathing. I want to remember him. I already feel the deeper connection between us.

  “Pea, I’m scared.”

  “That’s natural.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I’ve never loved anyone. I don’t know exactly what I feel for Dane yet. What I do know, is that we have been together, non-stop for almost four days, and it feels like I’ve spent a lifetime with him. Feelings and emotions I didn’t know existed within me have begun surfacing, and it terrifies me. I might be falling in love for the first time ever. What if he destroys me?” I finally speak the words that have been clogging my throat.

  “Oh, honey. You don’t see it do you?” She speaks softly with a smile on her face.

  “See it?” I ask confused.

  “That man. The big, strong, dangerous, beautiful man?” she says in question and I nod. “He would die for you.” The whisper comes from her lips and I feel like my insides just exploded.

  The elevator halts and Pea pulls me in for another hug. “I�
��ll see you in a few hours, okay?” I just nod at her dumbly. Feeling like the blinkers are off, and I need to show Dane that I’m all in too.

  Walking into our room, I decide I want to give him something he wants, something he won’t get tonight. Me. I walk to the bathroom and turn on the taps for the bath, knowing it will take a while to fill. Pulling off my skirt, top and bikini, I pat down the wet bits and comb my hair through. I need a bath as I smell of chlorine and he will need a bath too as he’ll be all sweaty. Although, I’m not entirely sure that would put me off. Usually, I would have a shower and I’m pretty sure Dane would too. The bath isn’t massive, but it’s deep and I know we could both sit in it comfortably. Anyway, we have a few hours until tonight. I’m pretty sure we’ll be busy until the last minute. When the bath is filled and the bubbles are almost overflowing, I slide into the water and instantly start to relax, closing my eyes and letting everything ebb away.

  “That looks inviting.” I hear from beside me and snap open my eyes, looking straight up at Dane.

  “This was supposed to be for both of us,” I tell him.

  He looks at the bath sceptically, then back at me. “Baby,” he says as though I’ve lost my marbles. Then smiling he pushes my hair back leaning in for a kiss. It’s soft and delicate, but there’s an undercurrent of need.

  “Well, it was supposed to be, but I guess it’s starting to go cold now. What took you so long?” I ask suddenly aware that I’ve been in here for a while. He moves away from me, the warmth suddenly absent from his face.

  “Just work stuff I had to deal with,” he tells me his face blank.

  “Okay,” I answer unsure of what else to say. This is when it’s obvious we don’t really know each other. This is when reality comes slamming back into me. As I watch Dane’s retreating back, I wonder what’s supposed to happen next.

  The gym was a good release for me today. After Soph came and dragged Saul away, I was really able to put some effort in. Showering afterwards was a choice I made purposefully. I wanted to be ready to come back to the room and take her again before tonight. The phone call from Archer on the way back to the room was the one thing I wasn’t expecting. It seems my getting out of this business won’t be a problem. However, I have to firstly deal with an issue that nobody else can—Jenson. Apparently he’s gone rogue. Killing Lok and taking Will and Dex with him. Either that or they’re involved in the whole fucking mess. The missing disk it would seem isn’t actually missing. My orders are to kill Jenson. On sight. No bringing him in. That gives me an unfamiliar feeling of uncomfortableness which I’ve never had with my job before. I can’t shake the sense that something is wrong. I have known Jenson for nearly thirteen years. He was my mentor. My teacher. The closest thing I had to a role model. Something’s off here. I can’t focus on this right now though. I need my head clear. I’m supposed to be keeping the wedding in sight then afterwards telling Nova some truths. Winning her over. Making her mine with no secrets, no lies. I want to finally walk in the light.

  I hear her movements and school my features, pushing myself to forget about Jen for now. It’s hard, I’ve been so work focussed for so many years that I don’t know how to switch off. Getting up I decide to go find her. If anything can erase the last thirty minutes, it’s Nova.

  I stand looking at myself in the mirror. The fluffy white towel wrapped around my body is now soaked, and my hair drips into it. I see Dane moving closer to me and watch as he nears. His eyes are hooded and it’s obvious that he wants me. That’s one look I do know. Stopping behind me, he wraps his arms around my body.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmurs into my ear, his hot breath blowing against my wet skin.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for Dane. You did nothing wrong. It’s just that you made me realise, I hardly know you.” At my words, I watch his lips thin and something work in his eyes.

  “You do know me. You do. You’ve just forgotten.” His voice is full of pain. It makes my heart sad, and I know there isn’t anything I can do about it. I can’t lie to him, and I can’t magically remember. If I could, I would have done it already.

  “You know that, and I know what you’re saying is right. But in my brain we’re brand new. In normal circumstances, we would not be staying in a hotel room together after what…four days of being an item?” I state in wonder.

  Wow, it really has only been four days. Fuck me.

  “Nova, we are anything but fucking normal.” His voice is assertive, masterful and not to be questioned, and it makes my nipples harden. Before I can think more about what we’re discussing Dane’s mouth is kissing my neck. I look forward, into the mirror and watch him working his way down. Getting to my collarbone he glances up and catches me staring at him in the mirror. His grin creates heat between my legs. “You won’t be needing this,” he states pulling the towel away and depositing it on the floor. “Mmm, much better.” Hs eyes eat up my naked body. Bringing his big hands up both sides until they reach my breasts he cups one in each hand, then returns his mouth to my neck, while massaging me and occasionally tweaking my nipples. I let my head fall onto his shoulder and he moves into me so I can feel his cock rubbing against my back. Slipping a hand behind myself, I rub through his joggers. My wet hair, which is still soaking because of its length and thickness, drops water down my back and onto my hand. His top must be soaked.

  “You’re getting all wet,” I say on a moan.

  “No baby, you’re getting all wet,” he replies slipping his hand down my stomach and lower still, pushing through my folds. Another moan escapes me.

  “Come with me,” he says, spinning me around, grabbing my hand and laying me on the bed. “I’m hungry.” He smirks. Dane sits near my feet in a kneeling position. He relaxes back onto his calves and grabs my ankles, pulling me down the bed to him. In a split second, he moves me like I weigh nothing. My knees are over his shoulders and his face is in my pussy. I only have my head and shoulders on the bed, the rest of my body now running upward, parallel to his. He looks down at me while he feasts. I feel the pleasure build quickly as the blood rushes to my head. Watching him enjoying me turns me on like nothing before.

  Wrapping his arms around my waist and nipping my clit, sends me spiralling over the edge. Before I have a chance to come down, he pulls himself back, then lifts us both off the bed. Twisting around, he pushes forward until I’m crushed against the full-length window. My nipples flatten on the cold glass. I stand still. Watching the night. Although we are up on the twenty-second floor, there’s no way of knowing whether anyone can see me. And that thought gives me a thrill. Hearing him shrugging his clothes off, without actually being able to watch him makes my pussy throb again. I lick my lips and touch the glass with my tongue. Then his warm heat is behind me.

  “Put your hands flat against the window, baby.” I do what he says. Dane slides his hands inside my thighs. Suddenly, I’m lifted up and pulled back. I feel warmth flooding my body as it comes unstuck from the cold glass. Everything except the palms of my hands which still rest against the window to balance me. He slides me down onto his cock and I moan at the pleasure saturating everything. With me now attached to him Dane steps forward until the top half of my body is once again pinned against the window. His hands are still positioned under each thigh, supporting me, so he lifts my body up and down, slowly at first, allowing me to get used to both the feel of my breasts moving against the glass, and the deepness of his cock that the position allows. Then he picks up speed. As he gets faster, I listen to his noises. The groaning and rumbling that he expresses has me climbing toward my orgasm quicker than normal. So when he reaches around and flicks my clit I spasm and scream feeling him fill me as I close my eyes.

  Sated. Peaceful. Safe.

  I finally pulled myself away from Nova earlier. We got ready after the alarm on my phone buzzed, letting me know it was time to meet the rest of the guys down in the restaurant for dinner. I knew that Eric and Rich would be here too, I’ve been looking forward to seeing them. The
only downside is that once again I haven’t had a chance to talk to Nova about anything solid. Past or present.

  Now as we wait for our main dishes to be cleared, the table is alive with chatter as well as the occasional baby gurgle from Eleanor.

  “No, it’s fine. You know Eric and Rich are on the case,” Eric says to Pea. She looks over to Rich.

  “He’s right, for once,” Rich explains. “We’ve had a long flight from London and are both exhausted. We wanted to attend your simultaneous Stag and Hens dos—”

  “Not Stag and Hen dos,” Saul butts in.

  “Okay, not Stag and Hen dos.” He looks at Saul with an arched eyebrow almost hitting his hairline, then looks back to Pea. “But we won’t make it through tonight the way we feel right now, and if we want to be there tomorrow.” He turns to Soph as her eyes widen. “Which we will be,” he quickly adds. “Then staying in and looking after baby Eleanor is the way to go.” Rich finishes turning back to Pea and winking. She twists her head to look up at Con, who doesn’t seem convinced about leaving his baby girl with anyone.

  “Okay.” He sighs as his shoulders drop.

  Pea claps and giggles and I watch Con staring at her, his mouth tips up in a secret smile.

  “Okay, so you three are going to head to the lounge bar,” Soph says pointing at me, Saul and Con. “Make sure you stay there! We’re going to go up and get ready. Eric and Rich are coming too, that way we can get Eleanor settled.” Soph organises everyone. I watch Nova getting up from her seat next to me, she leans down and offers me her lips, which I accept greedily. Then she sashays away and I stare at her until the elevator closes. When I look back, both Saul and Con are wearing matching smirks.

  “What?” I ask.

  “You have it bad,” Saul says and I smile at him.

  “As bad as you both have it,” I reply and watch as Con’s eyes widen.