Tying the Knot (Thalia Book 4) (The Thalia Series)

by Jennifer Bene

  “Thalia…” James’ voice was soft, gentle, and when he reached for her she stepped back because she needed the space, the physical breathing room to process. As always, he respected it, lowering his hands to his sides. The men made eye contact for a moment before James looked at her again. “Yes, he’s dead.”

  “How?”

  Jake cleared his throat, shifting foot to foot, clearly trying his best to suppress the smile fighting to take over his face. “We, uh —” Glancing at James again, Jake paused, but at his nod the man continued. “Well, my team and our contacts had him… handled. At James’ request.”

  “What?” Thalia shouted it before she gained control of her voice, lowering it as she remembered the wedding guests on the dance floor. “You had them… handle him?” she hissed, staring at James, but he barely reacted.

  “Of course I did.”

  “I — I don’t even…” Stumbling over her words she tried to run her fingers through her hair, but it was still stiff with hairspray, so she clenched her fist instead, digging her nails into her palm as James moved close.

  “Did you really think I’d let any threat to you linger out there?” His voice was deadly calm, and she felt the frisson of his self-control buzzing around him. There wasn’t an ounce of regret in him, and she met his eyes as all of her warring thoughts fought for mental space.

  Anthony was dead.

  Sadistic, evil, fucking nightmare chair Anthony was dead.

  Thalia searched in the chaos of her thoughts for anything resembling pity over the news, and she found none. Nothing. What clashed inside her were the memories of his words on the screen, his control of the chair. The flickering panic Marcus had displayed when he’d been sure his sick fuck of a brother had killed her, or damaged her beyond salvation. That terrifying moment when Anthony had arrived at the house and come for her. The first time he’d touched her.

  The constant impending threat he posed just by existing.

  Not just to her, but to every woman he had ever touched. Tortured. Sold.

  To every username on the website she and James had so painstakingly constructed to keep every victim safe — from him. Or anyone he might sell his knowledge of them to.

  “Anthony is dead,” she repeated herself, but this time it felt more like a fact as it fell from her lips, and James nodded. Looking down at the phone in her hand she skimmed the document once more, searching it for any doubt, any possibility. This time she raised her eyes to Jake’s, and felt the steel in her voice, “Swear to me this is true.”

  “I swear.” Jake seemed like he was about to reach for her, but his hand stopped in the air between them, flashbacks to their first meeting clattering in her mind amidst the rest of the horror show. “I would have never even said a word if I doubted, I’ve only been waiting for confirmation.”

  “We have been waiting for confirmation.” As James spoke she turned her eyes to him and she could see the concern. Not for what he’d done, but for what she thought of him because of it, and so she did the only thing she could — she grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her.

  James’ arms came around her, a shield, a security blanket, a promise of safety. He smelled perfectly like him. Skin warm from their dancing, the lingering scent of his cologne, and even with her eyes closed one deep breath told her she was okay. Another reminded her that he would tear down the world to keep her safe, and a third brought the clarity to her mind that he’d just orchestrated the death of the one man who might still want to see her dead.

  Or, at the very least, a broken, mindless slave like Anthony had always promised.

  “Anthony Williams is dead,” she repeated the words against his chest and felt his arms tighten around her.

  “Yes, baby. They’re both dead.” James pressed his lips to her hair, breathing deep before he spoke a little softer, “I had to be sure before I let the security team go.”

  Leaning back, she pulled out of his firm grip enough to see his eyes again. “You did this because I asked you to stop having the detail follow me everywhere?”

  “I’ve wanted this for a while—”

  “We’ve been offering since you got home,” Jake interrupted James, and she peeked over her shoulder at him, finding Jake’s expression strained. “We wanted to do this, which is why it’s our wedding gift to you, Thalia.”

  “I told you I would pay you,” James’ voice was tense, but Jake waved him off.

  “The guys said no. This was for our favorite badass,” Jake’s voice softened as his eyes moved back to hers. “Every one of the guys wanted to be here today, to see you whole and happy, but every single one of them insisted on handling this. We didn’t get to kill the other asshole, but we got this one, and knowing you’re safer because of it makes all of us happier.”

  Thalia’s ribs ached, her lungs tight, and for an instant she could feel the sticky texture of Marcus’ blood on her skin, the duct tape on her arm, the chill of that fucking warehouse. Too many memories close to the surface, buzzing like irritating insects, and James relaxed his hold on her as she tensed, but she held onto his shirt a little tighter. Needing the anchor of his presence to pull her back from all of the fucked up images in her head.

  “Baby?” James spoke softly, not moving an inch to either pull her closer or lean away from her grip on his clothes.

  “I’m glad he’s dead.” The words left her mouth, and she swallowed past the bitter taste they left. “I don’t know what that makes me. Good or bad, brave or weak, but I’m glad he’s dead. I hope he suffered.”

  “We made sure it was abdominal. He suffered.” Jake didn’t even flinch as he spoke, and she envied the clarity he had, because her mind was still whirling.

  Too much chaos.

  Too much history.

  A wedding and a murder.

  All of her light and all of her darkness colliding.

  “We don’t have to talk anymore about this, I should have waited to tell you. I just —” James stopped talking when she leaned onto her toes to kiss him. For a moment he was stiff, but as she tugged at his shirt, he finally tightened his arms around her again and returned it. She felt herself melt, tasting him, breathing him in, every inch her perfect knight in scuffed armor.

  Just imperfect enough to be perfect for her.

  “Thank you,” she whispered against his mouth as the kiss ended, and she felt the groan in his chest as he hugged her against him.

  “I would do anything for you. I love you.” James leaned her back from him for a moment, seeking her eyes. “You understand that right? This wasn’t some kind of petty vengeance, this was about protecting you and keeping you safe, because I will never let you be at risk.” Again.

  The final word was unspoken, but he might as well have said it. In one of those rare moments in their relationship, she could read him like a book. All of the guilt, the torture he’d put himself through over Marcus written across his face as clear as day. Turning, she saw a similar expression on Jake’s face.

  Guilt for not stopping him first, guilt for not getting there faster, guilt for not being the one to end his life. Both of them had been tearing themselves apart over a dead man, and so they had turned their minds to the lingering threat, and made sure Anthony would never be one again.

  If that’s not love — raw, powerful, real and dangerous love — what is?

  “This was… a lot to take in,” she said, and Jake cursed under his breath.

  “I knew I should have fucking waited, I’m so sorry, Thalia, I nev—”

  “No.” Shaking her head, she tried to form the words fast enough to avoid another interruption. “Today was perfect, I just had no idea it was coming and so I had to process, but you have no idea what this means to us, all of us.”

  “I know, I wish I had been able to do this sooner for you and James.”

  “She’s not talking about us, she’s talking about the other girls, Jake.” The quiet confidence in James’ tone made her smile. Not just because he was completely right, but
that he’d known it without even needing to verify.

  A smile tugged at her lips and she nodded to confirm James’ comment. “Anthony is dead, and I’m married to the love of my life. It’s going to be the most popular post in the history of the website.”

  “How many other girls?” Jake asked, and while she and James were smiling now, he still held the slightly haunted look she’d seen in his eyes the first day they’d met.

  Without asking, Thalia turned away from James and wrapped her arms around Jake’s waist. She felt his body jerk in surprise, his arms up and away from her, but, slowly, they came down to rest around her shoulders, lightly hugging her. “Anthony stopped taking girls long before you found me, Jake. You couldn’t have done anything, but today you made a lot of women very happy. I want you to know that this wasn’t just for me, and I’d like a copy of the document to post for them so they believe it.”

  “I can email it to you,” he replied, voice slightly dazed, so she hugged him a little harder.

  “Thank you. For being there that day, and for being here for me today. And wherever your guys were today, tell them thank you too?” Her voice was slightly muffled against his shirt, but he laughed low.

  “Shit, Thalia, you know all you have to do is call.”

  “If I need someone killed?” she joked.

  “Yes,” Jake answered. Definitely not joking. His arms tensed as he held on a moment longer, and then he let her go, allowing James to pull her back towards him.

  “Just promise me no one is at risk for what happened, that no one is going to get in trouble.” Thalia meant the words, regardless of the positive outcome she didn’t want to see a single one of those men suffering to eliminate one potential threat — no matter how dangerous Anthony was.

  “It’s already cleaned up. Trust me, no one is mourning his loss, badass.” Jake looked over her shoulder, lifting his chin. “I think your friends need you, and if you don’t mind I need to make some calls.” He held out his hand and she placed his phone in it as James tucked her against his side.

  “Thank you, Jake.” James shook his hand and then their mercenary groomsman grinned at her.

  “There’s a surprise wedding gift in the lot, no label because we don’t do that, but you’ll know it’s from us when you find it.” He chuckled as he glanced down at the phone. “I’ve got some guys to update on how your big day went.”

  “They can’t possibly care that much!” Thalia laughed, but Jake’s raised eyebrows halted it.

  “I was told I’d get my ass kicked if I didn’t get pictures of you in the dress, and smiling, and eating cake.” Jake shrugged. “What can I say? The guys like the strong ones.”

  “I get that,” James said, smiling at her, but she turned back to Jake as he began to walk away.

  “Wait, your wedding gift isn’t ticking by chance, is it?” The joke seemed to confuse the man for a second, and then he started laughing.

  “Cute. I didn’t know you were funny.” Pointing at her, he walked backwards a few steps. “You’ll know it, I promise, badass. And you both better keep my number.”

  “Just in case,” James agreed, and Thalia nudged him.

  “We’ll invite you and the guys for dinner the next time you’re in London!” She waved back to him as he walked away, and she turned around to find Kalen and Maggie halfway between the dance floor and them. “Do they know?” she asked.

  “Kalen knew what I was planning, and he tells Maggie almost everything, so I’m sure they do. No other reason they’d be waiting.” Leaning down he kissed her cheek. “Ready to talk to them?”

  “Yeah,” she whispered, and he turned to wave at their two closest friends. The people who were more than friends, more of a strange, kinky family that fit their lives perfectly.

  “Come on!” James called over to them, settling in one of the chairs at the table, but before she could even think about it he had tugged her onto his lap. “I need to hold you right now, is that okay?”

  Relaxing against his chest, feeling the warmth of his body, surrounded in the strength and security of his arms, their wedding bands glinting in the light, Thalia just smiled. “I couldn’t imagine a better place to be right now, Master.”

  “Good, because I don’t plan on letting you out of arm’s reach for a very long time.”

  “The honeymoon is two weeks, isn’t that long enough?” She laughed as Kalen and Maggie took chairs with them, but James’ pinch to her thigh made her yelp.

  “I can extend it if I want to, pet. Keep pushing and see how long I keep you in the room and away from the beach and the water—”

  “Alright, alright! Yes, Master! I understand, as long as you want. I’m perfectly comfortable anyway.” There was no hiding the smile on her face as she settled back against James’ chest, focusing on the vibration of his voice instead of the individual words as he recounted the update from Jake. The only time she broke in was to ask for her tablet to update the website, and James agreed to swing by the flat to get it.

  Everyone went still, and then burst into laughter.

  For once she was the one who knew exactly what was going on, while James was left utterly confused. Watching Kalen explain this was going to be entertaining.

  Chapter Seven

  “Stay here,” James commanded before he moved into the hotel room, holding the door wide for the man to push the luggage cart inside.

  Thalia leaned against the wall in the hallway as she’d been told, her thighs pressed together in anticipation of what he had planned. He’d whispered so many dark promises against her ear on the drive over while plucking pieces of confetti from her hair and dress. Each brush of his fingers had been torture, and she’d pled in a hushed voice for him to touch her, or to let her touch him.

  Which, of course, had caused him to stop completely. Smiling beside her in the car as he intertwined their fingers, putting a full stop to any plans for fun on the drive over.

  Now, the steady beat of her pulse between her legs was growing worse as she thought of his hands on her earlier in the day. Those stinging spanks, the plug, the way he’d moved against her bent over the table, the way he’d teased her on the dance floor.

  Dammit.

  He had wound her up on purpose, and there was nothing she could do about the wetness soaking into her lace panties in the fucking hallway of this five-star hotel at Heathrow airport.

  Thalia was mercifully distracted from her condition as the man wheeled the empty cart out of their room, accepting a tip from James before he moved towards the elevator. Without another word James swept her up into his arms, and she gasped.

  “You’re such a good girl,” he purred as he nuzzled against the side of her head, and she melted as he hugged her tighter to his chest.

  “What on earth are you doing?” She laughed, holding onto him as he nudged the door open ahead of them.

  “Carrying you over the threshold,” James answered, stepping into the room with a wicked grin, but he didn’t let her down until he’d carried her through the living room of the suite and into the bedroom. Slowly, he slid her down his front, allowing her heels to meet the floor beside the bed, but his hands stayed firmly planted on her backside. “I want you naked and on this bed in ten minutes. Understand?”

  “Yes, Master,” Thalia replied, grinning, and then he pinched her ass. Even hotter than the first day she’d met him, the black of the tux made his blond hair stand out, his broad shoulders filling out the jacket in a way that made her mouth water. When he released her, he walked out of the bedroom, closing the door without another word.

  Oh my God, it’s my wedding night.

  The thought hit her hard as she stood in the beautiful bedroom. Even though she was definitely not a virgin, the importance of the night still settled over her, a thrill rushing through her veins on the heels of it. Giddy, a whirlwind of butterflies swirled in her stomach as her thoughts spun. What did he have planned? What had he brought from their playroom at home? Did he plan to make her scream
and swoon from pain? Was he going to make her beg to come, torment and tease her until she was breathless? Would he make her come until she was begging him to stop?

  So many completely wonderful scenarios.

  Dashing into the bathroom, she barely had a moment to appreciate how nice it was before she’d stripped and started cleaning up. Wiping the shadow of mascara from under her eyes, finger combing her hair to try and look a little more presentable. She was tempted to try and dig her makeup bag out of the luggage, but she was pretty sure James had the bags with him in the living room — and she had no idea how much time had already passed.

  Giving up on makeup, she gently pried the tape and gauze away from her hip. The skin around the brand was redder than it had been that morning, sore from the clothes pressed against it, but as she ran her fingertip around the edges of it she loved it even more.

  Not a trace of the old tattoo left beneath the solid heart shape, and the J and H just above it were perfect, or at least she hoped they would be when they were done healing. The memory of the series of burns from the thin metal brand had goose bumps rushing over her skin. It had hurt, but James’ eyes had never left hers, speaking to her constantly as he’d fulfilled her wish.

  To wear his initials instead of Marcus’ on their wedding day.

  Swallowing, she met her own gaze in the mirror, still surprised he’d chosen her. There were the hazel eyes she’d always found to be too dull and boring, the light brown hair that was never quite blonde enough to be pretty, or dark enough to be rich and shining. Awkwardly pale and lean — Thalia never thought she’d know someone like James. Love and be loved by someone like James.

  But he did love her.

  He had chosen her, come for her, rescued her, taught her what BDSM could really be like when it was done in the right ways, for the right reasons. Given her a side of herself that she had never known she was missing, the same side that Marcus had tried to expose with violence and terror. James had saved her, and he loved her, and now he had married her.