Thoroughly Whipped

I placed my hand on his face. “You are both, Harry. Both men are you. And I fell for them both.”

“Faith…” he whispered.

“But your father,” I said, shattering the moment. “He made it clear he will never allow this. Us.”

Harry dropped his forehead to mine. “And I have made it clear to him that if he tries to get in my way again, in any part of my life, but especially with you, I’ll walk away. I’ll refuse the title, the businesses, everything. Faith, I told him not to make me choose between you and him.”

“You did?” I said, feeling my heart in my throat. “Why?”

Harry pulled back his head so I could see his face, so I could meet his eyes and hear him say, “Because I told him I’d choose you. I told him I’d always choose you.”

Tears fell from my eyes and I crashed my mouth into his. This time Harry kissed me back with the same level of longing and desperation that lived within me. My hands ran through his hair, and I tasted whiskey on his lips and tongue. I was consumed by him, and I wanted nothing more than to have him above me. But Harry pulled back and said, “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

“Wha—?” I said, lips swollen and confused.

“Faith, you need to think about everything that has happened.” He glanced at the couch beneath us. “And I’m not going to take you for the first time on an old couch in my dining room.”

“Why not?” I argued. “You’ve fucked me in stocks and in a giant birdcage for fuck’s sake. I’d say an antique couch in a stately home is an upgrade from those.”

“Faith—”

“I forgive you, okay?” I said, desperately trying to undo his zipper. “Do you forgive me too? If so, let’s get to the make-up sex.”

Harry moved my hands away. “Of course.” He sighed and stood up. “But now that you know who I am, all parts of me, I want to do this right.”

“Right spright, I’m ready now!” I spread my arms wide. “Ravish me, Harry. My Harry-starved libido and I are more than ready.”

Harry bent down until his chest hovered over me. His lips closed in on mine, but rather than kissing me, he said, “Not tonight, Faith.”

“Ahh!” I cried in frustration. “I thought you weren’t a sadist?”

“Maybe I am, a little,” he said and offered me that bastard hand again. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

As he led me through the hallways, despite my big case of lady blue balls, I couldn’t help but be charmed by Harry being all chivalrous and polite. As we came to my door, he brushed my hair back from my face, the gesture so familiar I practically swooned. “I showed you my home today, Faith, so you not only know who I am, but also what baggage comes with being with me.”

“I’d hardly class this as baggage,” I said, scoffing.

“But it is. No matter how luxurious it appears, it is baggage nonetheless. Heavy baggage, that lasts a lifetime and requires things in your life you may not like, duties you may not care for. It would put you under the microscope too. More so because many people would not approve of us, despite us not caring.” I saw how much he meant those words and quickly sobered. I may joke about things, but he was right.

“Okay,” I said. Going onto my tiptoes, I kissed his mouth. “I promise I’ll think about things. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“I have to go into London first thing to check on the offices in my father’s absence. I must attend a meeting that could not be rescheduled. But I’ll see you at the midsummer masquerade ball tomorrow night.”

“Do I get a hint on your mask?” I teased.

Harry leaned close and, just before he kissed my cheek, said, “You’ll have no problem recognizing me, let’s just leave it at that.” He brushed his lips against my cheek. “Goodnight, Faith. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Harry.”

Finding the doorknob, I slipped into my room, Harry fading from view as I shut the door behind me. I collapsed against the wall and worked on steadying my breathing. Once my composure had been gathered, I walked to the window and sat on the cushioned sill. I stared out at the starry night, birds still chirping in the trees. In the lingering summer’s light, I could still see most of the property, and I truly thought about what Harry had said.

Baggage.

I told him I’d choose you. I told him I’d always choose you.

I let my forehead fall on the glass pane. I stared at the glittering lake and remembered it all, from the first time we met to what led us here today.

You brought me back to life.

I smiled, remembering those words. “You showed me what life was, Harry,” I whispered to the quiet room. “You showed me what it was to live.”