Liar.

  Okay, I was more than slightly tipsy. But honestly, after Lance’s bombshell, I had needed the drinks. I could see that it was tearing him up to have to tell me, so we turned it into a goodbye celebration.

  I tried not to think about how he wouldn't be there at my wedding. That he wouldn't give me away. I sure as shit wasn't letting my father give me away either. He’d already done that. I would walk down the aisle by myself before I’d walk down it with him.

  When the elevator dinged to let me into the penthouse, I peeled off my shoes, knowing there was no way I was going to navigate the Louboutins on the slick marble floor in one piece while I was tipsy.

  The cool floor soothed my aching feet as I marched through the foyer, trying hard to stay quiet so I didn't wake Micah in case he was asleep. If I knew Atticus, he was still up and probably in the study.

  I stopped short when I found my husband-to-be in the living area. “Oh my God. You scared me. What are you doing sitting here in the dark?”

  He didn't turn to face me. Instead, he sipped a drink. “Did you have fun?”

  There was a hollowness to his voice that gave me pause. “Yeah. I guess you know about Lance, obviously.”

  He turned then. The moonlight hit every curve of muscle just so, like a caress, enticing me to walk over and touch him.

  I laid my purse on the couch and dropped my shoes on the floor next to it before walking over. I took the glass from him and took a small sip, letting the warm amber find its way down, warming me from the inside out. “I wish you’d told me.”

  He cocked his head and watched me carefully. “It wasn't my news to tell. He'll thrive in London.”

  I lifted my brow. “Did it have to be so far away?”

  “It's a good option for him. And before you ask, I didn't make him take it. He could have stayed here, doing exactly what he does now.”

  I bit my bottom lip. I had wondered if Atticus had pushed him into it. But even I knew that a chance to head his own department was a huge career step for him. When he’d walked away from his family, he'd given up a lot. The chance for rapid advancement. This would be great for him. “I think it'll be good for him. But he's going to miss the wedding.”

  Atticus cocked his head then drained his glass. I could see the light hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Is this the part where I pretend to be disappointed about that?”

  I playfully slapped his chest, and he caught my wrist. It was only then that I noticed the bruised knuckles. “Atticus? What happened?”

  “Will you leave it at I don't want to talk about it?”

  “No, I will not. Did you hit something?”

  “Yes," he said as he set the glass down on an end table. “Repeatedly.”

  I widened my eyes. “Christ. What? It looks like you've been in some kind of cage match.”

  He released my wrist and then wrapped his other arm around me, bringing me flush up against his body, the hard length of him pressing in the notch between my thighs. “Let's just say you don't have to be afraid of anything anymore. I took care of it.”

  Icy dread skated up my spine. “What did you do?”

  “It's better you don't know. But Jacobson isn't going to be a problem. Not for you. Not anymore.”

  I felt like I'd been doused with a bucket full of ice-cold water. Bronson? How had he known? “What?” I swallowed hard. “W-w-who told you?”

  He didn’t answer. “I don't want to talk about that right now. Right now, I just want to hold you. Can I do that? Are you okay letting me do that?”

  Tears pricked my eyes. He knew. He knew and he still wanted to hold me? He knew the worst thing about me, and he wanted me in spite of it.

  His fingers eased away from my neck, sliding down along my jaw and tilting my chin up ever so slightly. And then he dipped his head to kiss me.

  The kiss was a soft brush of his lips. Not at all demanding. It was designed to make me feel safe, to make me feel cherished. But right now, I didn't want to feel cherished. I wanted to feel alive. I wanted to feel wanted.

  I pushed to my tiptoes, looped my arms around his neck, angled my head, and kissed him deeper, letting my tongue slide over his lips. Begging for entry.

  The hand on my lower back slid over my ass as he pulled me tighter against him, and he growled low. “I’m trying to be gentle, Ness.”

  “Who said I want you to be gentle?”

  He chuckled darkly before his lips crashed on mine again, rougher this time. His hand moved to tangle in my hair, pulling my head back, giving him better access to my neck.

  I moaned as he sucked on the skin there. It would take a lot to leave a mark with my dark skin, but Atticus was determined to brand me as his.

  I couldn't help but groan as his hand tightened on my ass.

  I could feel his cock pressing against me, hard and ready, and I couldn't resist the urge to grind myself against him, wanting to feel more of that delicious friction. He responded by lifting me up, carrying me over to the couch, and laying me down on my back.

  His eyes were so dark in the dim light they were almost black.

  I held my breath as he peeled both stockings off, one at a time, letting his fingers slide up my thighs. His gaze followed. “I want to see all of you.”

  I stood, letting the dress fall to my feet, standing before him completely naked. I shoved the nerves down. I wanted him, and I could have him.

  “My God,” he whispered reverently. “You are so beautiful.”

  I slid my hand down between my breasts and past my navel. But his hand shot out, gripping my wrist. Making me pause.

  “Only for you, Atticus.”

  He just stared at me for a long moment, like he was trying to memorize every inch of my body, trying to commit this moment to memory. “Say it again.”

  “Say what?”

  “My name. Say it again. I need to hear you say it.”

  I laid my hand on his thigh. “Atticus.”

  He kicked off his shoes, then tugged his pants down and off before moving us back to the couch and settling into the space between my spread thighs.

  “I want to hear you say it again.”

  I leaned my head back as he licked his way down my neck to my collarbone. “Atticus.”

  “Again,” he moaned against my skin.

  A jolt of electricity hit my clit at the sound of his hushed moan. “Atticus,”

  “Again,” he demanded.

  His tongue flicked my left nipple, and I gasped, arching into his mouth. “Atticus.”

  “Again.”

  He sucked my nipple into his mouth roughly, and I gasped again. “Atticus.”

  “That's it.” He said with a smile. “Again.”

  “Atticus.”

  “Again.”

  I gasped again as he sucked my nipple deeper into his mouth, harder. “Atticus.”

  “Again.”

  “God, please.”

  “Again.”

  I arched my back as he moved his hand between my thighs. He parted my slick pussy with his fingers and made a sound of satisfaction. “You're dripping wet for me.”

  “Atticus,” I moaned as he sucked my nipple and stroked my pussy.

  “Again,” he demanded.

  “God, Atticus, stop teasing me.”

  “Again.”

  I gasped as he sucked my other breast into his mouth. “Atticus,” I moaned.

  “Again,” he ordered as he slid a finger inside me.

  “Atticus!” I cried out.

  “Again,” he demanded as he slid a second finger inside me.

  I panted. “Atticus.”

  He lifted his head to look at me, his eyes full of desire and lust. And then he leaned in and kissed me again. He pushed my legs wider apart as his fingers delved into the wet heat of me.

  He groaned against my lips, and then his thumb began to circle my clit in a lazy rhythm that had me moaning.

  “Tell me this isn't all in my imagination, Ness. Tell me this is real.”

  “It's real,” I gasped as his fingers slid inside me. “It's so real.”

  “Tell me you want me.”

  “I want you.”

  “Tell me you want me to fuck you.”

  Scared about what I was feeling, I tried to pull away, but he held me tight.

  “No running, Ness. Tell me,” he said softly.

  I kissed him quickly, reassuring him. “I want you to fuck me, Atticus.”

  “Good,” He growled. Holding his cock in his hand, he rubbed the thick head through my wet folds. “Fuck, I love how you feel.”

  “God… Atticus.”

  “You are so fucking sexy.”

  And then his lips crashed down on mine, and the head of his cock dipped inside me.

  “Oh, God.” I gasped.

  “Fuck, Ness.” He moaned, going still.

  “Please, you feel so good.” I said, my heart pounding out of control. My body was desperate for him to fill me.

  He swallowed hard. “Stop moving. I will fucking lose it.”

  “It’s okay.” I whispered. “I like it when you lose control.”

  When he groaned against my neck then slid a little deeper, I gasped.

  “Fuuuck.” He retreated, and that slide was so delicious. When he slammed back home, we both groaned.

  “I-I trust you.”

  “Fuck, you're so tight," he whispered. He sank in again, another inch deeper. He was so thick, his cock stretching me. The sweet, delicious burn had me gasping.

  “Holy fuck,” he groaned. He slid back out again then back in. “Fuck.”

  “Atticus,” I moaned. I could feel how soaked I was, and it was so sexy that I could feel him sliding through my juices.

  "Say it, Gwen." He let out a feral growl.

  "What?"

  “My name. Say it again, damn it.”

  “Atticus.” I bit my lip. “Fuck me. Please.”

  I was on the edge of something big and terrifying and exciting. I'd never said those words before. I'd never meant them. He was the only one I wanted. The only one I needed.

  I tried to move my hips as he leaned down to kiss me. I tried to push myself closer to him and take him inside me, but he held me tight.

  He raised his head to look at me. “Tell me again.”

  I panted. “I want you to fuck me, Atticus.”

  He surged forward, filling me in one thrust.

  “Oh God,” I gasped, trying to relax and get accustomed to his size.

  “Fuck.” He hissed, and then he started moving inside me in gentle, long strokes. “You feel so fucking good, Ness,” he whispered.

  “I love how you feel inside me,” I whispered back, feeling a little breathless.

  His hips rocked against me, stroking while he slowly slid in and out of me. He dropped his forehead to mine, giving me the sweetest kiss, in direct contrast to how hard he was loving me.

  “Harder,” I moaned.

  He thrust into me again and again. “Gwen.” His voice was broken.

  “Atticus,” I panted.

  “Come for me,” he demanded. “Come for me, Gwen. Come around my cock.”

  “Atticus,” I gasped, and then my body shattered. My back arched, my toes curled, and I cried out as my pussy clenched down on his cock.

  It felt like my world was falling apart in the best possible way.

  Then he arched his back and thrust hard into me. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he cried out as he came.

  He held me tight as we rode out our orgasm together.

  It was so sweet and hot that tears pricked my eyes.

  We stayed there for an eternity before he pulled out of me. Then he picked me up. With a giggle, I asked, "Where are we going?"

  "To the bedroom to do that again."

  Chapter 37

  Atticus

  In less than twenty-four hours, Gwen would be my wife. The turn everything had taken was a surprise. Yes, obviously, I had wanted her. But I hadn't expected her to worm her way into my soul. Hell, I hadn't even known I had one. But watching her care for my mother like she was her own, I couldn't shake that. That kind of thing didn't leave you.

  I parked my car and marched into the elevator. I was only working this morning. Micah had already insisted that he and the boys, ‘the lads,’ as he'd said, were taking me out for drinks tonight on my last night as a free man. I didn't care about losing my freedom. I just wanted her by my side where she belonged, forever.

  When I stepped out on my floor, a few employees were milling about, already hard at work. When I reached my office, Leah was there. "Mr. Price, sir, I've already got the files you requested. But there's a meeting on your calendar that I didn't put on there. The conference room."

  I frowned. "Who does it say it is?"

  She shook her head. "I don't know. I thought maybe you scheduled a personal appointment."

  I frowned when she turned the monitor to show me. "No, but I'll take care of it." It was seven o'clock in the morning. Who was trying to meet with me this early?

  I took the rest of my messages, and then instead of heading for my office, I turned out the door and made a left toward the large conference room at the corner. When I reached it, I paused. The back of the head was familiar. Too familiar. How the fuck had he got in here? Security knew not to let him in. I barged through the door and said, "What do you want, Dad?"

  My father struggled out of his chair and beamed at me. "You know, I am very proud that you've taken the work habits I instilled in you seriously."

  "I don't have a lot of time. What the fuck do you want?"

  "Testy-testy." He put up his hands. "I'm just here to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials. I am very surprised that somehow my invitation got lost in the mail."

  "Are you? While you are a slimy, devious bastard, I never marked you for an idiot."

  He lifted a brow and chuckled softly. "Touché."

  "I don't have a lot of time. What do you want?"

  "Well, on the eve of your pending nuptials, it seemed most appropriate to tell you to your face."

  "What, that you're trying to come back? You think I don't know that?"

  "I still have shares. I may be off the board, I might have been removed as CEO, but I still have voting rights. And I can bring up items for a meeting. I'm going to bring one up for a vote of no confidence against you."

  "You can try. You won't have the votes."

  He dug into his pocket and lifted his hand. “This flash drive is my ticket back."

  "Fuck you. Whatever is on there, I don't want it."

  "You might want to look at it before you make your decision."

  "Stop being cryptic, old man."

  "I don't need to be cryptic, Atticus. I'll tell you what's on it. But you're going to want to verify before you have Pierce and your baby brother take a look at it. How is my other son, by the way?”

  "He says fuck you."

  My father flashed a smile that was all too similar to my own. "That also sounds about right. So here's what's on this. That night five years ago when your mother had her unfortunate break from reality, she murdered someone. I have proof."

  Those three words locked me down. Rooted me to the spot.

  I knew what was on the flash drive, but how the fuck did he know? "Bullshit."

  "You think I would do all this, make a play to come back if I’m bluffing? You must not understand how satisfying it is to prove you wrong. Honestly, I'd go to any lengths."

  "Get out."

  “Fine, but you and I both know the truth. That evidence will go to the police, and they'll come for your mother. They'll put her in prison or an insane asylum. I really don’t care which because either way, she'll suffer, and that is all I ever wanted in life. Then they’ll come after you and your little friends for covering it up."

  "You fucking monster. What do you want?"

  "I'm glad you asked. I'm not asking for too much. The girl. I know you’re not marrying her because you believe in matrimony. You discovered your grandfather’s clause. You think if you can convince everyone you’re a steady family man, they won’t bring a vote of no confidence against you. Well, you’d be wrong. I still have friends on that board. And in three month’s time when you hit thirty and aren’t married, your shares revert to me.

  The dread slithered in my gut. “I am marrying her.”

  “Okay then. It’s honestly sort of a relief. Knowledge of this murder has been weighing on me.”

  “Fuck you.”

  His maniacal grin gave me chills. “The mother or the fiancée? You can only have one. I’m being generous letting you keep one. If you save your mother, things go easier for you. In three months’ time, you will vote for my return. You keep your voting shares, but Pendragon will be run by somebody who knows what they are doing.”

  “And if I pick Gwen?”

  “I expose the sham for what it is to the board. They vote no confidence on you, I get your voting shares. The prodigal father returns, remorseful and better than ever. Oh, and I kill her and you mother.”

  My blood ran cold. “You’re insane.”

  "I could sit back and do nothing except watch you crash and burn. But God, I really want to come back knowing that I destroyed you, that you fell at my hands. It would be much more satisfying."

  "So what… You think I'm going to let you come back?"

  "No. I think you're still going to try to fight it. But do so at your loved ones peril.”

  I didn't even know what happened then. Time slowed, or sped up, or I lost the thread completely. Fuck it. All I knew was that I had my hands in his lapels, dragging him up, and slamming him against the glass. "If you fucking touch them, I will end you." My voice came out like shards of glass.

  He grinned at me. That evil, feral grin that I had seen so many times when he abused my mother. "If you marry Gwen tomorrow, this evidence goes to the police. If you try and block me from coming back, this evidence goes to the police. So choose. The woman you were fool enough to fall for or your mother."

  Fury had me vibrating . "You're a piece of shit."

  "You're not the first person to tell me that."

  He shoved against me, and I released him.

  Gwen. I had to get her out of the city if she was on his radar. My mother. I had to get to her. Get her the fuck out of town. Away. We had a contingency plan for something like this, but fuck.