It’s only been a few hours but the need to see her again is burning me alive. My frantic heartbeat won’t ease until I know she’s safe, especially after what happened with Frederick. A shudder ceases me, the thought of his hands anywhere near her almost too much to handle if I hadn’t made sure he won’t hurt anyone else ever again. I should be worried with the ease I was able to end his life, but I couldn’t find a shred of guilt if I tried. At least a second demonised mirage hasn’t appeared alongside my mom in the backseat, only her floating outline pressed against the rear window.
Figuring that’s long enough to not seem too keen, I exit the car and remove my backpack from the trunk before strolling into the hotel’s lobby. Golden arches decorate the ceiling, all joining in the centre to hold the glittering chandelier. Black marble spreads beneath my feet to the match onyx surfaces and bannisters.
Following the signs, I ignore the gawping receptionist who is using the counter for extra breast support and push the golden button to call the elevator. A bell chime announces its arrival, a couple looking at me curiously as they exit hand in hand. As soon as they’ve stepped out of the way, my reflection in the mirrored wall reveals the reason for their stares; I look like shit. Stepping into the large space, I push for the top level and try to fix my constant state of bedhead.
Running my hands through its overgrown length, I smooth down the stubble lining my jaw with a frown. Jeez, this isn’t a date, I’m simply attempting to convince the girl whose life is ruined because of me not to hate me completely. I won’t let myself dream she could ever actually forgive me, but maybe I can fix the mistake I made and that will have to be enough.
The doors slide open behind me, the reflected image of her sleeping form on a corner sofa immediately drawing my eye. Stepping into the living area, no one else is in sight as I close the distance between us. Her hair has spilled across the cushions like melted chocolate left out in the sun, the faint freckles splayed across her nose I had forgotten about now visible in the well-lit room. I’m about to reach out to brush my hand across her cheek when a red flashing in the corner of the ceiling catches my attention. Reaching up to scratch my own head instead, I sneak a look around to see surveillance cameras are dotted around the whole penthouse. Fuck it.
Meg begins to stir, her eyebrows pinching and a groan escaping her lips. Blinking rapidly, her pale blue eyes take a moment to adjust to the sunlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows and probably the drugs leaving her system, before landing on me. “You,” she growls, her nostrils flaring. Pushing up onto wobbly legs, she composes herself quicker than I would have been able to and glowers right at me without a trace of fear. Shit, that’s hot. No matter what is thrown her way, Meg keeps getting back up and proving the extent of her inner strength again and again.
Hiding the grin I’d like to give, I open my mouth to warn her we are being watched when her fist snaps out and catches my jaw. My head shifts to the side but not with as much force as I had expected from her when she suddenly uppercuts me. There it is. My head cracks backwards, the taste of blood filling my mouth. Taking full advantage of the hand she’s just dealt me; I grip her upper arms and drag her through the penthouse.
Passing through an enormous bedroom featuring a circular double-king, I tug her kicking and screaming into the open en-suite. With a quick, fruitless hunt for cameras, I spin sharply and use her back to slam the door closed. My mouth is on hers in the next moment, the length of my body pining her helplessly in place. She bites down on my bottom lip hard and yanks on my hair, but her actions only make me grow harder against her abdomen. Every deep scratch and aggressive shove at my shoulders make me try harder, pushing my tongue into her mouth to fight with hers.
Finally, she stops resisting the heat I know we both feel and fists her hands in my t-shirt, now pulling me impossibly closer. Her body melts into mine, her lips moving in time with my hungry ones. I’m a starving man and only her taste with fulfil me. I lift her into my arms, her legs winding around me on instinct as I turn and walk us straight into the shower. Twisting the dial, a cool spray of water rains onto us while I push her back against the tiles and grind my now solid erection at her core. Moaning into my mouth, she reaches for the edge of my shirt and I force myself to pull back.
“Wait-“ I pant, struggling to form a sentence when she’s coiled around me like a boa. She can have it all, my withered soul, the blackened blood running through my veins and my last breath. “I need you to know- “
“I don’t care,” she responds, tugging my soaking shirt off and kissing a trail from my neck to my chest. I groan, savouring her touch. “Whatever you have to say, don’t bother. Your words mean nothing to me now,” she breathes against my skin. Nodding gently, I accept I can’t make her understand with an explanation. I shouldn’t have the right to belong to anyone, especially not the girl I helped to kidnap, but Meg has ensnared me with her resilience and shown me the world wasn’t as bleak as I had been led to believe. Now it’s my turn to show her who I can be, how we could be. With every kiss, lick, caress
