27. Silas
Silas
H earing Lauren say “I love you” is like being hit by a train made of emotions, and I’m usually never at a loss for words. But right now? Right now, I know one thing for sure—I’m going to marry this woman. No doubt about it.
We’re building an empire together, and she’s the Persephone to my very suave, incredibly handsome Hades. Fate had us in its crosshairs from day one.
I kiss her, deep and slow, my hands sliding down her body like I’ve been waiting to do it for a century. And when they finally grab that perfect ass I’ve been missing, Lauren lets out this little moan that makes my brain just ... short-circuit. All the rational thoughts? Gone.
I hoist her up, making sure we fit together like puzzle pieces that were never meant to be apart.
“I’m going to fuck you for the three weeks you ignored my ass, Lauren.” My voice sounds wilder than human. “Just giving you a courtesy warning.”
“Okay,” she says, nodding rapidly.
I love seeing the urgency in her eyes; she wants my hands on her, and she wants them now. In a few strides, I'm at the end of her bed. I remove her black T-shirt and jeans so fast I'm embarrassed, as she rips off my tie and shirt with the same eagerness I feel.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t wait,” I say, positioning myself between her legs and pushing as far as her body allows.
“Aah!” she screams in pleasure as I pull out and thrust back in.
“Three weeks,” I grunt through clenched teeth, my jaw so tight it could crack. “Over a rumor … unbelievable.”
I slam into her viciously.
“I’m sorry,” she whimpers, lost in pleasure.
“You owe me, BIG TIME,” I whisper in her ear as I keep thrusting.
“Anything,” she moans, digging her nails into my back.
I can tell she’s about to climax, and I take full advantage of it. “Marry me.”
“Wha—”
Before she can respond to my proposal, her orgasm overtakes her, rendering her speechless. Mine follows soon after, and when we both finish trembling, Lauren whispers, “Okay,” her breath ragged.
I lower my gaze, and we connect. “Did you think I was just asking? I knew you were going to be my wife the day I saw you in my office after all those years.”
Her arms wrap around my neck. “Really?”
I kiss her lips. “Really, Persephone. And as I said before, my power, my protection, and my love are yours. I’ll be your slave if you’ll have me. I’ll kiss your feet every morning and your lips every night. I’ll let you rule me in mind, body, and soul.”
Lauren smiles as she hears our exchange. I know it by heart; these last three weeks, I spent hours watching that conversation, reading it over and over, trying to figure out how to keep her in my life.
“Hades, you’ve convinced me.”
I've always known something was off about my heart—maybe it was the emptiness, the cracks, or just how dark it felt. For years, I was too much of a coward to figure it out, and now, as an adult, it’s coming back to haunt me.
“You’re squeezing my hand,” Lauren whispers beside me.
I loosen my grip slightly. “Sorry, it’s hospitals—they give me the creeps,” I admit as we make our way toward Dr. Mike’s office.
Why am I seeing him? The answer is simple: I want him to see the ring on Lauren’s finger ... and, well, my heart, too. But let’s be honest, the ring is the real priority here.
“I don’t like them either,” she murmurs, her voice low, blending in with the dim atmosphere of the hallway.
I stop, pulling her to a halt as well. She tries to keep walking, but my arm holds her back. “So, what are we doing here? Let’s just leave,” I suggest, half-serious.
“No, sir,” she says, dragging me along the hall. “We need to see the results with a professional.”
Reluctantly, I let her take the lead. Only Lauren can boss me around and get away with it. “This is going to cost you, Green,” I whisper in her ear, enjoying the banter.
She glances up at me, a playful gleam in her eyes. “Let me guess, I have to move in with you?”
“That’s a given,” I reply without missing a beat.
“Sex marathon?” she teases .
“That’s already scheduled for after this appointment,” I say with a smirk as we reach Dr. Mike’s door. I knock twice.
“Come in!” Dr. Mike’s voice calls from inside.
Dr. Mike is waiting behind his desk, grinning broadly, his teeth unnaturally white. I take Lauren’s hand—the one with the ring—and place it over my chest, making sure he sees it. Lauren catches on, and her face flushes with embarrassment, realizing how I’m making her “pay” for that ring.
“Doc,” I say with a smug smile as Lauren looks down, “do you remember Lauren? My fiancée.”
Mike stands up, forcing a smile that screams I’m only being polite . “Of course, Lauren. Good to see you.”
Lauren extends her hand, and he shakes it, but I can tell he’s clocked the ring.
Yeah, go ahead, Mike, soak it in.
“Hi, doctor,” Lauren says, shooting me a venomous look that I can practically feel burning a hole in my side.
We sit down across from him, and Mike starts clicking through his computer, mumbling to himself as he opens my file. Lauren takes my hand, giving me a nervous smile, her fingers tightening around mine.
“Well, Mr. Walker,” Mike says, glancing up, “your heart looks healthy.”
I feel the tension release from my body immediately. Lauren squeezes my hand, and her smile lights up the room. Was she nervous too? It’s new, knowing I’m not alone anymore. I’ve got someone who has my back, someone who I belong to as much as they belong to me.
Mike continues, “What you’re experiencing is chronic stress, which is triggering a physiological response in your body. This response can exacerbate symptoms such as bloating and discomfort, making them more pronounced.”
“Got it,” I cut him off, standing and fastening my jacket. Both Mike and Lauren stare at me, their mouths slightly open, but it’s Lauren’s confused expression that makes me add, “I was going through a rough time, okay? It was temporary, but it all worked out. As you can see,” I say, lifting Lauren’s hand to show off the ring again. “Let’s go, Lauren.”
I extend my arm to shake Mike’s hand, and he grabs it immediately.
“Thanks for everything. Hopefully, we won’t need to see each other again,” I say with a sly grin. “Oh, and delete Lauren’s number from your phone—you won’t be needing it.”
Without waiting for a response, I lead Lauren out of the room, the satisfaction of knowing she’s mine leaving me with a sense of calm I haven’t felt in years.
My plan kicks off a couple of weeks after that whole catastrophe. Still haven’t managed to convince Lauren to move in with me, but I don’t quit easily when it comes to challenges—especially when the reward is her .
In her weak attempt to dodge my proposal, Lauren underestimated my level of commitment. She didn’t realize I was fully prepared to camp out in her apartment, if that’s what it took. I’m not the type to make empty promises, and when I told her I wasn’t spending a day without her, I meant it. What we have? It’s written in the stars. Who am I to deny fate, right? From the moment I took her to her bed, I haven’t left her side. If that sounds needy, then sure, I’ll own it.
Three weeks without her was hell, and I’m not going through that again. But today—today’s the day the master plan starts to unfold.
Step one: I spy on Lauren while she’s working in her office. She’s laser-focused, scribbling away at some contract. It’ll take her a while to finish, so I sneak back to my own office, where the real magic happens. Step two: I pull out my phone and dial Luca—my complicated, but hands-down favorite brother. He picks up on the fifth ring, which is pretty fast for him .
“I want to talk to Emma,” I say before Luca can even get a word out.
“Emma?” His voice is all confusion, like he doesn’t know exactly who I’m talking about.
I roll my eyes, stretching my legs out and propping my feet on the desk, keeping a casual glance on the door in case Lauren decides to wander in. “Yes, Emma. You know, the woman you’ve been seeing for months? The one you’ve been sleeping with?”
There’s a brief pause before I hear Luca's trademark smirk seep into his voice. “How the fuck do you know?”
I chuckle. “It wasn’t exactly rocket science, brother. But I need you to know something. I’m going to marry Lauren. No ifs, ands, or buts. So don’t screw things up with her sister again, because once that ring’s on her finger, you’re stuck dealing with her for the rest of your miserable life.”
Luca lets out a low, sinister laugh, the kind he always uses when he’s amused but doesn’t want to admit it. Without saying another word, he hands the phone over to Emma.
“Hello?” she says, her voice a bit wary, as if expecting trouble.
“Emma, it’s Silas Walker,” I say, getting up from my desk and moving to the window, looking out over Manhattan. “I need your help with something.”
“And why would I help you, Silas? You treated my sister like dirt all through high school.”
I snort. “First of all, that was years ago, Emma. You might want to catch up. Second, you’re sleeping with my brother, and I know damn well you haven’t told Lauren about it. So, let’s just say you don’t really have a choice here.”
There’s a long sigh on the other end of the line. “Fine. I’m listening ...”
In just a few well-placed words, I convince Emma to let me cover her mother’s treatment. I’ve never met the lady, but I know how much she means to Lauren, and if she matters to her, then she matters to me. Simple as that.
But honestly, this isn’t just some grand gesture. If I take care of the “ money” problem, my life is going to get a whole lot easier. No more excuses from Lauren every time I practically beg her to move in with me.
I called Emma and not Lauren because Lauren’s got this streak of pride that runs a mile long. She doesn’t take charity, not from anyone. Emma, on the other hand ... let’s just say she’s a little more flexible. Just ask Luca.
“Silas, you know this is a big commitment, right? You can’t just get involved in our lives like this if you plan to be a temporary fixture in Lauren’s life.”
“Temporary? Pfft, ” I scoff, laughing under my breath. “I’m going to marry her. Didn’t she tell you?”
“ WHAT?! ”
And with that, I hang up. Perfect timing. Some conversations are better cut short.
About an hour later, Lauren walks into my office, tablet in hand, her brows furrowed in confusion. She doesn’t even look at me at first. “Silas …” she says slowly, her attention glued to the screen. “Did you talk to the lawyer? He’s not answering my calls and …”
Then she glances up, locking eyes with me. I give her that smile—the one she knows all too well. But this time, she has no clue why I’m smiling like the cat who ate the canary.
Her eyes narrow. “What did you do?”
Before I can answer, her phone rings. She frowns, glancing at the caller ID.
“Hold on a second, it’s my mom; I need to take this.”
“Go ahead,” I say, waving her off like I’ve got all the time in the world. I lean back in my chair, feet propped up on the desk like the CEO of life itself, just waiting for my plan to fall into place.
Lauren talks to her mom quietly, her tone full of confusion as she listens. It’s clear she doesn’t fully understand what’s happening. But then, like a light bulb flicking on, her gaze snaps to me. “Yes, Mom, it’s good news. Can I call you later? Yes, me too. Bye!” She ends the call, and instead of coming toward me, she turns and heads straight for the door .
Uh-oh.
I hear the click of the lock. She turns back, walking toward me with purpose, eyes fixed on mine. Today, she’s wearing that pencil skirt—the one with the tiny slit that drives my imagination into overdrive. And those red glasses, her blonde hair cascading down. Damn, there’s nothing about her that doesn’t make me lose my mind.
“Silas?” she says as she circles my desk like a predator stalking her prey.
“Yes?” I say casually, lowering my feet to the floor, and swiveling my chair to face her head-on, legs spread, fully prepared to welcome her.
“How did you do it?” She crosses her arms, her voice cool but intrigued.
“Oh, you know,” I say with a grin, “pulled some strings, talked to a few people …” I keep smiling because now I know—she has no more excuses.
The three feet between us feel like a football field, so I do what any reasonable man would. I grab her by the waist and pull her onto my left leg, seating her there where she belongs.
“Do you think I put that ring on your finger just for fun?” I whisper, my lips brushing her ear. “I want to make you happy, Lauren. I know this is a good first step.”
“Yes, but?—”
“You’re going to be my wife.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Everything I have is yours. I belong to you, just as you belong to me. That means your worries, your problems, your fears—they’re now mine. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make them disappear.”
Her eyes soften, locking onto mine, and a shy smile creeps onto her face. “Are you the same Silas Walker I knew?”
“No,” I say softly, running my fingers over hers until I feel the ring. “I’m a better version. A version that wants to live up to you. A version that wants to love you, protect you, give you refuge, and make you happy.” I pause, holding her gaze. “This Silas Walker understands everything.”
“What’s everything?” she whispers, her eyes lingering on my lips .
“That love and hate are two sides of the same coin,” I murmur, my gaze fixed on hers. “It’s in the intensity—the fire—that makes them equal. That gray area where passion, exhilaration, and lust blur the lines. You can step right into love or left into nothing, never knowing what you could’ve had. But me? I’m not wasting a single second. You’ve always been love to me, Lauren. It’s always been you.”
Our mouths collide, fierce and hungry, and I swear, no matter how much I kiss her, it’ll never be enough. As our tongues tangle, I lift her onto my desk, hiking up that tight little skirt that’s been driving me wild all day.
“Did you lock the door?” I growl, my voice low and rough. “Because I’m not responsible if someone walks in and drops dead from seeing you naked.”
“Yes,” she moans against my lips, “it's locked.”
I pull down her panties and bury myself inside her. It’s an overwhelming need to have her now, almost suffocating, like a panic attack threatening to take over if I don’t have her at this exact moment.
My thrusts are slow; I savor them because I don’t want to rush with Lauren. I want to enjoy her, feel her, and connect with her.
“Oh God …” she moans, gripping my back to keep from falling.
“Silas, Bunny, my name is Silas, not God,” I say, nibbling on her ear.
Before she can protest, I pull out and lay her face down on my desk. I’ve dreamed of this moment so many times that it feels surreal to see her round, perfect ass right in front of me, so exposed and ready for me to touch.
And that’s exactly what I do.
I grip her cheeks with both hands, squeezing with all my strength.
She gasps, looking back over her shoulder at me.
“I’m sorry, Bunny. Let me make it up to you,” I whisper as I bury myself back inside her warm pussy. My head falls back, overwhelmed by the pleasure. “Fuck,” I growl as my thrusts begin to quicken.
Lauren clings to the edge of the desk, bracing herself for my relentless assault. “Silas …” her voice more a warning than a moan. I can tell she’s close .
I slide my hand, reaching her clitoris and massaging it. “Lauren, I can’t hold on much longer …” But before I can finish my sentence, my orgasm erupts, and from the way her core clenches around me, I know she’s cumming too.
My fingers dig into her hips as I empty myself inside her.
For a few minutes, we lie in silence, only the sound of our breathing filling the air.
“I love you,” I say, my voice cracking, betraying how deep it runs. “I can’t wait to live our life together—take care of you, satisfy you every night and make you forget all the mistakes I made in the past.”
I kiss the top of her head, lingering for a moment, then step back to give her space to get up and fix her clothes. But instead of moving, Lauren wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a tight, powerful hug, like she’s holding onto something she’s never letting go of.
“I’ve always wanted to hear those words when I was younger,” she whispers, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
I gently stroke her hair, my chest tight with emotion. “Did you always want me?” I ask.
“Yes,” she admits, her smile growing. “I even hated myself for wanting you, but deep down, I always knew I loved you.”
“Thank you for waiting for this idiot to figure it out.”