Page 48 of Tainted Saints

“We’ll be gone before anyone is awake, Duchess,” Lan assures me, not even needing me to voice my concerns. “You need some sleep, and you looked like you might find that difficult on your own.”

It astounds me how well he can read me. I’ve known him for such a short time, yet he knew that I wanted them to stay but didn’t feel like I could ask.

“What about, Blaine?” I ask, casting a glance in his direction again.

“I’m fine,mi tesoro. I don’t sleep much anyway,” he tells me, and I get the feeling that he wants to keep watch over us, which is too sweet for words.

“Come to bed, Little Lady,” Forest encourages, patting the space between Lan and him. “Just to sleep though.”

“And if I’m not tired?” I ask in a whisper as I make my way to the bed, my heart thudding in my chest. This is so new to me, having two men in my bed, one of whom I’ve fucked while the other has made me orgasm more times than I can count, and not forgetting their friend by the window who I literally had sex with a few hours ago. I shake my head, wondering how this is my life now.

“Just sleep, Duchess,” Lan decrees in a firm voice, and as much as I want to argue, a yawn practically cracks my jaw in half a moment later.

I get in, having to climb over Forest to do so, and a deep chuckle sounds behind me.

“What’s so funny, Big Daddy?” Forest asks, his hand skimming up my leg and then pausing when it reaches my naked backside. “Oh, fuck.”

Giggling, I settle between them, my muscles completely relaxing as I snuggle down. Lan immediately pulls me against him, my back to his front, spooning me from behind, and it’s the best fucking feeling in the world. A small contented sigh leaves me as my eyelids grow heavy, even when I don’t want them to.

His hand reaches around, palming my bare pussy, and I groan.

“Two can play that game, Duchess,” he breathes in my ear. “Now, go to sleep.”

Fucking. Bastard.

Forest chuckles as he settles down in front of me, stroking my cheek with the back of his knuckles.

“Good night, sugar,” he whispers, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips.

“Good night,” I murmur back, resigned to having Lan tease me all night. I do give a little arse wiggle, pressing against his hardness. At least I’m not the only one desperate.

“Sleep, Duchess,” he growls, and like when he ordered me to come earlier, my body obeys his command as my eyes grow heavy and sleep overtakes me.

* * *

Once again I wake up alone, but my bed smells like them and I just spend a moment luxuriating in the combined scents of Landon and Forest. Sudden tears sting my eyes when the thought of having this every day flits through my mind, but I blink that pipe dream away. I just can’t see how I could make it work, not while the Ambassador still lives.

They offered to kill him…

My breathing stills as I really think about that fact. I could have him out of my life forever, never be subjected to his awful corrections and punishments again. Finally be free.

But could I live with the blood of his death on my hands? Sure, I’ve wished so many times to be free of him, but am I the type of person to be able to live with a death on my conscience?

Huffing out a frustrated sigh, I get up and start getting ready for the day, opting for tight wool, high-waisted trousers and a cream blouse with embroidery on it. A deep-red knitted cardigan and my brown leather boots completes the look, and with a brush of lip gloss over my lips and a couple of pins holding my blonde waves in place, I’m ready.

There’s a lightness to the house as I make my way down the stairs, and it takes some effort not to allow the grin that wants to break free slip over my face. I can’t have people, even the staff, suspecting that anything has changed. The Saints need to be my secret, for now at least.

“Good morning, Miss Aspen,” Gerrard greets as I enter the dining room. It’s so much calmer without my parents here, and I guess I’m lucky that they are often away for business because at least then I can breathe without the threat of correction hanging over my head every minute.

“Good morning, Gerrard,” I reply, taking my usual seat. He places a covered plate in front of me, and when he lifts the lid, my breath stills in my chest.

There’s a full English breakfast, with a side of pancakes and syrup, and it all smells incredible.

“Cook prepared you something special this morning,” he tells me, and I lift my suddenly watery gaze up to his. His creased face softens, his eyes full of a compassion that I rarely see inside these walls.

“P–please pass on my thanks,” I whisper, blinking furiously to stop the tears from falling. I’ve not had any of the staff in our previous houses treat me this way, even when my parents are away. They’re kind of course, but none have ever gone against the express opinions of the Ambassador and my mother, even though they knew what was happening. It’s a kindness that I didn’t expect here, on the other side of the world, but it is one that makes my heart feel like it’s too big for my chest.

“I will Miss,” he says gently, straightening up and placing a hand gently on my shoulder. “Best eat it before it goes cold.”

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