Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
ASHER
As promised, I have a detailed itinerary from my mother’s private secretary within the hour. I would send him my thanks, but that man is scary as fuck.
He is bloody good at his job, though.
By the time Mercury and I ventured into the nearby village for a wee bite to eat and a coffee, Connor had not only found us a place to stay for the night but also arranged transportation and had all our luggage packed and moved off the train.
The country cottage he found for us is just what I imagined when I asked for privacy. Perched on a small, private loch and surrounded by ancient trees, its cobblestone exterior and slate roof make it feel instantly warm and inviting. Nothing like the old, run-down cottage at Blackstone House.
No, this little gem has been well cared for over the years.
“It’s beautiful,” Mercury says as the driver pulls to a stop on the gravel drive in front of a weathered gate.
“Thought you might enjoy a night in a proper Scottish cottage,” I jest.
“Hey, don’t knock our homey little cottage.”
Maybe it’s the way she calls it ours or the memories it evokes. The many cold mornings I woke to her cuddled up to my side. The warm evenings we shared by the fire, with her head buried in her Kindle and mine in my tattered notebook.
“It wasn’t so bad, was it?” I find myself saying.
“No, it was pretty great, actually.”
I lean forward, grasping her chin. “Every moment with you is pretty great.”
Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Pretty great?”
“No. You’re more than that,” I answer. “You’re like the first ray of sunshine after a storm, Merc. You make everything better, and I’m going to miss the hell out of you when you’re gone.”
Her smile fades. “I’m going to miss you too.”
Way to dampen the mood, asshole.
“We still have time,” I remind her, trying to focus on anything else. “Let’s just enjoy tonight, yeah?”
Her smile returns, though a little melancholy. “Yeah.”
We step out of the car, and the driver helps us inside with our luggage. Unfortunately, my mother was less willing to grant my request for no security than she was for privacy. So, in addition to the driver, we have a security detail with us.
Thankfully, there is a guest house adjacent to the cottage for all of them to stay, so we at least have the illusion of privacy, but not before two burly men search every room, closet, and corner for intruders, hidden microphones, and anything else untoward.
When everything checks out, they excuse themselves, and we are finally left alone.
We shed our coats and shoes by the door, then both stand there for a moment, awkwardly looking around.
There is a bay window overlooking the lake, with a lovely old table and chairs.
The small kitchen has all the modern conveniences without seeming out of place, and the living area is filled with cozy furniture and old books.
A clock on the wall ticks, and I find myself glancing at it. The sun is about to set. “We could go for a walk, or if you’re hungry—”
“I’m not hungry,” she says quickly.
“Do you…” I pause, feeling my pulse quicken as I step forward. “Do you want to go for a walk?”
Her eyes lock with mine. “No.”
I don’t know who moves first—her or me—but suddenly she’s in my arms, and we’re kissing as if the world is on fire.
As if we’ve simply run out of time.
Because soon, we will. In the very near future, our time will be nothing but a memory. I will be the man she shared all her firsts with, but not the one she shares her life with.
And the thought of that nearly breaks me.
“I want you,” she murmurs against my lips.
Sliding my hands under her ass, I lift her up. She wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. Gazing up at her, I offer a halfhearted smile, trying to keep the mood light. “I did promise I’d teach you how to—”
She pulls back, her fingers still curled around the strands of hair at the nape of my neck. “No.” She shakes her head. “No more lessons. No more teasing. Tonight is just about you and me, and I want all of you.”
I knew this would probably happen tonight. Or at least I hoped it would. We’ve been dancing around it for what feels like forever as we got to know each other inside and out.
“I’ve wanted all of you since the moment I first saw you,” I confess. “So I hope you’re prepared, because I don’t plan on letting you sleep tonight.”
Her eyes burn with passion, and then she kisses me again. I groan deeply as she locks her ankles behind my back and rolls her hips against my hard erection.
“Fuck, Merc.” What this woman lacks in experience, she makes up for with God-given talent. Mercury Creed is sexy as hell, and she doesn’t even know it.
“Is there a bedroom in this place?” she asks between scattered kisses along my jaw.
It’s scrambling my brain, but I manage to answer, “Several.”
“Pick one,” she whispers into my ear. “Unless you just want to fuck me against this wall.”
I grin as I head down the hallway toward the room where the chauffeur dropped our bags.
I love this uninhibited side of Mercury that’s finally coming out.
I miss the constant blushing, but seeing her confidence grow is such a turn-on.
“The first time I fuck you will not be against a wall. It will be in a bed where I can spread you out and enjoy every inch of that body I’ve been dreaming about.
But don’t worry, love. We’ll get to that. We’ll get to everything.”
When we reach the room at the end of the hallway, I don’t bother turning on the light. The tall windows offer an expansive view of the loch, and with the sun setting, the room is filled with shades of pink and gold.
I don’t notice much else in the room. I’m sure it’s lovely, like the rest of the cottage, but the only thing that catches my eye is the massive four-poster bed.
My gaze drifts over the sturdy wooden posts. A vision of Mercury, naked and restrained with a blindfold across her eyes, flashes through my mind.
One step at a time, mate.
When we reach the foot of the bed, I let her feet slowly touch the floor, then step back. “Take it all off. Slowly.”
Her eyes turn molten as she reaches down to grasp the hem of her sweater and slowly lift it over her head, leaving a silky white camisole behind. A lacy white bra peeks out underneath.
“Now the pants,” I instruct, my voice slightly hoarse as I watch her unbutton her jeans and slide them down her hips, over her lush thighs, until they fall to the floor. She tosses them aside, along with her thick woolen socks.
I don’t know how many nights I’ve dreamed of burying myself in those thighs. That little taste of her on my fingers felt like an appetizer.
And now I’m ready for the main course.
She takes off the camisole, leaving only the lacy bra and matching panties.
So fucking perfect.
“The bra first.” I gesture with my wrist. I feel like I’m unwrapping the best present I’ll ever receive.
And I’m not even the one unwrapping it.
But I’m most certainly enjoying the show.
Merc reaches behind her back with both hands and quickly unclasps the bra. I watch as each strap slides slowly off her shoulders until she tugs it away from her body and drops it onto the pile at her feet.
Her dark hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders and breasts.
Her rosy pink nipples are tight and pebbled, begging to be touched.
That Creed tattoo is inked perfectly on her ribcage.
I want to run my tongue over it, to lick and suck every inch of her until I’ve marked her so thoroughly that there’s no doubt who holds her heart.
I swallow hard, trying to shove those feelings aside. “Now the panties.”
Her cheeks turn that familiar shade of pink I love so much. In all the times we’ve fooled around, she’s never been completely naked in front of me.
Until now.
She slowly slides her thumbs under the waistband of her underwear and pushes them over her hips. When they fall to the floor, I swear I lose the ability to breathe.
“You’re stunning,” I tell her as I reach over my shoulder, grab the back of my sweater, and pull it over my head. I take the undershirt with it, leaving my chest bare.
“So are you,” she replies.
“I need you on the bed, Merc,” I say, stepping forward. “I’ve been dying to taste you since that morning we were interrupted. Will you allow me the pleasure?”
Her teeth bite into her bottom lip as she tries to hide her grin. “Such a gentleman.”
“You’ll think differently in a minute.”
I reach out and slide my hands down her ribcage, over her hips, and perfect fucking ass until I reach the backs of her knees, then give them a hard tug.
She goes down with a high-pitched squeal. Her tits bounce as she lands on the bed, and her laugh makes the stupid grin on my face grow even wider.
“The security team is going to think I’m murdering you in here if you keep this up.”
She looks up at me with a sexy smile. “Pretty sure they know exactly what we’re doing in here, Ash.”
“Good,” I say, dropping to my knees. She lifts herself up on her elbows to watch me. “The taller one was looking at you too much.”
Her scoff is cut short as I slide my fingertips up her calf. “The blond one? That’s literally his job.”
I lift her foot and toss it over my shoulder, then kiss her inner thigh. She moans. “Staring at your arse is most certainly not in his job description.”
“He can stare all day long, but he’ll never have me,” she says, her voice breathless as I press my lips to her skin, inching closer and closer to where she wants me most.
“And why is that, Merc?” She’s so ready for me, she’s practically dripping. Her pussy is glossy and pink. I lick my lips and gently blow across the sensitive skin between her thighs.
She makes an incoherent noise before answering. “Because you’re all I want,” she replies. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”