Tacet a Mortuis (The Elite King's Club 3)

I checked on the bacon in the oven and licked the juice off my fingertips. “Enough but not all.”

“And how much are you planning on telling her?”

“All.”

“Bishop…” she warned. “I would say some, but all could be too much for her to take in too soon.”

“Mom, I thought you would have been all for this since Dad left you in the dark for so long and you were all ‘don’t keep too many secrets, son.’”

“For her safety, Bishop. You know your father, need I say more?”

I slammed the oven door and sighed. “You don’t need to, but if it came down to it, I’d handle him.”

“My son the knight…” She was playing with me because I could hear the slight humor in her tone, but I could also hear the apprehension. She was afraid. With good reason. No one goes up against my dad, but if there was anyone who ever would—it would be me. As much as I respected him, and obviously searched for his approval in most things I did, when it came to Madison, no one else mattered and I think he knew that.

“Where are you, anyway?” I flipped the oven off and took the pan off the stove top.

“I’m actually on my way home. I’ll explain once I get there, are you in your new place?”

“Yep. I gotta go. Talk soon.”

“Ok. Love you, son.”

“Yeah, you too, Mom.” I flicked it off and pushed my phone into my pocket. I was aware I never had outwardly told my mom that I loved her, but she was one of those women who just knew.

“Cooking? Have you been holding out on me all this time?” Madison was leaning against the entryway to the kitchen.

I grinned. “Nah, probably saved your life.” She ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face. It fell loosely around her shoulders anyway, and that’s when I noticed she was wearing one of my shirts.

My eyes narrowed. “You wearing anything underneath that?” I asked, gesturing to her legs with the spatula.

She looked down, gripping the bottom of the shirt and shrugging. “Um, no?”

I dropped the spatula into the pan and made my way towards her. She smiled when she saw I was coming for her, a look of shock passing over her eyes. Good. She should feel strange. Gripping her from the backs of her thighs, I lifted her off the ground until her legs wrapped around my waist and tightened. Pressing my lips to hers, I slipped my tongue into her mouth and sucked her bottom lip into my mine. “Fuck you taste good this early.”

“Yeah,” she rolled her eyes. “That’s because I brushed my teeth.”

A rumble of laughter escaped me. I always admired her flare for honesty. It was refreshing that she didn’t truly care what anyone thought of her. The sound dock turned on and Marilyn Manson “Killing Strangers” started playing, and I grinned, walking her towards the kitchen island and dropping her onto it. The back of her head smashed onto the marble and she groaned, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.

“That hurt?” I asked, an eyebrow quirked.

She bit down on her bottom lip and shook her head. “Not really.” With her stretched out on the counter, I stood between her legs, gripped her thighs and pulled her toward me so her crotch was pressed against my cock. Then the palms of my hands slid up her thighs, pushing the shirt above her head until she was bare naked in front of me. I stepped backward, taking in every curve and slim line that marbled her tanned skin. “So fucking beautiful.”

Her cheeks reddened, and I fucking loved it. I loved that I could have that kind of effect on her with my words alone.

“Wait, I’m hungry.” She went to get up, but I shoved her back down.

“So am I.” Then a dipped my lips to her inner thigh and slid my tongue over her skin. Defeated, she dropped backward and arched her back. I took my tongue out and circled her clit, her taste invading my mouth. I lost it, and wrapped my lips around her, sinking a finger deep inside of her. She moaned out, pinched her nipple with her finger and arched her back farther.

I stood up, my thumb still pressing to her clit, circling it softly. “Wait.” Letting her go, I sucked my finger and went to the freezer, taking out a tray of ice. Her eyes lit up brightly, her cheeks flashing red. “I’ve not… is that dangerous?”

I chuckled. “No. It’s not.” I banged the ice cubes on the counter until they scattered out everywhere, then picked one up and slid it up her inner thigh. “Close your eyes, Kitty.”

I pressed my tongue to her clit and pushed the ice cube inside of her. A gasp left her instantly, her back arching off the counter in shock. I continued pushing it up, feeling the contraction of her insides and the melted ice dripping down my finger. Her body confused as my tongue ran circles on her. “I’m—I’m—”