“You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t tried to talk myself out of this to spare you my greed?” His eyes lift to mine. “I sent the proposal to buy Horner Tech the day after you got engaged. It was my only move. And when I got no response, I thought you ignored it because you had truly moved on. It was one of the worst fucking days of my life knowing that another claimed you and you accepted. Even though I was with Alicia at the time, I make very bad decisions when I get jealous over you, and that one I decided was a selfish decision after the fact. A weak moment. A coward’s play, but I could never fully commit to her.” He places my hand on his chest. “You gave me a choice the day you left, to play coward or be king.” He releases me, pulling a chess piece from his pocket and places it in my palm. “And you were right, you’ve always had the heart of a queen, but you have to know, earning your love will be the only thing that will make me a king.”
I study the piece in my hand—the piece from my father’s board. A piece I hadn’t realized was missing. The night I arrived. The gin. He was there.
I blow out a frustrated breath. “You are an unimaginable bastard.”
“Your bastard,” he adds, a faint smile simmering on his thick lips though his eyes are etched with worry. It’s need I feel pouring from him. And for one caution-free second, I let myself celebrate it. His fingers massage my skin as he cradles me in his arms, his eyes imploring with a gentleness that has me aching.
His heart pounds against mine, willing me to obey and no amount of lies I tell it, will it believe. This man is the only one capable of giving it to me. I’ll forever be its slave. He searches my face, his eyes glistening. But I won’t make it so easy for him, not until he earns it.
“We’ll fight all the time.”
He grins. “I know.”
“You’re a lunatic for marking me.”
“I know that, too.”
“So, are you done?” I ask fearfully. Because if that’s the truth, it’s the biggest lie he will ever tell. The brotherhood is his whole identity. Any other life would be living a lie. “Because I don’t want you to quit for me. That’s not who you are.”
“I’m on an extended leave of absence for now, and I’ve fucking earned it.”
“I won’t let you quit.”
“I won’t let you let me.” He runs his hands up and down my sides, his voice full of determination when he speaks. “If you leave, I’ll come after you. If you change your mind, I’ll change it back. I’ll fight so fucking hard for you every single day, so you never question if you made the right choice.”
“No more secrets between us, Tobias. No more convenient omissions, no more games, no more protecting me because you think it’s best, we both make the important decisions.”
He nods. “I swear.”
“Well, you’re a liar.”
This earns me a faint smile. “And you’re the only woman who’s ever called my bluff.”
“So, once I’ve put you through months of hell, we’ll be in this together?”
“Oui.” He slowly nods. “We always have been, haven’t we? Whether we wanted to be or not.”
I nod just as he expels a stressed breath and crushes me to him, his kiss lasting a blissful eternity. He delves deeply into my mouth, running his hands along my back. When he pulls away, I can feel some of the tension leave him. “Fuck,” he drops his head, “thank you. Let’s go home.”
I draw my brows. “And where’s that?”
He picks up his bag and shrugs. “You tell me.”
“So, you have been sleeping in the woods this whole time?”
I don’t miss his smile. “Maybe.”
“I have someone there, you know. You’ll have to fight with him for your place in bed.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. And he’s just as much of an evil overlord as you are. French, too. You’re in for a fight.”
“I can take him.”
“I’m not so sure.”
I move to go to the passenger side, and he shakes his head and corners the trunk.
I draw my brows. “You’re letting me drive?”
We lock eyes over the top of the car. “I trust you.”
Three words.
Three words I never, ever thought I’d hear from Tobias King. More potent than any other words he could ever speak to me. I feel the weight of them as I gather myself in the driver’s seat, and Tobias climbs in, biting his lip to hide his smile as “Father Figure” sounds out when I turn on the car. I study him closely, his expression…content, his eyes filled with affection when he turns to me.