Sebastian was torn between horror and laughter. Yes, he had a reputation of sorts, but he hadn’t expected Mackenzie to wave it merrily in his face.
“You can’t be surprised, Baz. Women talk.”
“Yes, well.” He cleared his throat. With anyone else, he wouldn’t be flustered. What was it about Mack? With a wave of her hand, a knowing smirk, and a perfectly arched brow, she made him feel like a gauche boy on the verge of puberty.
“Look at you!” she crowed. “You’re embarrassed.” Mackenzie’s laugh was naughtiness personified. The husky sound wrapped around his dick and squeezed. “How delightful!” Rising to her knees, she closed the distance between them and gave him a light peck on the cheek. “And sweet.”
Sweet?
He didn’t realize he’d said it aloud until she nodded.
“Yes, sweet. It means you aren’t just a player, out for a random hookup.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” He chuckled when she leaned back and frowned. “I mean, I’m happy to randomly hook up with you, if you so choose. Multiple times a day, in fact.” He stared into her narrowed blue eyes and felt his smile grow. “For the rest of our lives.”
The last bit was a surprise to them both, and they froze, gazes locked.
With a swiftness that floored him, Mackenzie straddled his lap and grasped his head between her palms. She latched on so deeply, he felt she could see into his soul, and he was helpless to look away. Shutting her eyes, she swayed, and when she lifted her lids, there was a distinct golden glow reflected back at him. The light was holy and somehow pure.
“Okay.”
“What?” He was baffled by her response and a whole lot of aroused by her lithe body in his lap.
“Okay. For the rest of our lives.” She grinned. “Let’s get married. Tonight. Right now.”
“Wait, what? What was this all about?” He placed his palms over hers where they still cupped his head.
“Would you believe me if I said I saw our ceremony? There was an old ivory handfasting cloth, binding our wrists together.” She bit her lip, and a teasing glimmer shone from her eyes. Mackenzie rose and drew him up with her. “Either we intend to have kinky sex, or there’s a ceremony in our future. I won’t rule out either.”
Part of him wanted to backpedal. Tell her it was too fast. They’d known each other all of a heartbeat. But her spontaneous suggestion felt right, and who the bloody hell knew what tomorrow would bring. Most likely the Enchantress to kill them all.
“Tonight,” he agreed. “Who should we have officiate our spontaneous wedding?”
“Leo.” A twinkle entered her eyes. “But he has to wear his pickle socks. You can conjure him a matching green vest and tie.”
Sebastian laughed and tugged a lock of her hair. “This is pure madness and won’t hold up legally. We’ll have to make it official at some point.”
“I know, but it will be fun. And I’m game if you are.”
“Yes.” He’d never been so certain of anything in his life.
Sealing her lips to his, she stole his breath with her passion. As their tongues became intimately acquainted and his desire flared white-hot, he ran his hands under her shirt to cup her breasts. Exploring them to the fullest.
She moaned into his mouth.
He pulled back and gave her jaw a light nip. “Let’s save this until after.” It killed him to suggest it, but again, he knew it was right.
Her smile rivaled the sun on a clear day, when it was at its highest point in the sky. So bright. So warm. So—for lack of a better word—sunny.
“Goddess, you’re beautiful, Mack.”
Some of her happiness faded. “Is that all you see in me? Beauty?”
“Not all. Without a doubt, you’re exquisite, but it’s the way you smile. The way you seem to find joy in each moment, regardless of who you’re with. The way you look at me, the man, as if I can do anything. You make me want to be a better person.”
The light in her eyes was soft, and as he spoke, she caressed his jaw.
He was almost afraid to ask, but what was fair was fair. “And me? What do you see?”
“Everything. I see a strong, loving man who adores his quirky family. I see a stand-up guy who always does what’s right. When you shed that ridiculous worldly persona you present to those on the outside, you are sweet and caring. Genuine and a bit shy. But I get a deeper sense of loneliness. Am I wrong?”
“No. You’re not wrong, Mack.” He couldn’t believe she saw his true self this clearly when no one else ever had. Not even Vivian. “You’re not wrong at all.”
“Are you holding onto any unrequited feelings for another woman, Baz?” They both knew she meant his ex-fiancée, even if she didn’t say the name. “I don’t want to give you my heart only to end up with it broken in the end.”
Behind her inquiring gaze, he could see caution and maybe a little fear. But he sensed it wasn’t of him so much as getting hurt. “No one holds my heart. And while I can’t claim to love you on such short notice, I can honestly say I’ve never felt this swept away by anyone. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m jealous of anyone you give your attention to. And all I want to do is touch you, make love to you, feel you pressed against me as I sleep. I can’t wait to hear you laugh or see you flash that incredible smile.” He leaned in and gave her a light, lingering kiss. “Whatever that feeling is, I want to hold onto it forever.”
“Can I tell you a secret, Baz?”
“Of course.”
“That feeling you have? That is love. Or rather the beginning of it. It’s exactly what I’m experiencing. And we all know a Thorne only loves once.”
“Perhaps.” He grinned and kissed her more thoroughly. “I can’t believe we’re considering this.” He almost gave into the urge to tumble her back on the Aubusson carpet and make love to her as he’d been fantasizing about since the moment they were introduced. Just as he was inching up her top, he caught sight of Leopold’s discarded sock.
Yeah, he’d wait.
The idea of getting down and dirty where his butler most likely just had, turned his stomach.
Sebastian glanced down into Mackenzie’s sparkling eyes. She knew exactly what he was thinking. He didn’t know how she did, but he was certain of it. “Are you ready to get married, love?”
“I believe I am.”
“Then let’s round up Leopold, the aunts, and Arabella to make this official.” He grimaced slightly. “Or as official as it can be without a Council member overseeing the ceremony.”
“Let’s!” She grabbed the pickle sock and waved it in the air like a prize. “This is going to be such fun!”
He couldn’t prevent his laugh. Just as he was about to turn the doorknob, he remembered why he’d dragged her into this chamber to begin with.
“Bloody hell.” He sighed and turned back around. “Mack, before we go. We should talk.”
“Already having doubts?”
“Not at all, but you might when you hear what I have to tell you.”
Mackenzie’s stomach tightened as she registered Sebastian’s pained expression. She knew exactly what he wanted to tell her. A few minutes before she’d made herself known, she stumbled upon him speaking to his aunt and sister.
Somehow, Mackenzie was going to be the catalyst for the Enchantress’s escape from her prison. Damian had hinted at her predicament. But he’d also suggested she grab onto happiness for whatever time she had left because once the wheel was set in motion, there was no turning back.
She believed in living for today. As a Thorne with a never-ending number of enemies, she’d learned to seize whatever life had to offer at any particular moment. This was one of those. But lest Sebastian think she didn’t take the threat seriously, she said, “You don’t have to tell me, Baz. I know.”
“Everything?” One black brow lifted.
“Enough. And maybe I don’t care to hear the rest. If we can’t change Fate’s design, perhaps we should just enjoy what time we have left.”
“What else did you see a few moments ago when you touched my face?”
“How did you…?” She shrugged away her question. Sebastian was more perceptive than people gave him credit for. “You. Me. Happy. For a while.”
Concern lit his dark eyes. “What else?”
“I’d rather not say.” How could she tell him she’d seen herself with a wicked-looking athamé in her hand as she knelt over his unconscious body? She could see her two faces flashing back and forth; one twisted with hate and the other fearful. They represented the two forces within her, each fighting desperately for control. One to kill him. One to save him. Beyond that, there was nothing but darkness.
The thing she sensed the strongest was the love they would share. Knowing it existed, she was sure she’d never hurt him.
“I want to take you away from here, love.”
“It’s too late, Baz. The Aether said as much. Even if he hadn’t, I can sense it. You can, too, I think.” The devastation on Sebastian’s face tore at her heart. “But if you don’t want to do this. To become invested in us, knowing our world could come crashing down at any moment, then I get it. I truly do.”
“This is mad. We’re mad.”
She waited him out, giving him the space he needed to make a decision that could—and would—affect the rest of his life.
“Fuck it. Let’s do it.”
Mackenzie laughed her joy and clasped his hand. “How American of you!”
“Your family is rubbing off on me.”
“It’s good to be fluid. To dismiss the rigid structure guiding your life.”
“You live a bohemian lifestyle, don’t you?” His expression was indulgent and on the verge of teasing. Mackenzie adored it.
“I do, indeed, Lord Kilbride.”
“Then I shall endeavor to join you by living my life the same way, my future Lady Kilbride.”
Pausing in the act of tucking her arm through his, she stared. “Oh dear Goddess! I never thought of the responsibility involved in being a peer of the realm. Is that the right wording?” She waved a hand and hugged his bicep. “Perhaps we should simply be lovers and leave it at that.”
“While I’m not opposed to becoming your lover, Mack, I can promise there are no great trials in being my wife.”
“Well, I’m game if you are.” She soaked up his warm regard and bathed in the yumminess of it.
“Oh, I’m game.” Sebastian shifted to cup her neck and urged her closer. “I’m definitely game.”
His kiss robbed her of her wits and her will to do anything but savor the flavor of his tongue as it swept across hers. Teasing. Tasting. Caressing.
After he pulled away, she frowned up at him. “When did you have chocolate, and why didn’t you share?”
“I don’t share my chocolate with anyone but my wife.”
“Well, we’d better tie the knot soon. I have a craving.” And it wasn’t for sweets. Or at least, not the candy kind.
“I’ll import only the best from all of the world’s greatest chocolatiers for your sampling pleasure.”
Mackenzie grinned and rose on tiptoes to brush her mouth against his one final time. She really liked kissing him. “I don’t understand why some smart woman hasn’t scooped you up by now. I guess it shows my brilliance far exceeds everyone else’s.”
“Or your foolishness,” he murmured. “I’m not convinced I’m the prize you believe me to be, love.”
“Let’s break this down.” She pretended to think about it, although she already knew she didn’t need to. She began ticking points off on her fingers. “First, you’re hot as hell.” She smothered a giggle when he huffed out a breath and rolled his eyes. Clearly, Sebastian didn’t feel his looks were all that important. He was wrong. “Second, you wear a kilt.”
“Mack. You’re being completely shallow.”
“I know, but it bears saying. Now hush. I’m getting to the good parts.”
“As long as you realize looks and a kilt aren’t the good parts.” His tone dipped into suggestive, and she struggled to keep a straight face.
“Don’t play those down, Baz. They weigh heavily in my decision to marry you. Where was I?” Frowning, she put a fingertip to her lip and tapped.
He laughed and flung an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll let you list the rest after the ceremony and after I’ve had my way with you.”
“Ohhh! I’m sure there will be many, many things to add by then. Tongue, hands, penis.”
Sebastian jerked to a halt and glared down at her. The humor in his eyes gave him away. “Behave!”
“Never!”