ASH STEPPED INSIDE the relative gloom of the stuffy university hall, his throat so dry he’d never be able to say what he’d come here to say. He rolled his shoulders, scanning the mingling crowds for her golden hair. He’d come to present the most important closing argument of his life. No time for nerves or hesitancy.
This was what he did.
He won.
Every negotiation.
How he’d managed to fool himself he could live without her astounded him. For an intelligent man, used to getting his own way, how had he blocked his own path for so long?
He gripped the bag containing the rain boots tighter, the smell of new rubber reminding him of what was at stake. Had he waited too long? Woken up to himself too late?
He spotted her and his heart jerked out of rhythm.
A stunningly dressed Essie, as he’d never seen her before, stood not ten feet away. She wore a fitted green dress that outlined every one of her perfect curves, matching green skyscraper heels and a light smattering of make-up, which accentuated her rosy complexion and bright eyes. Her hair was loose, styled in soft waves that made his clenched fingers itch, and a formal graduation gown completed the look.
Damn, he wanted to mess her up. To peel from her the smart, professional outfit and tangle her hair while he kissed her senseless until she believed what he had to say. Believed it down to her bones. Because he meant it and he’d waited too long to tell her.
Ben caught his eye as he strode towards the siblings, his steps determined.
Essie turned at the last moment, the laughter at whatever Ben had said sliding from her exquisite face. A bubble of stilted anticipation enclosed them as the conversations around them muted into background noise.
‘What’s with the wellies?’ said Essie, eyeing his bag. He deserved the cold shoulder after giving her that notice of legal action. But that wasn’t Essie’s style.
Ash pressed his lips together. Now wasn’t the time for laughter. But of course she would say the thing he least expected. So full of surprises, so refreshing, so unique. His Essie.
Don’t get ahead of yourself, asshole.
‘If you mean these—’ he held up the rain boots ‘—a graduation present. Congratulations, Dr Newbold.’
She eyed the spade sticking up next to the boots in silence, keeping his worthless ass on tenterhooks.
He should have come here today with champagne and flowers and a fucking brass band. But he’d got what he’d told her from day one he’d wanted—her out of his life, him out of hers.
What an idiot.
Her magnificent bravery and heartfelt declaration yesterday had been the final slap he’d needed to wake up. Ash himself acted as the only barrier standing in the way of contentment. He’d done the hard part, breaking free of his old life, free of the poisonous relationship with his father. The rest, loving Essie, was easy.
Now all he had to do was grab hold of this wonderful woman, pray she’d walk alongside him and never let go. If she’d have him.
That remained to be seen. But if forced to do this in front of this room full of gowned academics like some sappy idiot from a romantic comedy movie, he would.
Ben cleared his throat. ‘I’ll uh...go find your mum and get us some champagne.’ With a look that said ‘don’t fuck this up’, his friend offered them privacy.
Ash gestured Essie to accompany him to the less crowded foyer. She obliged and he followed the sway of her gorgeous ass that was unfortunately obliterated by her billowing gown.
In a deserted corner, she turned her big blue eyes on him.
‘I bluffed about the lawsuit. I was angry. I’m sorry.’
The longer she looked at him, wary and hesitant, the more his intestines knotted. ‘I fucked up, too.’ He held her stare, willing her to hear the earnest regret in his voice. He stepped closer, taking an indulgent second to register how fantastic she smelled, how he wanted to wake up tomorrow with her scent in his hair, on his sheets, and every morning after that.
She pointed at the shovel. ‘You bought me a shovel? Are we burying a corpse?’
This time he couldn’t hold in the laughter. He was messing this up. And she applied her usual quirky sense of humour to help him out.
His fingers twitched, desperate to reach out and cup her waist. To drag her closer. He eyed her full mouth, which was painted red. ‘Someone once told me to consider my carbon footprint and I promised I’d plant a forest. Fun fact—did you know a flight from New York to London produces eighty-four tons of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide?’
She stared at him for so long, her features an unreadable mask, a countdown began in his head as if he waited for the gavel to fall.
‘I know you’re celebrating with your family, so I’ll cut straight to my closing statement.’ Not a flicker of her beautiful smile. Damn—his best lawyer humour... ‘You were right. I allowed the poor way I’d dealt with my past to stand in the way of us, and I’d like you to consider taking me back.’ Her lips parted a fraction.
‘Now, before you send the jury out to consider, let me present my evidence.’
‘Aren’t you supposed to do that before you close?’ She tilted her head.
Heat raced up his spine. She was magnificent. Keeping him on his toes, challenging him, calling him out on his bullshit. How had he been so blind for so long? How was he managing to keep his hands off her?
‘Good point. The thing is, I’ve done a little research myself. I’m sure you know all about Sternberg’s triangular theory of love?’
She shrugged, her colour heightening a fraction. ‘I do.’
So far, so good.
‘We definitely have the passion, or we did have, until I behaved like a douche and overreacted. We also have the intimacy down pat.’ His hand cupped her waist, fingers flexing to draw her another millimetre into his space. ‘Two out of three isn’t bad, as the song goes.’
She didn’t step away, her eyes lifting to stare him down. ‘The thing is, Ash, I’m no longer willing to settle for two thirds of what I deserve.’
His groin stirred at her proximity. At her demanding her absolute dues. Fuck, if this went his way, he’d hold on tight and never let her go.
‘You don’t have to, because I came here today to tell you I’m completing the triangle.’
She raised one eyebrow. ‘Commitment?’
He nodded, an unfettered smile taking over his face. ‘I’m all in. I want you. Every second I’ve spent with you has been the best fun. And, unless I fuck it up, which I plan not to, I know there’s more fun in our future.’ He dropped the bag and reached for both her hands, holding them between their bodies. ‘I love you, Essie. Is it too late?’
She stared.
The gavel clattered to the block, the harsh clap of the hardwood echoing inside his skull.
He’d blown it.
But then she jumped into his arms, her hands tugging his neck and her body pressed to his as she kissed the shock from him with the enthusiasm he’d grown to expect. This woman was incapable of half measures, one of the things he loved most about her. Her honesty. Her emotional availability. Her complete lack of artifice. What you saw was what you got. And he wanted it all.
With his arms banded around her waist, he hauled her feet from the floor, groaning into her mouth as he swung her in a circle and then lowered her and broke free.
‘I messed up your lipstick.’ He wiped a smudge from her chin.
‘I don’t care.’ She laughed, smearing the rest of the colour from his lips with her fingertips. ‘That was quite a statement, counsellor.’
He shrugged. ‘Some things are worth fighting for. You are worth fighting for.’
He swooped on her again, his tongue delving into her mouth and his hand slipping beneath her ceremonial gown to cup her waist and press her close. She pulled back with a small sigh, her eyes slumberous with lust.
‘Wanna go to a stuffy degree ceremony lunch? I guarantee it won’t be fun.’
He nodded, warmth spreading from his chest to the tips of his fingers, which held her a little tighter.
‘As long as I can peel you out of this later, Dr Newbold.’ He fingered the edge of the ceremonial gown. ‘Or perhaps you could keep it on. That might be fun. Ever made love in a cap and gown?’
She laughed, shaking her head. ‘Call me doctor again.’ She writhed in his arms, waking up the parts of him inappropriate for the setting.
‘Doctor.’ He nuzzled her neck.
‘Counsellor, I think you’ve just won your case.’
‘No, I’ve won something better—you.’
They sealed the contract with a kiss.
* * *
Essie pushed the spade into the dirt and struck a rock. The field bordering a track of mature woodland on the Oxfordshire estate owned by Alex was marked out with rows of bagged tree saplings ready for planting. ‘How many more do we have to plant before that delicious lunch you promised me?’
Ash laughed. ‘Well, if you want to accompany me to New York for Christmas, you have to plant this whole forest.’
Essie pouted and attacked the rock in earnest. The quicker they planted the damn trees, the quicker she could get Ash naked. She glanced over at him dressed down in jeans and a T-shirt. As mouth-watering as ever. Who cared about greenhouse gases when Ash was around?
And he was hers. Her smile made her cheeks ache. She had two new men in her life. A fully committed brother and a proper boyfriend who was in love with her...
‘Fun fact,’ he said. ‘Couples who play together, stay together.’
She picked up the inconveniently placed rock and tossed it to land at his feet.
He shot her a look that promised thrilling retribution.
She laughed, dropped her spade and went to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and tugging him down for a kiss. ‘You totally made that up.’
He laughed. ‘I did. But you’re not the only one with a clever fact up her sleeve, Doctor.’
She sobered. ‘Well, even if it is true, you’ll be practising law again soon—not much time for playing or fun.’
He scooped her from the ground and she wrapped her legs around his waist, grateful she’d worn the cut-off shorts he could never resist as she felt the prod of his erection between her legs.
‘There’s always time for fun.’ His lips brushed hers. ‘But to be certain, ever experienced living with the man you love?’
She gasped and shook her head, which spun with his question as if he’d twirled her around in a circle.
‘Good. Because I think we should move in together.’
Essie wriggled free, sliding down the length of his hard body. ‘Seriously?’
He nodded, wicked light glinting in his eyes.
‘But you live on the wrong side of London.’
He shook his head, holding her hips still and rubbing himself against her belly. ‘I’m moving. New legal practice. New apartment. New girlfriend...’
She couldn’t stop the grin that made her cheeks ache. He turned serious. ‘Will you live with me—somewhere we choose together?’ He cupped her cheek, his fingers tangling in her hair.
She nodded, flying into his arms once more. After a kiss that turned heated enough she scoped the nearby woods for a potential spot to take things further, he placed her feet on the ground and wiped what was probably a smudge of dirt from her cheek.
Taking her hand, he tugged her towards the car. ‘Come on. Turns out I’m starving.’ He winked, promising more than a delicious three-course lunch.
‘But what about the trees? I want to see New York at Christmastime. I’ve never experienced ice skating in Central Park or the Rockefeller Christmas tree.’
‘I’ll hire someone to plant the damn things for us.’ He lengthened his stride, his steps more urgent now he’d made up his mind.
‘Are we driving back to London?’ She didn’t think she’d be able to wait that long with the persistent buzz between her legs.
Car sex...?
‘No—I’ve booked a room at the hotel. We’re going to celebrate moving in together. I’m going to lick champagne from every part of your body.’
‘I’m not sure I’ll survive that experience.’
‘You will. It will be fun.’
She nodded. It totally would.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from My Royal Sin by Riley Pine.
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