I chuckled, realizing her sharp wit was going to give me lots of enjoyment from here on out. “You want me to go down there and get your bag for you?”

The warm feelings of amusement died a quick death when she glared at me like I had all of the intelligence of an earthworm. “I can’t wear the same clothes to work as yesterday. People will know.” Apparently I had a great deal to learn about ladies clothing etiquette. She shook her head at me and yawned again, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

I pulled her close, pressed my lips to her hair, and stroked down the long silky length of it with my fingers. I loved touching her cherry hair, and gratefully, she already knew that about me, and had never minded my obsession. “I’ll take care of it. Go to sleep now, Cherry.”

She was soft and pliable in my arms, snuggling in and getting comfortable for sleep when I heard her tell me again in a drowsy voice. “I love you.”

The sweetest words.

The alarm on my mobile woke me. It took me a moment to figure out exactly where I was, but the soreness of my body reminded me as soon as I stretched. I looked around the en suite he had secreted back behind his office. Was this one of those bachelor pads used for meaningless sex? I had to admit, it didn’t fit Neil’s style from what I remembered, and yet, as I studied the pristine condition of everything from bed sheets to wall art, the place didn’t appear to be used very often, either.

Where was he anyway?

Regardless of wherever Neil was, I had to shower as soon as possible and dress in my work-out gear so I could hop on the train for home. I couldn’t very well show up to my workstation in what I’d worn the previous day, and I certainly couldn’t wear trainers and sports bra with my skirt from yesterday either. I needed appropriate clothes to work in, and even though it would make me late to go home and get them, it couldn’t be helped. I looked at the time again and bolted for the shower.

Washing my body in Neil’s shower was almost something I didn’t want to do. In a way, I was washing him away. So much sex last night. He’d made good on what he’d said to me in his office yesterday… I want you in my bed so we can f**k all night long…over and over until you’re a slave to it—just as you used to be.

He’d gotten his wish. I was a slave to it again. And we had.

I hurried in the shower, becoming more nervous about the time.

When I stepped back out in the bedroom I saw there had been a sneaky delivery.

The bed was made and laid out upon it was my Burberry wool dress, brown on the top with a black skirt, boots, and my blue plaid overnight bag. I checked the bag and found my brush and hairdryer, make-up kit, knickers, bra, perfume, tights…everything I needed to prepare myself for the work day. Amazing.

He really was good.

I saw a note poking out from under the bag.

Cherry,

Thank you for staying. For that precious gift you gave to me. I can’t ever take back what I said to you last night. It’ll never change for me. The evidence is inked onto my skin forever. And onto yours too. I love you, beautiful girl.

xo N

P.S. I snuck out and got some things from your mum so you can get ready for work. I’m stealth that way and she loves me tons, plus she always answers my texts. (don’t be jealous)

P.P.S. If you’re wondering where I am, it’s down in the training facility [where I seduced you] having a work out. I need to keep strong so I can continue to take care of you as a good man should. XOX

I pulled his letter to my chest and held it there. And cried for how happy my man had made my heart.

23

“Please tell me it’s safe to come in this time.” E stuck his head in through the door after he rapped on it. “Are we behaving today? And more importantly, do I need to secure some legal representation—you know, somebody specializing in sexual harassment in the workplace?”

I looked at him and gave him my best deadpan expression, letting him continue on with his spiel, as he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

“Although, you must realize it will be a bit tricky as legal just happens to be related to the woman you’ve been trying to shag at the workplace.” He mimed a grimace. “Sounds pretty bad, like you’re going down, mate.” He stood there flapping his gob happily in the door way until I couldn’t stand it another second.

“All right, are you done yet?”

E came in and sat in one of my chairs. “Do you mind?” he asked, gesturing to his shirt pocket where he kept the smokes.

“It’s fine,” I said, watching him light up and take a drag.

He grinned at me. “Well, I’m waiting.”

“And you can keep on waiting too, because I’m not talking.”

E cocked one brow at me. “You christened the en suite too. Impressive, mate. When you jump, you really go in at the deep end.”

“Piss off,” I told him. “How in the goddamn hell do you know that? Those suites aren’t monitored.” He’d been harassing me for years about why I never used the en suite the way he used his. I’d always told him it was a waste of money on me because I’d never take a woman there. Now, he’d made me a liar.

He laughed. “I saw Elaina coming out of yours, looking very…hmmm…how to describe her overall demeanor…” He tapped two fingers to the side of his head. “I know! She looked very…satisifi—”

“—Enough! You been taking f**kin’ acting lessons there, E? Better not hold out for a career in film though, because you suck at it. Best to keep your day job.”

He ignored me and kept flapping on. “Come to think of it, you look a little more relaxed yourself. Like you’ve worked some of the edge off. Was the bed comfortable in there?”

“You can stop now. Please stop before I have to shut you up. And, it will look very bad if I have to go to the brig for killing the boss, which nearly happened yesterday, by the way.”

He laughed some more, shaking his head, but then he gave me a genuine smile, something he didn’t do very often. “I’m glad for you, mate. I really am. She’s lovely and you both deserve this.”

“Thanks.” I sighed deeply. “Six years is a long time to wait for someone. But we’ve worked everything out now, and…well, I’m just not letting her out of my sight again.”

He nodded thoughtfully, losing the teasing tone and becoming serious as he smoked his clove cigarette in my office. “Six years…yeah, that is a long time.” I could imagine where his mind may have taken him in the moment. Poor bastard had been through the worst kind of hell and survived it intact, when most men would have ended the pain and taken the easy way out. Lots of veterans came back with demons and did just that. His experience in the war amounted to the very worst there was, but yet, Captain Blackstone still had bollocks of steel, and the Victoria Cross to prove it.