CHAPTER 45
LANDRY
Everything had been a whirlwind since landing in Paris. Thankfully, Pete had helped me book a suite at the H?tel Plaza Athénée for the night until I could find something more permanent. I had managed to find a real estate agent through some of his connections, and had begun brushing up on my high-school level French.
I had cried pretty much the entire flight, up until the last hour when I hadn’t had any tears left and had basically just gone numb. I’d started crying again once I got settled into my room, all of the events of the day catching up to me. I had killed somebody. I didn’t allow myself to feel too bad, considering that he had tried to kill me first, but it still weighed heavy on my soul.
Cashton had made his decision, and I couldn’t fault him for it. He wouldn’t be at peace until he got the vengeance and answers that he wanted. It stung, but I would just have to accept it and move on. I had been so close to everything that I had wanted for so long, and in the span of a day, it had all been ripped away from me.
I couldn’t keep dwelling on it. I was in Paris, after all. I should enjoy this. By my second day, Marguerite had already lined up a few fully-furnished long-term luxury rentals for me to view.
We had viewed the first two that morning, and were now on our way to see the third after a quick bite for lunch. I had to admit, the boulangeries were to die for. I could remain in Paris solely for the fresh baked goods.
The third apartment that we toured took up the entire top floor of an adorable Haussmann-style building on the right bank of Paris, opening up to a large private terrace that offered stunning views of the Eiffel Tower, complete with an above-ground hot tub and small garden. I couldn’t help but think about how the grassy area would have been perfect for Tomahawk, considering how tough it could be to find a decent place for a large dog in such a big city.
The interior had been recently remodeled, the modern appliances and clean furniture giving the place a modern but cozy feel. I could see myself in a place like this. I just hadn’t imagined I would be living here alone.
It felt… lonely.
But it was my reality, and there were worse things than living in a beautiful apartment in one of the best cities in the world.
“So, what do you think?” Marguerite asked as our tour came to an end, her English good though her accent was thick .
“I love it,” I admitted, nodding my head as I took another look around. “I’ll take it.”
“Wonderful! I will assemble the paperwork right now,” she exclaimed, pulling her laptop out onto the kitchen island.
I walked back out to the terrace, the large floor-to-ceiling French doors giving the space a bright and airy feel. It really was beautiful.
The paperwork took a few hours, only because she had to translate all of the documents into English so I could understand what I was signing. Thankfully, the contract was less complicated than a direct buy since I was only renting for the time being.
Once everything was signed and the keys were handed over, I had made my way downstairs and down the street to a small convenience store, grabbing a quick pre-packaged dinner and a bottle of champagne, which I currently drank in the hot tub on the terrace. The Eiffel Tower at night was stunning, the warm orange glow of the lights seen all the way from here.
I hadn’t bothered unpacking, leaving my suitcases strewn haphazardly in the bedroom and only pulling out a bikini. The champagne had gone straight to my head, which I wasn’t mad about. Besides, I was celebrating. That, and trying to forget that I had almost been killed, had stabbed someone, had found out that a good friend had known about my mom’s death, lost what could have potentially been the love of my life, and then moved to a completely different country completely by myself, all in the last forty-eight hours. I took another swig, thinking of Bexley and Olvia.
A small creaking noise came from inside the apartment, where I had left the French doors open to the terrace. I tuned out the noise from the bustle of the city below, trying to see if I could hear it again.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I heard it once more, faint but certainly there. Was someone in my apartment?
My heart began racing a mile a minute as my fear took over. I slowly stepped out of the tub, setting down my glass of champagne and creeping my way to the doors.
My adrenaline kicked into overdrive, my mind racing to figure out what my options were. I had left my phone inside, so calling someone was out of the question unless I could find a way to get to it. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t even know the French number for the emergency line.
I had left all of the lights off, which put me at a small advantage. I had always been told that if someone breaks into your house, you should keep all of the lights off because you have the advantage of knowing the layout. This was my first evening in the new apartment, so it wouldn’t help me much, but I at least remembered enough from the tour to hopefully make my way around.
The kitchen was directly through the doors, so maybe I could make it to the knife block on the counter before anybody was able to get to me.
Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe it was just the foundation or the plumbing. But something in my gut told me that somebody was inside my apartment.
Dread ran through me as I realized that I probably had a hit out on me. The Order was sure to have placed one on both Cashton and I after we killed three of their men. If anything, they were probably more motivated to quiet us now .
Would they really go as far as to send someone after me, all the way across the ocean? If it meant tying up loose ends?
I tip-toed my way inside, keeping my back to the wall as my wet swimsuit dripped over the hardwood floors.
Inching my way to the kitchen, I kept an eye on my surroundings. Making my way to the counter, I slipped the butcher knife out of the block and kept it at my side.
There was nobody here to protect me. If there was someone waiting to kill me somewhere in this apartment, it was up to me to protect myself.
I made my way across the hallway to my bedroom, checking behind every door, curtain, and corner. As I was about to turn to check the rest of the house, I caught movement in my peripheral, my breath hitching in my throat.
It all happened so fast.
One moment, I was bringing the knife up into the air. In the next, a large hand grabbed around my wrist and twisted, causing me to drop the knife before he yanked my hand behind my back and slammed me face-first against the wall. His hard body trapped mine, his free hand coming to wrap around my mouth as I began to scream.
I could feel his breath at my ear as he leaned down, my heart beating impossibly fast.
“I have to admit—That was quite the welcome, princess.”
My breathing came to an abrupt halt at the sound of that deep voice, the familiar scent of cedarwood and mint enveloping me .
He slowly released my mouth, moving just slightly enough for me to turn and face him, his body still caging me in against the wall.
“Cash…” I whispered, the shock of seeing him here keeping me rooted in place. So many emotions raced through me, words lodging in my throat. He was here. In Paris. In my apartment.
I wanted nothing more than to throw myself at him, to jump into his arms and show him just how much I had missed him over the last two days. But after the way our last conversation had ended, I forced myself to hold my place.
He noticed my hesitance, pain crossing his features for the briefest of moment.
“Landry…” he whispered, his tone sorrowful. “I’m so sorry.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat, my heart jackhammering in my chest. I needed to touch him, to feel him, but I needed to hear what he had to say first.
“You were right. There’s nothing worth losing you, and I need you to know that. I love you. And I’m choosing you. I will always choose you, and I don’t know what I was thinking when I let you walk onto that plane alone. I’m not a perfect man, nor will I ever claim to be. And I’m broken in so many ways. But I’m making you a promise right now that I will never let my own stupidity and stubbornness get between us again.”
I couldn’t help the warmth that spread through me, the butterflies floating in my stomach at hearing those words.
“I made up my mind the second I watched that plane take off. And I’m sorry it took me a bit to get here. I got the first flight that I could, but I’m here, and I’m staying. And I’m sorry that I hurt you, too many times to count, but I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. It’s you, Landry. It’s always been you. And I will never do anything to make you doubt that ever again.”
He offered me a soft smile, his dimple making an appearance as his piercing green eyes studied mine.
“Say something, princess.”
The words kept getting stuck in my throat. I swallowed, his presence overwhelming me as I searched his eyes. Could I really stay mad at him? The same man who had taken a bullet for me just a few days ago?
“I love you too,” I finally whispered. I meant it with every bone in my body. I had loved him long before I’d even realized it.
The smile that bloomed across his face made my knees weak.
His lips crashed down on mine, kissing me fiercely as his hand sunk into the back of my messy ponytail, tilting my head back to get a better angle.
He kept the kiss slow and controlled as he explored every inch of me, taking his time. I melted under his touch, sparks erupting over my skin everywhere his hands roamed.
“I’m all yours. I’ve been yours longer than you think,” he whispered against my lips, his hand cupping my cheek as he held me like I was the most precious thing in the world. “You’re my kryptonite.”
Our lips met once more, my hands slipping under the hem of his hoodie and exploring his smooth chest, needing to feel every inch of him .
“I’m just sorry that it took me longer than it should have to realize it. But I will spend the rest of my life making up for that,” he continued, our lips breaking apart as he trailed soft kisses down my neck, nipping lightly at the spot where my neck and shoulder connected.
I leaned my head back against the wall, the lingering adrenaline from Cashton’s arrival causing my skin to feel hypersensitive to his touch. A tingle ran down between my legs as he lowered himself to his knees, kissing his way down my stomach.
He kissed me over my swimsuit bottoms before pulling them down my legs, allowing me to step out of them before he grabbed one of my legs and hooked it over his shoulder. He was so tall that even with him on his knees, I had to raise onto my toes on my remaining leg, struggling to keep my foot on the ground as he buried his face into me.
A gasp escaped my throat, my eyes slamming shut as pleasure shot through me. He slid his thick tongue down my slit, lapping up the wetness there before making its way up to my sensitive clit, his mouth clamping shut around it. He nipped and sucked, his tongue demanding as he circled my clit over and over to the point where I didn’t think that I could take it anymore.
He grabbed my other leg, throwing it over his other shoulder as he picked me off the ground completely, his arms wrapping around my thighs to spread me wider for him. I arched against the wall, my hips grinding into his face as he continued the assault, pleasure building steadily as I approached my climax.
Reaching up with one of his hands, he pushed my bikini up to expose my breast, his large hand cupping one of them possessively before rubbing his thumb over my nipple. He rolled the hardened peak between his fingers, gently at first, and then pinching it hard enough to send a jolt of pain through me. That was all I needed to push me over the edge, my climax racing through me as my moans echoed through the apartment.
I felt myself spasm in his grip, his tongue me up as I soaked his face. Euphoria and bliss took over my senses, my body going lax in his hold.
“Oh wow…” I whispered through labored breaths. “I missed you.”
He stood up, readjusting us to where my legs wrapped around his waist rather than shoulders and carrying me out to the outdoor terrace.
“I’m not even close to being done with you yet, princess,” he replied, a wicked smile on his face.
Laying me down on one of the cushioned two-seater lawn chairs, he pulled off his shirt and hoodie before lowering himself back down over me, his shorts coming off next. He was inside of me in the next moment, my eyes rolling back as he slowly drove himself to the hilt.
“Fuck, baby,” he groaned. “Have I ever told you how perfect you are?”
I dragged his face down to mine, kissing him passionately as he continued to work inside of me. It wasn’t long before I came once more, my climax dragging him to the edge with me.
We lay there together for a while, the reality hitting me that Cashton was in Paris. He was here, in my apartment, telling me that he loved me and that he was here to stay. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming .
“Wait,” I shot up in my seat. “What did you do with Tomahawk?”
He chuckled, flipping over onto his back and bringing his arms behind his head.
“He’s with Liv and Bex, they should be here late tomorrow evening. I took the liberty of reaching out to Pete, I hope you don’t mind. He left Paris early this morning to fly back to the states, he’ll take a few hours to rest and then he agreed to turn right back around and bring all of them here. Figured that you probably missed your friends. They can’t stay more than a few days, but they’re excited to see our new place.”
Butterflies took flight in my stomach at his use of ‘ our place’ .
“And why aren’t you flying with them?” I asked.
He offered me a cheeky smile, that dimple that I love so much making an appearance.
“I didn’t want to wait,” he winked.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my face as I laid back down, curling into his chest.
“So, you’re really here to stay?”
Gently grabbing my cheek, he turned my face to meet his eyes.
“I will follow you wherever you go. I love you, Landry. I loved you long before I even realized it, I love you now, and I will continue to love you for the remainder of my time on earth and thereafter.”
I laid my head back down, running my hand over the tiger tattoo on his chest. That’s when I noticed his new piece of ink, a simple but beautiful ‘L.A.’ with a crown resting underneath it. It took my brain a moment to wrap my head around it.
“L.A.? As in Landry Andrews?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“For now,” he mused. “Figured it would also work for Landry Astor one day.”
“You’re crazy!”
“For you,” he winked.
This man was something else. I couldn’t help but laugh, rolling my eyes in the process before laying back down next to him.
“You never told me what the tiger stood for,” I realized, tracing my hand over both pieces of work that took over his chest.
He didn’t answer for a few moments, his hand continuing to trace circles along my back where he had his arm wrapped around me.
“It’s for Emory. I always called her my little tiger because of how fierce she was. Now I can say I have the two most important girls in my life with me at all times. Sometimes, you remind me of her, you know? Fierce. Kind. A lover, but a fighter when needed. Smart. Passionate. Far from ordinary.”
I thought over the last few days, anxiety beginning to creep in.
“Do you really think…” I hesitated. “Are you sure that you’ll be able to let all of this go? I know how important it is to you to find out who did this. And it’s important to me too. I want to find out who was responsible for taking my mom away from me. But I don’t think that it’s worth risking our lives for. Maybe one day we can try again, but right now, I don’t have it in me. Bu t I don’t want you to change your mind or regret it one day. I would rather know now.”
I braced myself, needing to hear his answer before I could let myself get too comfortable. This was everything I had ever wanted, but it wouldn’t work if I couldn’t depend on him always being here.
He must have noticed my nervous energy, sitting up to face me.
“Landry,” he started, grabbing my face as he pierced me with his eyes. “I choose you. And I will continue to choose you. You were right about what you said– Emory is already gone, and there’s no changing that. And if pursuing who killed her means losing you, then it’s not something that I will even entertain. My priority is you . I love you . You are my person. I have never been more certain of anything in my entire life.”
Relief washed over me, the smile reappearing on my face.
“I love you too,” I tell him.
We lay there a while longer, basking in the view and the noises of the city below. We were in Paris. The Eiffel Tower still shone, but I could argue that the best view in the city was the man lying here beside me. His voice was gruff when he spoke, as if he were on the edge of falling asleep.
“You are my everything.”
My heart fluttered wildly. And for the first time, I let myself believe it. I had once thought I was nothing. Been so broken that I would never have believed that I could be so cherished by anybody. But I meant something to Cashton. I could see it in the way he looked at me, the way he treated me. I felt loved for the first time in a long time. I was his everything. And he was mine.