The King (Gentlemen Rogues 2)

LACHLAN

I had never been over here before.I mean, yes, I had been in the offices, but the residence, no. My hands were sweating, and my heart was beating too fast. Thanks to Tabatha and Gabe, I knew where her room was. I just had no idea what to say.

Saint had done his best to give me advice. I wasn't sure if I should take that advice or not. It always seemed slightly dubious. As if in fact there was a booby trap waiting around the corner.

Tabatha had offered me some words, but they were mostly of the hurt her again and I will castrate you variety. Gabe was even less helpful. Surprisingly, now that he'd warmed to the idea that I made Saff happy, he tried smiling at me more.

Unfortunately for him, that often looked like a grimace or a baring of teeth. I was never sure. Once I contacted him to ask about trying to talk to her and grand gesture it up, he had told me where her room was and then chuckled to himself as he said good luck. And then, that's when it happened… His grimace sort of looked like a smile. Who knew?

I knocked on the door, and when she yanked it open in a huff, she didn't look like Saff. She looked, well, like bad girl Saff with her leather leggings and sparkly top that looked barely bigger than a handkerchief and was held together by an intricate pattern of strings. “Lock, what are you doing here?”

All I could do was stare. And something told me I knew bad girl Saff. “Where are you off to?”

She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “Nowhere.”

She was coming to see us.

I knew that outfit now. In my mind, I’d seen it littered on the floor of my flat. This was what she'd worn on the night we met. She had been coming to see me.

Well, fuck that. I was not about to be out grand-gestured.

You're being ridiculous.

Maybe I was, but with the joint elation of knowing that she was also coming for me, it didn't really matter. But I wanted her to know.

“Well, I’m mostly here to tell you that I love you. I love your smile and the way you chuckle a little right before you kick my ass. It's so freaking hot. I love how you automatically think outside of the box, even if your ideas are outlandish. I love that you're always looking at another solution. I love that you always want to do the right thing. I love your dedication, not just to your family and friends but to keeping the world safe. I love that you're an amazing teacher.”

“Lock…”

“I love the way you keep your mother's memory alive. I love that you tell stories of both of your parents. I love that you have not let the grief and pain of their loss consume you. I love that when you have a goal in mind you will keep pushing toward it. I love everything about you, Saff. I know I don't remember everything about our first time, but we get the chance to actually be together now. I'd like the opportunity to start fresh. To take you on a date. It'll be nice and safe. At my flat. I'll cook, and then at the time of your curfew I will return you back to campus.”

Her lips twitched then. “In case you missed it, I’m twenty-two. I no longer have a curfew.”

I made my eyes comically wide. “But what will people think about my virtue?”

“When I’m done with you, you won't even miss it.”

I handed her the flowers I’d brought. Tulips. She took them with a smile and then placed them in a vase on the desk right by the door. I reached for her and she came willingly into my arms. My fingers teased the exposed expanse of bare skin. And goddamn, I wanted to hold tight and never let go.

She tilted her head back and met my gaze. “I love you, Lachlan.”

My heart squeezed, wanting to bust out of its confines at the joy of hearing her say she loved me. At the same time, my gut knotted tight as I waited for the but. One didn't come, though.

“Saff, I have loved you long before I even knew why. I might not fully remember the day we met, but the echoes of you are still there. So strong that I knew I knew you. You are clearly dressed to go out, so come to London with me. We’ll order food and dance in my living room and I’ll feed you cake. I'd like to redo your birthday night.”

She blinked rapidly. “This was not how this was supposed to go. I was supposed to turn up at your loft and seduce you. Instead, you've come here and made my heart so full.”

“That's not a bad thing is it?”

She shook her head. “Not a bad thing at all.”