The Scotch Queen (Scotch 2)

Fifteen minutes later, I heard a door click far down the hallway. The lights were on, but the pathway was dimly lit. I searched for someone to appear out of the doorway, but there was no movement.

I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I heard the noise again, and that’s when I spotted Joseph emerge from one of the doorways. One of his men was behind him, carrying an AK-47.

“Jesus…”

I grabbed the door and twisted the knob, but of course, it was locked. “Crewe?” I banged my fist on the door.

I didn’t get a response.

I turned to Joseph again, who was walking quicker now. He wanted to snatch me and run. I shook my head vigorously and waved my hand in front of my face, telling him to turn back.

Joseph shook his head in response.

“Crewe?” I knocked again.

Thankfully, the door flew open, and Crewe emerged. “You’re lucky we’re finished because we don’t appreciate your impatience.”

Joseph was still coming down the hallway, but he halted when Crewe emerged.

If I didn’t do something, Crewe would see him. And if Crewe saw him, Joseph’s men would fire. Bones was probably packing, so he would shoot Joseph. No good would come from any of it.

I cupped Crewe’s face and kissed him as I backed him back into the room, moving my mouth hard with his so he would be knocked off-balance. I pressed my body into his and circled my arms around his neck, giving him everything I had so he wouldn’t step into that hallway. Bones was probably watching the whole thing, but that wasn’t important right now.

Crewe eventually broke away, and judging from the look on his face, he wasn’t annoyed with the affection. He just wanted more of it.

“No wonder why you didn’t let this one go.” Bones walked around us and entered the hallway. “Let me know what you think about our arrangement, Crewe.” He disappeared, leaving us alone.

I suspected Joseph had taken off. If there were a man in the hallway carrying a huge gun, Bones would have said something.

Crisis averted.

Crewe pressed his hand against the door and pushed it closed. The second we were alone together, I knew exactly what was coming next. His hands moved to his belt and the button at the top of his slacks. His pants came loose, and he pushed them to his ankles. “I wanted to wait until the evening was over, but you aren’t giving me much of a choice.” He turned me around and pushed me hard against the wall and hiked my dress around my waist. My thong was pulled past my thighs, and he shoved himself harshly inside me.

I gripped the wall for balance as I felt him pound into me. I was glad my clinginess had led to sex as opposed to a fight, and I was even more grateful I kept Joseph and Crewe away from one another.

Otherwise, they’d both be dead.

14

London

Now that I was back at the castle, life returned to normal. I sat outside in the courtyard and read while Crewe worked all day. It took me some time to get over the opening, the fact that Josephine was a beautiful duchess who still wanted Crewe, Crow didn’t get his sister back, Bones was still vile, and Joseph had stupidly risked his neck to get me out of there.

The castle never felt so comfortable.

I wanted to stay behind these walls forever and enjoy the peace of being hidden away. Joseph couldn’t get me when I was surrounded by walls of solid stone. He certainly couldn’t get me while all of Crewe’s men watched the property constantly.

I could finally relax.

Crewe stepped into the garden in his black suit and tie. It’d become a pattern for us to spend lunch together. With every passing week, we fell into a deeper routine mixed with meals, sex, and working out.

He wore his aviator sunglasses, looking like a man on vacation more than one at work. When he reached my chair, his hands gripped each of the armrests, and he leaned down to kiss me. He didn’t give me much time to prepare, and that was clearly on purpose. He gave me a hard kiss on the mouth before he sat in the chair next to me. The maids had brought me a pot of tea and some milk. I didn’t care for tea before I came here, but it grew on me after a few months. “Enjoying your day?”

“Yeah.” I closed the book and set it on the table. “I went for a run then lifted some weights. Then I showered and headed down here. It’s nice to get some sun.” Since I didn’t get out in any other way.

“I thought you looked sexier than usual.” He wore a smug smile that was supposed to be arrogant, but of course, it was sexy on him. Everything he did was sexy, even though I would never admit it to his face.