Page 71 of Tainted Saints

“No doubt,” he agrees, leaning down and hovering his lips above mine. “I love you, Aspen.”

Not giving me a chance to answer, leaving my heart pounding and butterflies erupting in my stomach, he closes the small gap and kisses me like he’s trying to save me. I open to him, desperate for the comfort and love that radiates from his entire being. Telling him with my lips that I love him, love all of them too.

All too soon he pulls away, and I blink my eyes open to see the small smile playing on his gorgeous lips.

“I love you too, Landon,” I whisper, and my breathing stops altogether at the beaming smile he gives me. It lights up the dull room, radiating warmth and the kind of thing only poets can dream of.

“Let’s get you home,” he whispers, taking my bag and one of my hands in his as he steps towards the door, Bolt on our heels. “Bolt, stay.”

The dog whines, so I pause, ducking down to press a kiss to his soft nose before straightening up, letting Lan lead me out into the wintery light, to where Bobby is waiting.

“Good to see you, Miss Aspen,” he greets warmly, taking my bag from Landon and giving him a nod. “Your parents are due back later this morning so you should be all settled when they get in.”

“Thank you, Bobby,” I reply, giving him a grateful smile even though my stomach is in knots at the mere mention of them. Turning to Lan, I take a deep inhale. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow, Duchess,” he murmurs, swiping his thumb across my lips and then taking a step back, shoving his hands in his pockets as if it’s the only way to stop from clutching me to him.

“Goodbye, Lan,” I whisper, turning to the open door and getting into the car, forcing my watery eyes to not look back, otherwise I won’t be able to leave.

The door slams behind me just as the first tear falls, and I cry silently all the way back to the Ambassador’s residence.

* * *

“Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God)” by Loveless

LANDON

We don’t see Aspen properly for the rest of the following week, Forest even unable to sneak into her room as it seems her dad has upped the security around the house. All we get are glimpses of her at school, and it’s fucking driving me crazy to be so close to her yet feel so far away.

I get that we can’t run the risk of her father finding out about us and then punishing her for it, but it still grates on me, and I know Forest is feeling the strain too. Blaine, lucky bastard, is still her PT, so gets to spend every day after school for an hour or so with her. He’s kept it strictly professional after her mother joined them on Monday, so I guess that in itself is a type of punishment.

Forest manages to speak to Wallace, securing a spot for Bolt at the next fight which happens to be the week following Aspen’s scheduled performance. I feel sick about the whole thing, hating that we have to put our loyal friend in such danger, but it’s the only way to get in and discover what is really going on. I spend the week trying to come up with a plan to stop him from getting hurt too badly, or even from having to fight at all, but come up fucking empty.

An invitation for the coronation party arrives at the Pound, all our names on it, including Susan and Stan who are beyond excited about their new patron and going to such an exclusive event. Initially, they gave Forest an earful for having Aspen there on Saturday without them, as they’re dying to meet her, their words, but as always, he charmed them—like he does all of us—and they forgave him like they always do, only after he assured them he'd introduce them to her at the party.

“I need to see her,” Forest grits out from his seat on the couch, the room dark with only a single lamp on. Blaine got back from his session with her a couple of hours ago and has been silently fuming ever since. Something about the way her mother criticises her constantly, telling her she’s not good enough has understandably made him see red, but kudos to the big guy, he kept it in check which is more than I could do if I was in his place.

Bolt gives a happy bark just as there’s a knock at the door. I don’t think, my soul knows it’s her even before I wrench the door open and she’s standing there, soaked from the rain that started falling an hour ago.

I pull her to me, uncaring that now I’m getting wet, as my entire body relaxes the instant she’s in my arms.

“They’re gone for the night,” she whispers against my chest, her arms around my neck as she snuggles closer. “I told everyone I was staying at Aoife’s and had Bobby bring me over.” I barely let her finish before my lips are on hers, tasting her as if for the first time.

“Fuck, Duchess. It’s been too long,” I rasp against her cold lips, kissing her again even though I know the others are waiting.

She giggles. “I saw you at lunch.” Her eyes sparkle when she looks up at me, and I press my forehead against hers, unable to let her go just yet.

“It’s not the same, and even if it was, every minute we’re apart is too fucking long,” I breathe out, my chest loosening the longer she’s here, in my arms, safe and sound.

“I know, Lan. I wish…” she trails off, and I know what she wishes because fucking hell, so do I. I would give up so much just to have her with us always.

“Quit hogging our girl, Daddy,” Forest whines, and she laughs again, the room so much brighter than it was moments ago.

I let him tug her from me, watching as he wastes no time in kissing her senseless. My brows dip when I notice the slight tremor in her limbs, obviously cold from being soaked through, but before I can do anything about it, Blaine is there with a towel, one of his huge hoodies, and some of Forest’s sweats.

“Let her get changed, she’s freezing,” he grumbles, and Forest immediately lets her go, frowning.

“Why didn’t you say anything, sugar?” he asks, helping her take her wet things off and drying her skin with the towel before letting Blaine get her dressed.

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