Say So

Chapter Twenty-Four

COBY

Ocean hadn’t put me to bed. He said I was welcome to sleep, but how could I?

The muscles in my arms gave another spasm when I shifted to ease the crick in my neck.

I caught my sob before it could escape, refusing to give that sadistic fuck the satisfaction.

I noticed the rings in the ceiling and thought they were strange, but I hadn’t given them much thought.

And then last night, Ocean made me regret it when he showed me what they were for.

After announcing that I would be meeting his mother today, he stripped me naked and bound my wrists together, leaving little slack in the ropes.

If I sat back with my butt on my heels, they stretched my arms so tightly I thought they’d snap.

My only relief was if I rose onto my knees, a pose I could never hold for long.

It had been a long day and an even longer night.

And now my inner thighs were soaked. My pussy wept from going so long with no relief. All the while, Ocean had slept soundly in his big comfy bed. He’d woken ten minutes ago and disappeared inside the bathroom to shower.

Not for the first time, I wondered what Hunter was doing.

She was safe now.

It was all that mattered.

And now she knew I was safe too. In good—if not slightly tormenting—hands. I just prayed it would be enough for Hunter. That she wouldn’t try to find me again. Hunter was fearless and could take care of herself, but she couldn’t take on the Blood mafia alone.

I could do this.

I could marry Ocean and try to be happy, and then in five years, divorce him and try to move on with my life—with Hunter.

I didn’t realize the water had shut off until the bathroom door opened and steam poured out.

Ocean waltzed into the bedroom with only a towel wrapped around his narrow waist. He was built like he’d been carved from marble.

Water glistened on his dark-brown pecs and dripped between the ridges in his stomach as he moved into the walk-in closet.

A few minutes later, he emerged dressed in black joggers with white stripes down the side that accentuated his muscular ass and legs, and a hooded pullover. Only his large feet remained bare.

I held his gaze as he crossed the room to tower over me. My stomach dipped with anticipation when he reached out and seized my chin and jaw between the V of his pointer and thumb.

“Are you sorry?”

No. I would do it all again for Hunter. My arms spasmed again—a reminder of the hours I’d spent with them trussed up like an ornament. “Yes.”

Ocean gave me a small smile at my blatant lie. His thumb swept my bottom lip affectionately before letting my face go. He then started on the knot binding me and worked it free. The rope fell away, and my weakened arms collapsed to my lap. I winced when my shoulders protested the movement.

“What do you say?” he prompted.

“Thank you for helping me see that I was bad,” I recited. We’d rehearsed it last night before he went to bed and left me here. Fucker.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

Ocean helped me stand, just as there was a knock on the door.

He grabbed the blue throw from the foot of the bed and used it to cover my naked body.

His room at Glamis was a lot like the one at Glainne—dark, masculine, cavernous, and opulent.

The only real difference was the high ceiling with its exposed wooden beams.

Ocean went to open the door. It was Abel, but he spoke too low for me to catch more than bits and pieces.

“…got out.”

“Injured two of the men…”

“…back in the cabin.”

“Wants to talk to you…”

I could see the muscles in Ocean’s jaw tick as he listened. When Abel was done with his report, Ocean rolled those powerful shoulders like he had last night when I pushed him too far.

“She’ll have to wait,” Ocean replied, making my heart stop. She? “I’m taking my fiancée on a date.”

Abel looked at me then, so I flipped him off with a smile. Ever the grump, he shook his head as he turned and left. Ocean had already closed the door and was walking toward it when the plans he shared with Abel finally registered.

“We’re going on a date? I thought I was meeting your mom today.”

“You’re having lunch with her on the terrace after.”

“Oh…okay.” Nervous butterflies flitted around my stomach as I gripped the blanket tighter and followed him into the bathroom.

My eyes went straight to the enormous sunken tub I’d internally squealed over last night.

Knowing I preferred soaking to showers, Ocean had already filled it with water and bubble bath that smelled divine.

“You know, for a psycho, you’re incredibly sweet and generous. ”

“Whatever I am, I’m yours,” Ocean said as he turned and forced my fingers to let go of the blanket.

I don’t know why I was shy around him all of a sudden.

I guess it was because we sort of broke up, even though it only lasted a day, and now we were back together. “Till death do us part, Coby Perry.”

The blanket fell to the floor, and I was naked once again.

“We haven’t said our vows yet.”

“We will,” Ocean promised.

It sort of sounded like a threat. A gentle reminder that he wasn’t letting me go without murdering a few dozen people.

Ocean kissed my knuckles before helping me inside the stone tub.

Once I was sitting in the water, he did too—except he sat on the flat, wide ledge and pushed up his thick sleeves.

He then grabbed one of the sponges stored in the glass container next to him.

“I know it’s a bit late,” I said as he dipped his hand in the warm water.

“But I have one more condition for marrying you.” Immediately, I sank my teeth into my bottom lip.

While Ocean was incredibly patient, gentle, and generous with me, I didn’t know if this latest request would send him over the edge.

I didn’t want him to think I was taking advantage of him, especially when our relationship only existed because my brother stole from him.

“And what’s that?” Ocean didn’t miss a beat as he brought the sponge to my neck and began washing my skin.

Slowly and thoroughly, he made his way down.

“I-I want Hunter taken care of. Everything you’re offering me, I want her to have it too.

For every year we’re apart, I want her compensated and protected. She doesn’t want for anything. Ever.”

Something shifted in Ocean’s gaze, his eyes becoming so molten, dark, and predatory that I stopped breathing. And then in a blink, the look was gone as if it had never been. “If that’s what you want, then I promise you, mo aingeal, your friend will receive my full and undivided attention.”

After my bubble bath, I dressed in the red athletic leggings, white cropped pullover, sports bra, panties, windbreaker, headband, gloves, and hiking boots that Ocean provided. I was starting to think of him as my own personal genie—granting all of my desires before I even knew I needed them.

I was curious and excited about our date as I followed him down one hallway after another and then out of the enormous house and into the early morning.

The cold smacked me in the face as soon as I stepped out.

Winter was weeks away, but this far north, it felt like it had come early.

I held Ocean’s hand as we approached a sleek, matte-gray sports car with red calipers waiting further down the path.

He opened the passenger door for me, and I went to climb in when he stopped me.

Ocean stared into my eyes, and I didn’t know what he was waiting for until I smiled.

Satisfied, he leaned down to kiss me, and I rose onto the tips of my toes to meet him.

I guess we’d forgiven each other.

We drove for hours to reach the hiking trails.

The air was brisker, and the winds were harsher this close to the enormous lake and Canada’s border.

I cut my gaze at Ocean as I followed him up the cliffside, wondering if this was more punishment for attacking him. I loved to hike (as I’d previously shared with him), but I wasn’t fond of the cold—something I forgot to mention. Fortunately, the views made it a teeny tiny bit worth it.

An hour into the hike, I barely noticed the temperature.

After a few more miles of silence, Ocean led us through a break in the trees. The trail had reached a plateau bordered by trees on three sides, some of whose gold and red leaves were already decorating the ground.

My steps faltered when I saw the multicolored sandstone of the cliffs beyond.

They surrounded the sparkling beaches below, and I could see more than one rushing waterfall peeking out from the gilt and ruby foliage.

I’d never seen anything like it, only pictures of places like this online, but never through my own eyes.

It was breathtaking.

“I guess that look on your face means I chose correctly for our first date?”

I couldn’t take my eyes away from the view to see where Ocean was, but I could feel him, and that was all that mattered. This minuscule wonder so close to home looked untouched by human corruption. Somehow, it had escaped the plague we humans wrought.

I stumbled toward the edge, and I could feel Ocean keeping close, ready to catch me if I fell from the cliff or save me from an errant rock.

“It’s beautiful.” Like something straight out of a painting.

“Yes. It is.”

Something in his voice lured my focus away from the miraculous scenery to peer over my shoulder. While I’d been admiring the view, Ocean had been staring at me like he’d found heaven. My cheeks warmed, and I suddenly wished Hunter were here to tell me what to do. I’d never been good with boys.

But then, Ocean was all man, which was even more worrisome because I had no idea how old he was. He looked young, with no sign of aging, but his maturity gave him away.

“How old are you?” I blurted.

Ocean had fallen into a trance while staring at my lips, so it took him a second to realize I’d spoken. His gaze flew up to meet mine. “Huh?”

I giggled as the wind kicked up. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-five.”

“Oh.”

The corner of his lips tilted up as he raised a brow. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” I told him honestly, my gaze drifting to the ground. Ocean was ten years older than me. A little more shyly, I added with a shrug, “I like it.”

“You do?”

I nodded eagerly, feeling my nipples harden to painful points under my sweater. “Mhmm.” I met his gaze. “You’re like my dirty old man.”

Ocean barked out a harsh laugh, his dimples appearing and his eyes sparkling. “Hilarious.”

“Sugar daddy?”

His smile faded, the look in his eyes becoming less playful and more predatory as he cocked his head to the side. “Would you like that, sweet thing? You like the way I spoil you?”

I nodded and then rushed to clarify. “It’s not the gifts and material things.” I didn’t want him to think I was after his money. “I just love that you make me feel…”

“Yes?” he urged when I fell silent.

“Precious.”

The wind blew through the trees again before I could have the chance to feel embarrassed.

The gust was strong enough to push me forward and right into Ocean’s arms. My teeth started to chatter from the onslaught, so he turned us around so that his back took the brunt of it, and he became my human shield.

“Ready to go?” he asked when my entire body began to quiver.

“Not yet, please. I l-l-like it h-h-here.” And I didn’t know when I’d get another chance like this.

Ocean didn’t seem to mind, but I still wanted to explain why I wasn’t ready to leave this place that most would take for granted.

“A few years ago, Hunter and I started a list of places we hoped to visit one day. It’s pretty ordinary stuff, I know.

Who doesn’t have a bucket list? But we’ve been adding to ours for years, and the thing is…

it never got any shorter. It just kept getting longer and longer until it felt more like a running joke than an actual plan.

Maybe we were just quietly telling each other that it was okay to keep dreaming,” I said after a while.

Hopeless optimism - 1

Reality - 0

The last strong gust blew by, so I reluctantly pulled away from Ocean with a grateful smile. Like a magnet, I was drawn to the landscape beyond, so I stepped around him to enjoy the view.

“Being here,” I said while staring at the waterfall peeking through the trees, “it makes me think we were right to keep dreaming.” I looked up at Ocean, who was still staring at me instead of the view.

He looked at me like I was the escape he’d been dreaming about for years.

“Thank you for bringing me here. I’ll never forget it. ”

“Honestly, I don’t know if I’m happy or hating the fact that you love the view so much because now I don’t know if this can top it.”

I didn’t see the small box in his hand until he flipped it open, and I saw the diamond ring inside. It had a simple platinum band with two trillion-cut pink diamonds, their pointed ends facing each other and held together by a smaller band of pink diamonds in the middle, forming a bow.

I had never seen anything like it and doubted that another like it existed. God, it must have cost him a fortune.

“Ocean…”

“My mother is dying to meet you today. She’d kick my ass if she found out I’ve been letting her future daughter-in-law walk around without a ring on her finger for this long.”

I shifted nervously even as I blushed. “You really told your mother about me?”

His soft lips twitched with amusement. “Of course I did.”

“And what did she say?”

“I told her…” Ocean reached for my left hand and pulled off my glove. He then plucked the ring from the velvet bed and tucked the box back into his coat pocket. “That she would love you almost as much as I do.”

My heart started galloping in my chest, and it felt as if the world around us ceased to exist. There was only us. “You love me?”

“I do, mo aingeal. I love you so much that I’d do anything you asked of me.

Do you hear me? Anything. As long as you’re honest with yourself and with me, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, do you understand me?

” The intensity of Ocean’s promise made me nervous for some reason.

“And that’s why,” he said after a long and pointed pause, “it broke my heart to look at this beautiful hand and not see my ring on your finger.”

Ocean gently slid the ring on, and I wasn’t surprised at all that it was a perfect fit. He never seemed to miss anything. For some reason, my mind wandered to Hunter as Ocean drew me into a kiss. I forced her from my mind and focused on the man in front of me.

“I love you too,” I whispered to him once the kiss ended.

Ocean stared down at me with adoration before pecking my lips one last time. “I know.”

We stayed for another half hour, and I couldn’t keep the smile off my face when Ocean lifted me onto his back and carried me the entire way down.