The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(128)

“Or we could go shower, have some breakfast.” I look down at her, hoping while not hoping that she can feel my cock growing stiffer between us. Because that would be dickish of me.

She lifts her head and cocks a brow. “Mr Montgomery, my parents are here.”

“Your parents love me.” I grin, gathering up her hair and leaning in to kiss her neck. “But also.” Kiss. “I’m pretty sure they are far too busy.” Kiss. “To worry about you taking a shower.”

“Ell…”

“Hmmm,” I reply, nibbling at her jaw.

She nuzzles into me, searching for my mouth, which I happily give her. Our lips meet, and I instantly want more.

Her body slides up and over me until she’s straddling my waist and my hands curve around the tops of her thighs. I pull back and gaze up at her, at her still swollen face.

I swallow the bullshit lump in my throat.

She has all the right intentions, and fuck if I want her.

I need her.

“You need a shower, then you need food, and then you need rest. This isn’t happening right now.”

Her jaw drops as I slip out from under her, placing her down on the sofa before I can change my mind.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I warn, the reprimand more for my own ears than hers. “You’ve just got out of the hospital. You need to rest.”

I go to the hallway and get her the dressing gown her mum left out for her. When I walk back into the room, she’s scowling at me. “Luce.” I huff with a light laugh, pulling her up and sliding the robe over her shoulders. “You need nurturing right now.”

She gives me a look that says exactly.

“Not that kind of nurturing.” I kiss her, but she doesn’t kiss me back. I frown and pull back. “Kiss me.”

She shakes her head.

I kiss her again, longer and harder. “Kiss me,” I groan.

“No.”

My tongue traces her bottom lip before I pull it between my teeth. I lick across the spot before whispering, “Kiss me. Kiss me now, and I’ll let you ride my face like you want to.”

Her mouth parts. “Promise?”

I grin and take her hand in mine, pulling her behind me and up the stairs.

Maggie is coming from Lucy’s bedroom as we round the top step and her face lights up with surprise. “Oh, Lucy darling, you have some colour back in your cheeks.”

I bite back a laugh and squeeze Lucy’s hand in mine. “She does, doesn’t she?”

She elbows me in the ribs, and it’s the least subtle move she could’ve made. Maggie eyes us both before her own cheeks colour. “Well, then. I have plenty to get to.”

“I’m going to shower before breakfast. Elliot said he’s more than happy to help you, Mum.”

“Oh, yes. I have a job for you, actually. It’s the wardrobe on the top floor. I saw—”

I eye Lucy as she snakes past her mum and leaves me. She knows I wanted that promise just as much as she did.

Maybe more.

I look down at Maggie, who’s still talking about the boxes on top of the wardrobe. “Of course, Maggie. I’d be happy to help.”

“Wonderful. I just need to get everyone a cuppa, and I’ll be back.”

I watch as she flits off down the stairs, then my eyes move to the spare bedroom Luce just slipped into. I don’t want to leave her alone, but I also don’t want to push her boundaries.

Before I can think about it for too long, I knock on her door and wait. She opens it seconds later.

“I’m sorry. I am in full nurturing mode. You may come back in three to five business days.”

I shake my head at her sass and laugh, not realising how badly I needed to hear it.

My head dips, and I sober the air surrounding us without even meaning to. When I lift my gaze again, she’s studying me with a tilt to her head.

I clear my throat and lean against the wall, my voice only loud enough for her ears. “You’d tell me if you needed me, right?”

She stares transfixed at me, and her eyes tell me everything her words don’t.

Not being able to help myself, I lean in and kiss her once more before turning and walking down the landing.

When I arrived last night, I had one and one place only that I wanted to be. I haven’t been up here yet, but I know from what John told me on the phone that it’s a mess.

I push against the bedroom door, a slight trepidation as to what I might see behind it. But then I find my best friend of thirty-five years with a mop in his hands and a bucket at his feet, cleaning up everything that went to shit.





35





Elliot





We spend the next couple of days cleaning the top two floors of the house, making sure they’re as Lucy found them when she arrived. She tried to help us, but no one would let her. It was unanimous. We wanted her to rest, and we didn’t want her mind stuck on what happened.

Nina and Megan took her out for the day yesterday, and I know she secretly hated it by the deep sigh that left her when she crawled into bed late last night. She loves her friends, but I know she isn’t getting the rest she needs. I wrapped her in my arms and told her she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to and to stop trying to please everyone else.