She gives another sniffle before leaning out. She’s rubbing my shirt, trying to wipe away her tears. “I’m sorry.”
Her body this close is taking its toll on me. “I don’t mind having my shirt soaked with your tears,” I say.
Her eyes dart up to mine and she smiles. “Yeah, you have a thing for body fluids.”
Her words are a joke, but my body hum’s thinking of how sweet she tasted. Her eyes widen.
“I meant the day you tasted your blood.” Her chest flames and I’m smiling as I take her face in my hand and lower my head to hers.
“No you didn’t. You were referring to how I tasted you.”
Her nostrils flare and her chest rises and falls quickly. I kiss her softly and I know I’m prolonging the agony. Our time is running out. I didn’t want anyone to know we were missing. I didn’t want to draw attention to Ella any more than I already had. My father's word is something, but it isn’t a guarantee. I can’t keep her safe here.
I keep hold of her face as I lean my forehead against hers. My cock twitches as her breath fans out across my face, her breasts are flush with my chest and my resolve is shaking.
“I’m sending you home,” I tell her.
She steps away from me, confusion etched into her pretty face.
“No.” She’s shaking her head as she speaks.
“Don’t argue with me. You’re going home.” I can’t keep her safe and she is too precious. I force as much authority into my words.
Ella looks panicked. “I’m not going home. I can’t.”
I feel like the parent who tells a kid there is no Santa. She looks devastated.
“This is not up for discussion.” I cut her off abruptly and walk away.
Glancing back, she’s still standing in the same spot.
“Ella, we have to go back.”
Her eyes are floating with her pain. I tighten my fists and march back to her.
“Please, Lucas.” She blinks and tears spill down her face.
“Stop doing that.” I close the distance between us and wipe her tears with my thumb, but more fall. “Stop it, Ella.”
I had caused this. For each one I wiped away another fell and she isn’t stopping.
“I’m trying to protect you.” I grip her shoulders.
“No! You’re trying to get rid of me.”
I released her shoulders, my hold is too tight on her and right now I can’t seem to control myself. “Do you really believe that?”
“I don’t want to go home.”
I’m shaking my head. She is bending me too easily and that in itself is dangerous. “You’re going home.” My words don’t hold as much conviction this time.
“I don’t want to leave.” She pleads. “I have friends for the first time in my life…” She trails off and my treacherous heart can’t stay and watch her cry anymore. She’s in my arms as I kiss the crown of her head. “Why can’t you just do as you’re told?” I say, but I know I can’t send her home. It’s selfish how glad I am that she fought me on it.
“We need to get back.” I feel pained releasing her.
Her eyes are red from crying but her tears have stopped.
“So, I get to stay?” her words are asked innocently and I wonder if she has any idea the effect she has on me. How easily I bend to her will.
“Yes. But Ella, no fighting with the other girls.”
Her lips form a straight line.
“Stay under the radar.” I add and she nods while my words are stoking the ambers in her eyes. She doesn’t say anything and I’m fighting a smile that I wrestle with, and then lose to.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her as I take her face in my hands. She inhales quickly before I place a kiss on her swollen lips. “We need to go back.” I repeat and drag myself away from her.
“Could we just get lost in here?” She bites her lip.
I give her a warning look. “Don’t tempt me.” I focus on leaving. Each step back to the gardens has the weight returning to my shoulders. I pause before we leave the maze completely. I can’t look at her. “This thing with us has to end now.” It’s not a thing, it’s so much deeper. It has taken root in me and I don’t think I could ever get Ella out of my system, but what I am doing is stupid and reckless. She is worth so much more than a fumble in a maze.
“It’s over,” I say as harshly as I can, before stepping out onto the lawn. I know she’s behind me and I don’t look back as I pass George and walk back to the house. It’s cruel and wrong to leave her, but I don’t know how I can ever make this right with Ella. She’s filled every space in me and I feel like I am becoming obsessed with her. It is a deadly obsession that will get her hurt and I can’t allow that to happen.
After telling Ella about Henry, it made me hate him even more. I had buried a lot of those feelings as we just coexisted in the same house, but now I just want a row.
He’s easy to find. In his attic-sitting in the chair that’s suspended from the ceiling.
“I don’t want you here,” he says without looking at me.
“I don’t want you here either. But here you are.”
His head snaps up to mine. “What do you want?”
“You and Declan were lovers.” I state.
He’s off his chair. “I already told you…”
I cut him off. “You already lied to me. You both have the same tattoo’s. His wedding finger was cut off, which means he was cheating on his wife. So with matching tattoo’s, I’m assuming it’s you.”
“I didn’t think you had a brain cell between your ears.” Henry’s words irritate me more than they should and I want to hit him.
“What does the tattoo mean?”
He sneers but it falls flat. “None of your business. It’s private.”
“You and Declan got matching tattoos.” I grin.
He hunches while looking at me. “Don’t make fun of us.”
So he was having an affair with Declan. “Did you kill him?”
“I want you to leave.” He stands to his full height, pushing his glasses up on his face. I notice the darkness under his eyes. Did they love each other? Did it matter?
“I want answers, Henry. I still have the fingers that you were getting off on having.”
“Stop being so vulgar.” His voice rises, the high pitch making his voice more feminine.
“Tell me and I’ll leave.”
“I didn’t hurt him.” He steps away from me hunched and climbs back into the chair. His movements are unnatural.
I hate being in his presence. I want to ask why he left me in the maze. Why he tried to fucking kill me.
“Why are you still here?” He asks, twirling the chair. I think about dragging him out of it and finishing what my mother started.
The thought has me leaving. At least I knew who Declan was having an affair with. Someone else knew and killed Declan for it. Maybe Henry was lying and he killed him. I wasn’t convinced by his answer.
George is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.
“The picnic has been tidied over and Lady Ella has been returned to her room, Master Lucas.” He says this like he has told me about every date I’ve had. But this is a first. He knows I treat her differently.