The sound of my name coming from her lips sends a thrill through me. I love the way she shortened it, and how it sounds so natural coming from her, she didn’t stumble over it at all. “Cecily, there’s no way you can convince me you weren’t traumatized by seeing me hovering over you with a knife to your throat. Fuck, I’m traumatized by it. My hope is to one day erase the memory from your mind by filling you with too many memorable experiences to even give space to the bad things. But we aren’t there yet.”
I sit up and move to one knee like I did once before. She instantly sits up once she sees my somber expression. “Once upon a time, I asked you if we could start over with a fresh slate. I never expected the need to ask again, but under the circumstances, I’m hoping you’ll give me an exception. My queen, I’m here to serve you for the rest of my life in any way you allow me. My hope is as your lover, partner, and protector; although I’ll take anything you’re willing to give me. You once called me your knight. I want to live up to the nickname every day for the rest of our lives.”
She giggles even though I’m being completely serious. With a swat to my shoulder, she says, “How many times do I need to tell you not to kneel to me. For fuck’s sake, Will, just take my forgiveness. No need to give declarations of intent.”
I’m not sure if I want to roll my eyes at her lack of understanding or kiss her for not being affected by our past right now. My hands grasp either side of her face and pull her closer to me. Looking into her eyes, I try once more. “Cecily, I know you want to move past your hurt, but you can’t just pretend it never happened. Right now, you’re being strong and not letting anything get to you, but there will be times where you can’t ignore it. I want you to know I’ll be your strength when you need it. You can always count on me. Even when you don’t want to face the pain you’ve had to face alone for so long, I’ll be here by your side helping you shoulder it. I love you, Darling. I won’t allow anything to stop me from showing you how I feel about you, or from working to repair the things I’ve broken between us.”
Now she’s finally taking things seriously. My words found their way past the stronghold she built around her heart, and the proof manifests as tears fill her eyes. She searches my face for the truth of what I’ve said, and as she blinks, a tear falls. My thumb quickly wipes it away as she processes her thoughts and files away my words. I’ve watched her in soul form, and know just how much she’s packaged all of her painful thoughts away since she woke up. One of us needs to make sure she starts the healing process and faces her past.
A shaky breath leaves her before she takes a deep breath, repeating the process of breathing through the emotions she’s working through. I just keep my eyes on her, giving strength to her through my eyes and love through my hands holding on to her. So many expressions flash across her face as she has an internal battle. I have no idea what her specific thoughts are, although I earnestly pray she takes the first real step toward healing.
We sit here as the minutes tick by, and I stick with her like I said I would. Finally, her hoarse voice says, “I love you too, my knight, my William.” I’m so thankful we’re kneeling on the ground, because my legs go weak with her admission. I’ve known she loves me, but her being able to actually say it... those words coming out of her mouth say so much more than just I love you.
She pulls me toward her for a kiss. The softness of her mouth on mine once again makes me melt. I thought for the longest time I would never be able to taste her again. My will to hold myself back from being greedy right now is hard to control, but somehow, I keep our kiss short and infused with meaning. I don’t want to let things get too physical so soon after she waged an internal battle with herself. I can see how much it took out of her.
When I pull away, she sags against me, and I just hold her close while running my hand over her hair. “I suppose I should thank you for forcing me to be honest with myself, even when I don’t want to be,” she mumbles the words while picking at a thread on the seam of her shirt.
My lips brush a soft kiss to her temple. “I just want what’s best for you, Darling. Even if it’s tough.” We spend a few more minutes sitting here, and when the tension leaves her body, I know she’s finally woven her path to a glorious recovery.
“I brought you here so we can enjoy our special spot one last time. I figured this would be the perfect place for us to have another heart-to-heart conversation like we did so long ago. Seems like we had another first kiss here too... this tree seems to be my lucky charm,” I say into her hair, then move to stand up and bring her with me.
Before stepping over to the tree, I give her a good once-over, making sure it’s dramatic enough to catch her attention. Holding onto my chin, I say, “Hmm... something seems to be missing. Oh! I know what it is.” With a snap of my fingers, I have her in the same dress she was wearing the last time we were here at the tree.
She looks down at herself and gives me a playful smirk. “You have some specific reminiscing you want to play out, my knight? Because I seem to remember an amazing, breathtaking kissing session going on right against the tree over there.”
Chapter 5
Cecily
Will’s eyes heat, and a blush spreads over his cheeks with my question, but his gruff voice says I hit his intentions spot on. “A repeat of your lips on mine is certainly on the agenda. Come along, Darling. Let’s go look at our tree.” He holds his hand out to me, and I take it. I’m so much lighter on my feet now that I’ve spent some time processing through my bottled-up feelings.
When I told William I loved him, it was a moment of releasing so many fears I’ve been holding onto. It astonishes me sometimes how much more my men know me than I know myself. He tugs on my hand, pulling me closer to him so he can wrap his arm around my waist and I lay my head on his shoulder.
We approach the tree. Wow, was it really just yesterday I was here? So much has changed since then. Will shifts me to stand in front of him and places a hand on my hip. His other hand picks up my left hand and we trace the letters of the markings in the tree. “Remember when we thought the tree accidentally placed the M in my name upside down and you called me Warcellus? I guess the tree knew my true name all along.”
An unladylike snort followed by a snicker sounds from me before I can hide it, and I lean back into his hold. “You know, I think the nickname would’ve stuck too, if things didn’t go the way they did.”
“Yeah, I bet it would have, you little devious fox.” His breath tickles at my ear before he continues tracing our fingers along the infinity symbol. “I thought this would also provide a good reminder of how nothing can come between us. We may have had a rocky beginning, but everything we worked through in this spot was a huge turning point for us.
“Even the tree knew we couldn’t be separated again. I want you to remember this symbol here anytime you have any doubts. This tree clearly knows more than we ever did and wouldn’t put a false mark on itself. I also want you to remember what this represents.” He takes my hand and flips my arm over before sliding up my sleeve to show my mark. “The magic behind the bond is the most powerful there is. Nothing can overcome the connection between us.”
His reminder fills me with confidence and brings my mind back to something I can focus on when my strength wanes in my convictions. I’m so lucky to have such brilliant mates. Turning in his hold, I face him. “Is this the part where I get to enjoy your lips on mine? You know, to seal the promises you reminded me of.” I bite my lip to draw his attention to them.
It works and his eyes zero in on them. Both of his hands land on my hips and pull them flush with his. Slowly, his head ducks down toward mine, the approach dreadfully exaggerated to build anticipation. And it’s working... when his eyes glance back up to capture mine, my breath leaves me and butterflies erupt in a whoosh within me. I let out a whine of impatience waiting for his lips to finally meet mine. Why must he be such a tease?
I’m incredibly lacking in the virtue of patience so I grab the front of his shirt and pull him toward me while lifting to my toes to reach him that much faster. He smiles against my lips as they press together. A hand trails up my body until it presses against my collarbone and wraps around my neck. He pushes me back into the tree trunk, separating our lips.
My eyes are hooded as I open them to look at him again. “I can’t get enough of you, Darling. Can I be greedy with you?”
Can he be greedy with me? Fuck yeah, he can! My nod is eager as I try to pull him back to me. I want him to consume me. My body is buzzing with the need to have him as close as possible. His lips are on mine again, the warmth they offer spreading throughout me as our lips bite, suck, and devour each other. His tongue seeks entrance and I grant it without hesitation.
Our kiss deepens, and his hands wander. I’ve spent so much time in nature, I don’t give a second thought to the park being in the middle of a town, surrounded by Silas’ loyal followers. My mind is fully on Will and wanting to run my fingers over his defined muscles. I grip the hem of his shirt and pull up until his hands leave me and he pulls back just enough for the shirt to be pulled off his body.
Ah, yes. This is more like it! My hands run up his chest and over his pecs before exploring the smooth skin on his back, pulling him closer to me. His hands perform their own trail of exploration as they make a path toward my breasts. He reaches his desired destination and grips them, squeezing before lightly trailing his fingertips over the fabric in a spiral, making my peaked nipples more erect.
Once he reaches my nipples, he pinches them, and I let out a gasp. My thighs are rubbing together, trying to relieve the pulsing desire between them and the ache spreading out trying to consume me. “Will,” I moan out, lengthening each of the letters in his name until it ends on a pant.
One of his hands reaches up to hold my jaw and presses my head to the trunk, controlling every aspect of our kiss. His other hand stretches down to my thigh and scrunches up the skirt of my dress so he can reach underneath it. My hips thrust into his when his fingers finally brush against the bare skin of my thigh, and the feel of the bulge in his pants sends a thrill into me.
