Page 129 of Tears of Gold

Once I’m gently settled on the bed, he softly pulls at my clothes, careful not to knock my hands. “You are so beautiful,” he whispers as undoes his jeans, sliding them down his hips and then pulling his jumper over his head and throwing it onto the floor.

“So are you.” My breath hitches. “Show me your back.”

He turns at my demand and I stare at the V for victory. It was for Melanie, but now I see it’s for us, too. A V for us.

“Love me,” I whisper, and he turns back, catching my face, kissing me with a fevered passion that I know will never fade.

“Always.”

With tender hands, he pushes me back onto the mattress, his eyes greedily absorbing me, his fingers gently tracing along my skin. The armour I have hidden myself under for so long transforms into art under his gaze. He slides his hand between my legs, and I part them, heat pooling at his touch. He’s slow, too slow. I arch as he pushes inside me, one finger and then two. Gah, give me strength. I move my hands to pull him closer but then remember I can’t. I curve my spine, lifting my hips off the bed. “Please, Eli.”

His smile is slow and beautiful. “You want me.”

I gasp as he rotates his fingers deep inside me, finding that sensitive spot I love him to press. “You are the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

He pulls his fingers free and settles on his knees between my legs. “And me you. It’s always been you.” Then he’s inside me, filling me with love and hope and a million thoughts and dreams in between. I groan and sing his name, praising him with everything I have until we come together, two people so lost, so betrayed, but now found on the distant shores of solace.

I cry his name as he shudders into me and life for the first time is calm, and I can finally breathe.

* * *

Time passes too fast. Sometimes I want to grab it so it stops and I can hold it still, preventing it from chasing away from me.

Change is good. It washes over us with soothing waters, cleaning us of the dirt and grime from the past. Bowsley no longer feels so far away; its long and twisting drive and sun-baked brickwork now seem as much a part of our lives as Chesham Place now feels my home.

That change? Jennifer. Now she longer acts as the heir Eli should be, and as the Baroness herself.

“Darling, that dress is simply divine on you.”

“Divine?” I raise an eyebrow and meet her reflection in the dressing room mirror. “I can’t pass this off as a post-Christmas food bump anymore.”

“No, I don’t think you can.” Jennifer turns and then reaches out to smudge her finger under my eyelashes. I jump a little but then hold still.

“Your eyeliner is smudged,” she explains.

“Oh, thanks.” I pause for a moment and stare at the both of us in the mirror. “Although I’m not holding out much hope for my make-up. I’m feeling strangely emotional.”

“You should, and that’s fine.”

I can’t help but laugh. So says the Ice Queen.

“Don’t look at me like that. I can accept my faults and I’m trying.” She pats her honey-blonde hair and straightens her shoulders. “This is your charity. Its very foundation and basis for existing mean a lot to you on a personal level. It’s likely the launch will be overwhelming.”

“Thank you for being here.”

“You are very welcome. Now shall we go and greet your guests?”

“Our guests.” I offer her a smile. “Are William and Harry really going to be here?”

Real princes in my house… who would have thought?

“Yes, and various other members. This idea of yours has really caught on, Faith.”

My face scrunches. “I believe the name, which is the bit everyone is talking about, was your idea.”

“I can’t help it if I’m a genius.” For a moment she’s deadly serious, then she cracks a wide smile.

“Come on, Baroness, let's go and do this.”