Page 67 of Midnight Revelations

His hand wrapped around my hair to drag my head back, imprisoning and caging me in with his muscular frame. His lips slammed into mine and my eyes fluttered closed as I descended into this dark and addictive world of sensation. Nothing else mattered but the sensations that he evoked in me. Anything that felt this good should be illegal because I was willing to sacrifice everything for a moment like this with Ash.

His body commanded me, his hips bruised mine with the punishing rhythm, and I erupted in a nuclear explosion that detonated from my womb to mushroom out and consume me in its power. My muscles spasmed and my nerves created orgasmic fireworks that left me gasping for breath before Ash stilled inside me. We both collapsed together in a mass of limbs.

When I’d caught my breath, I started to giggle. Ash stiffened behind me before rolling me over so he could study me.

“You doing okay?” His lips twitched.

“Your face earlier,” I huffed out between giggles. “In your boxer shorts.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “If I knew I was going to have to fight for your honour, then I would have worn a ballistics vest to bed. And a gun belt.”

I snaked my arms around his neck. “You were pretty badass.” I kissed his chest.

“You are seriously bad for my health,” he replied with a pout.

“At least Papa knows we’re serious.”

“Lucas Black will currently be planning an accident that will eradicate me from the face of the planet. There is no way he will take this without retaliation.”

Ash’s words sobered me and stopped my giggles. I cupped his face with one hand. “I don’t want to live in a world where you don’t exist.”

His expression turned serious. “We’re in the middle of a war, Angel. Any of us could live or die, and the only thing keeping us alive is staying one step ahead of those with a vendetta against us. You’ll need to listen to me and Lucas to keep you safe. No more wandering off or trying to be independent. The decisions we make will be to ensure we all have long lives on the other side of this.”

I nodded and snuggled into his warmth. Ash settled us into the bed, his arms holding me close. All the events of the past few days caught up with me. Nightmares chased me, the images of everyone I loved dead haunting me. I woke up covered in sweat with my mouth open in a silent scream. If we were all facing a death sentence, then I needed to learn how to defend myself.

***

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ash

Lucas glared at me across his mahogany desk. The wedding was a few days ago, and we were back in London, but his mood hadn’t lightened. If looks could kill, I would be a shrivelled corpse on the floor.

“To say that I am displeased is an understatement,” Lucas growled. “Lucrezia is my youngest daughter and there is no doubt in my head that you took advantage of her.”

What was the point in arguing with him? He wanted to have his say, so I sat here and stared at him.

“Now I want to know what your intentions are.” He steepled his fingers under his chin and watched me with that look he had reserved for others in the past to show his anger.

“My intentions?” My eyebrows rose. “In what respect?” I knew exactly what he was getting at, and frankly, the conversation of marriage should be between me and Lucrezia, not with her father.

“I already know your net worth, and something tells me that that is an under exaggeration. You are the man who creates other people’s portfolios. That means you have more than enough money to ensure Lucrezia never has to work.”

“Lucrezia has worked hard to create her business and she’s brilliant at what she does. She might not have to work, but she wants to.” I had no intention of curbing her ambitions. She had hidden too long in the shadows.

Lucas’ expression darkened further. I lifted my phone and started to type on it. Her new security patrols went live yesterday and there were constant eyes on her. If Dad or Michael tried anything, they would be surprised because I had instructed her guards to use lethal force.

“I don’t want my daughters working.”

I sighed and set my phone down. “Lucrezia has worked her ass off to learn her trade. She hid in her safe room with no light and practised until she perfected her craft. There is no way I’m telling her that she has to give up who she is.”

“This isn’t a negotiation.” Lucas stood up and braced his hands on his desk to lean forward in an attempt to intimidate me.

“No, it isn’t. The decision belongs to Lucrezia. As her business partner, I would be pissed to have to take her to court for reneging on her contract.”

Lucas returned to his seat and his death glare.

I had no intention of letting him coerce me. “I’ll be honest with you, Lucas. I want what makes Lucrezia happy. If that’s making jewellery or making cookies all day I have no objection. If she wants to get married and have ten babies, I’ll sign on the dotted line. What I will not do is force her into a situation that she’s uncomfortable with. I’m in this for the long game, and right now, I’m trying to keep her presence in my life a secret. Once that cat is out of the bag, then I have an entirely new set of problems and we might all end up getting our guns out.”

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