Page 70 of Lords of Misrule
“How dare you use my own words against me.” He smiles and then leans down to kiss me before we walk into the studio together. I kiss him back and can’t help the grin that comes because for once in my life, I have everything I could ever want.
Epilogue
One Year Later…
Charlotte
I’m standing out by the shed grabbing a few handfuls of wood, shivering even with my coat as the snow falls around me. I’d rented this cabin up in the mountains to avoid people and get away from everything for a while. So Christmas Eve is going to be a quiet affair with cookies and mulled cider by the fireplace. I just need to get a few more logs inside so there’s enough to keep it going through the night.
When I go to head inside the house, I hear a rustling sound followed by the crunch of footsteps in the snow. I whip around quickly to see a shadow just this side of the woods. A large man dressed in all black. He takes a step toward me and my heart stops in my chest. I freeze in place, willing my mind to work and glancing at the cabin. I could make it in time from here. Maybe. If my feet would work.
Like he senses my skittishness he takes another step forward and my heart skips another beat. My gloveless fingers numb from the cold as I try to flex them around the wood in my hands. I might be able to use it.
“Run!” he bellows.
My heart takes off at a million beats per minute at the sound of his voice. My feet finally cooperate and I press the firewood to my chest as I hurry toward the house. It’s uphill and the snow has drifted to large wavy peaks, but I’m still hoping I can make it through.
I run as fast as my legs will take me in the heavy snow, one step after the other causing a flurry of white into the night air like an explosion of crystals sparkling against the light from the house. Every heavy breath I take forming a hoary little cloud.
I can hear him behind me; his footsteps getting closer, the sound of his heavy breathing at my back. I push myself harder, running just that little bit faster. As fast as I can go. The steps to the cabin are in reach. I can make it. So close if I just try hard enough.
My boots hit the steps and I nearly slip on the bit of ice that’s there, shifting the firewood and reaching out just in time to grab the railing to steady myself. I stomp up them as fast as I can, grabbing the door handle as I hear even larger boots hit the bottom step. My heart leaps into my throat as a I struggle with it, cursing the fact that the thing was probably older than me. I manage to get it to give at the last possible second. Just as the steps hit the porch and I burst through the door, turning to slam it shut. But a large hand stops me, and I drop the wood, listening to it scatter across the floor of the cabin until my heart beats so loud I can’t hear anything else.
I take a step back and then another. The living room is softly lit by the fire but I’m unfamiliar with it. I know it’s only a matter of time before I run into a piece of furniture and go over backwards. I glance behind me as I take another step and when my eyes return to the doorway, he’s inside. Towering in front of it, dressed in all black, a black mask and black gloves making it impossible to see anything but the gray eyes that glitter in the firelight.
I glance to the right where the steps are to the upstairs loft. The bedroom’s up there and it has a small window. It’ll only buy me time, but not safety.
I take another step back and an arm wraps around my waist. Another darts out to cover my mouth before I can scream—the black leather pressing tight against my lips. I look up at the man in the doorway and his chest rises and falls with laughter.
“Not fast enough, Duchess.” His deep voice sends a shiver up my spine.
“You know what happens when we catch you,” the man holding me silent whispers against the shell of my ear. I squirm in his arms, and it only makes him grip me tighter.
“I won’t let them go too hard on you,” a third voice adds from where he’s seated on the couch. His blue eyes glitter and he winks at me.
I look back to Gray Eyes and he shuts the door, flicking the lock before he turns back to me and closes the distance between us down to mere inches. I take a breath trying to steady my nerves, narrowing my eyes and steeling my spine in defiance.
“Masks on or off?” The one behind me asks before he starts to pull my coat off and toss it to the side, keeping his hold around my waist with one arm. I reach up and grab the mask on the man in front of me, pulling it off and tossing it on the floor.
Rowan runs his fingers through his messy brown hair and smirks at my eagerness.
“Masks off. Gloves on.” I give him a wry smile in return.
“That’s a new one,” Finn remarks as he tosses his on the side of the couch.
“It’s Christmas. Almost.” I shrug.
I toe out of my boots and socks as Finn pulls my sweater off. Rowan works on my pants while I work on his, and he turns me around to face Finn as he pulls them down my legs and sets them on top of the pile we’ve made on the rug. Rowan makes quick work of my bra and Finn’s eyes rake over my body as I work to undo his belt and pants.
Rowan’s hand slides over my chest, cupping my breast and then moving to where my heart is still racing.
“Fuck. You liked that didn’t you? Are you as wet as you are breathless?” He kisses his way down my neck and his hands drift down my body. I have to force myself to focus.
“Hudson?” I ask as I turn to look at him still sitting on the couch.
He’d won the hand of cards that set this game in motion earlier in the evening which meant he got to make the decisions tonight. He’s momentarily distracted and the sweet look of appreciation he gives me when his eyes meet mine makes my heart melt. I kiss Rowan and Finn and then walk over to him and climb in his lap, kissing my way down his neck as his hands slide up my thighs.
“Yes?” he finally answers when I pull away. His expression is half-distraction and half-lust.
