The Devil’s Pawn (27 page)

I’m shaking my head at his last statement. What does this man expect from himself? He’s sacrificed everything for me, to protect me.

Morgan is again watching us with a small smile on her lips and beautiful tear-streaked cheeks, and it hits me like a fist to the stomach. I’m going to be her downfall. This wonderful woman, who has been more kind to me than I could ever deserve, will have her life destroyed because of what Derek has done for me. And as this realization dawns on me, the emotion behind it makes its way to my eyes, and she watches me carefully.

“My God, Morgan. What’s going to happen to you?” But she’s shaking her head before the sentence is even out.

“I don’t know … I don’t care. I’ve spent the past seven years of my life fearing that damn video. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life in fear. I have a husband who loves me and who accepts every last bit of my past, video and all. And I have my brother back in my life. If it ever comes out, I’ll deal with it. This whole mess started with me, and it’s time for it to end.”

There isn’t an ounce of resentment in her eyes, and with a final smirk, not so very different from Derek’s, she finishes speaking. “Besides, I’d be willing to bet Mr. Grayson has just as much to hide, more if I’m guessing, than even we do. I’m counting on his own self-preservation to protect me. I’m just sorry that any part of my past hurt you … either of you.”

With nothing else to say, she stands and smiles at us both. I stand as well to walk her to the door, and as she stops one last time to appraise us both, she pulls me into a quick hug and speaks quietly in my ear. “You are everything he will ever need.” And as she pulls me from her, her tears escape again.

With Morgan gone, and Derek and I alone once again, I look to him. He looks exhausted, relieved, and maybe just a touch worried. I walk to him and pull his face close to mine. I take his lips in mine, just as sweetly as the first time we kissed. As he pulls slowly from my mouth, he looks down with concern still plaguing his eyes.

“Forgive me?”

I smile gently back at him. He’s insane, but I won’t tell him so. “Odd that you think to ask my forgiveness when I feel nothing but gratitude for you saving me from that place. When will you accept you didn’t put me there? I did, and if you can’t accept that, then accept that my father did, but not you. I’ve forgiven even him for his part in this. You don’t need my forgiveness, but I’ll give it to you anyway, every day if I need to.”

He pulls my mouth back to his own, and my body back to his bed.

Chapter 30

“Are you going to be ready in time? They’re going to be here in fifteen minutes.” He’s smirking as I finish toweling off.

Morgan and her husband, Charles, as well as Frederick and Liz, will be arriving soon, and he’s right. I’m running late. It’s his fault of course. He’s hardly let me leave the bed since Morgan left this morning, and now with our dinner fast approaching, my body is sore, I’m starving, and I’m still nowhere near finished making up for lost time with Derek. I hastily pull my gray dress up my body and over my hips. Pulling my tangled curls over my shoulder, I bare my back to him so he can zip me up. His eyes are watching mine in the bathroom mirror. He’s content and happy, and so am I.

As he inches the zipper slowly up my back, he leans toward my ear. “I think I’d like you wearing this dress when we get married.”

I gasp, and then let out a shocked laugh. Marriage. Yes, please. “But it isn’t even white.”

“Well, nothing else has been traditional about our relationship. I can’t imagine why we would start with our wedding. This dress reminds me of falling in love with you.”

“Because it was the dress I wore when I was taken from you?” I lament at the memory. My face softens in remembrance of his pain, not to mention my own.

But he shakes his head. “No. I think I fell in love with you the moment I watched you try on this dress. It was in the fitting room the day after I first met you. You smiled. It was the first time I saw you smile, and I secretly wished and waited for that smile to return to your face every moment after that.” As a lone tear breaks free from my suddenly moist eyes, he asks, “Will you marry me, Ash?”

I nod, saying nothing at all. My tears are flowing freely now, and he pulls me into his arms as I continue to cry. When I finally calm enough to pull from him, I look to his eyes. I still owe him an answer after all. “Yes.” And as he pulls me back to his arms, I speak again. “You never cease to impress me, Mr. Pennington.”

“You’re pretty damn impressive yourself, Ms. Monroe.”

The End

About the Author

Elizabeth Finn is an Iowa native, where she lives with her husband and son. By day, Elizabeth is a Human Resources Specialist, but by night, she checks her professionalism at the door and immerses herself in the world of writing erotic romance. Look for more to come from Elizabeth Finn.