Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

WILLOW

W illow smiled as she entered the dining room that evening. After breakfast, she'd decided that while she might be willing to let Cage lead in the whole relationship thing, there was absolutely nothing wrong in showing him what she could offer. She was glad to have a chance to spend some time with Jones. During the attack, they'd gotten to know one another a little better and this afternoon he'd been far more relaxed in what he'd allowed to slip about Cage and the level of his interest in her.

"You really shouldn't do that to him, you know," Jones had said. "You're driving him crazy."

She'd looked at him and said, "Him? What about me? Sometimes I don't even think it registers with him that I'm female."

Jones had laughed. "Oh, trust me, it registers. I've never known a man to be more aware of a woman than he is about you."

"How can you say that? Half of the time when he's around me, he all but growls at me, and the other half he's so quiet that he barely says two words."

"But at least he says them. Look, Willow, it's not my place, but I like both of you. I respect and admire the courage it took for you to gather that intel on Carlyle and the League, and I'd follow Cage through the gates of hell if he wanted to go and I wouldn't much care why."

"I think he'd rather go to hell than spend time with me…"

"You do know he's in charge around here, right? If he didn't want to spend time with you, he could assign someone else to provide close cover, but he doesn't."

"He's just afraid seeing me naked might put off one of the other men."

"I'm not saying some of your antics might not affect one of the other men, but if it was just that, he'd assign one of the women."

Willow had searched his face, "You think?"

"I know," he'd chuckled.

Her skin had been practically crawling all day from wanting Cage, and it helped to see that her place at the table had been moved even closer to his. It wasn't lost on her that while he hadn't moved his place, he had moved hers. Perhaps she was assigning too much significance to that, but she didn't think so. Cage was letting her know that he would be the dominant partner.

Cage held her chair for her. Ever the perfect gentleman, he had chucked the butler's uniform in favor of tailored slacks and a crisp white shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and trim waist. She'd seen his sculpted pecs and chiseled abs, and she had a pretty good idea that he was well endowed, all of which she intended to enjoy for however long she could. Perhaps she'd go back to dressing for dinner.

He asked her about her day and seemed far more forthcoming with what duties his own had entailed. She sighed a breath of relief when he shared that they'd been enhancing the castle's defenses ever since the attack.

"Have you heard anything on the whole divorce front? I know I'm never going back there, but I really don't want him to be able to bar any of my testimony because I'm his wife."

"He may still try and use that you were his wife when you learned certain things, but that's a double-edged sword as he then can't argue he had any expectation of privacy from you and therefore you were entitled to the information. Legal arguments aside, we know how important it is that you are no longer married to him."

Was it important to Cage? Was that why he'd kept himself at arm's length? While that was all noble and shit, it didn't help her sleep at night. What would help with that problem was any number of orgasms provided by Cage.

"Thank you. Please let Colby and the others know I'm appreciative of all their efforts on that front."

"When I told him that earlier today," Cage said, smiling, "and asked how he'd managed to get it done so quickly, he said lots and lots of money. But don't worry, Colby has more money than he knows what to do with."

They finished their dinner talking about things of little to no consequence in the grand scheme of things, but it was nice having at least that fa?ade of normalcy.

When they'd finished, Willow stood. "It's a lovely night. I think I'll go for a swim in the pool…skinny-dipping, maybe. I haven't done that in years. And I do mean years. I did when I first married Frank, trying to arouse his interest, but when that failed and I realized it was only his men who were getting off on the idea of my being naked, I quit."

"Did any of them ever try and follow up on that?"

"No. Frank would have had them killed. When I realized what he was capable of, I stopped. He didn't want me…"

"I find that hard to believe."

"Believe it. He dragged me into his bed on our wedding night and had at me. If I hadn't been a virgin, I doubt I would have noticed. It was over and done with before I really knew what was going on." She wrapped her knuckles on the table, refusing to feel sorry for herself. "Then, for the next year, he had my ovulation charted and only fucked me when there was a chance he could get me pregnant. Otherwise, he preferred his whores. After a while, he stopped altogether. It was kind of a relief."

Cage shook his head. "I always knew Carlyle was a monster; I just never knew until now what a pig and a fool he was."

"It doesn't matter. That part of my life is over. So, I'm heading out to the pool. Could you grab me one of those little homebrews Jones introduced me to today? Those things are yummy. Shame on you for not sharing."

She didn't give him a chance to react, but just headed out to the pool. As soon as she was certain he couldn't see her face, she let herself smile. She almost felt sorry for poor Cage. The look that had flashed across his face at the thought that she was going skinny-dipping was divine.

It was high time she gauged Cage's level of interest. It was going to be an interesting night. If he sent one of the women out with her microbrew, she'd have to adjust her thinking, but if not… well, that would be just fine by her.

Willow headed out through the French doors that led from the dining room to the patio area adjacent to the pool. Throwing the doors wide open, she held her arms up to the soft night sky as she glanced over her shoulder, watching as Cage stood for a moment before going, she hoped, to get her one of the homemade beers.

She pulled her tank top off first, flinging it over her shoulder. She intended to leave him a trail of clothing and jewelry to follow. Next, she flipped off her slides—one in each direction. She shimmied out of her sweatpants, not because they were tight, but because it gave her a chance to wiggle her butt at him. She glanced over her shoulder to see him stop and meticulously pick up each article of clothing she discarded. She removed her bra and her jewelry—she felt like a snake shedding its skin. Each item removed was one step closer to freedom.

Willow glanced down at the wedding ring she had never bothered to remove. It was the last thing to come off, and she flung it into the dense foliage that surrounded the pool. Completely naked and feeling liberated from her past for the first time, she reveled in the cool night air as it brushed against her bare skin, invigorating her with a sense of defiance and exhilaration.

She stood on the edge—not just of the pool, but of something far more important—a new life. From behind her Cage's voice broke the silence. "Willow, stop. I can't cross this line," he said, his tone firm but filled with an undercurrent of desperation. "You're killing me."

Spinning around, she grinned. She realized the butler's uniform had hidden far more about the man's physique than she thought. She could see his cock straining behind his fly. "That's your choice, Cage. I'm right here. Right now. You're going to do what you're going to do, and so am I. I'm tired of living by everyone else's rules and codes."

"Willow, it wouldn't be right."

His words fell on deaf ears. None of it stopped her. With a final look at him, she turned and dove into the pool. The water embraced her naked body, cool and refreshing in a way that nothing had been for more years than she cared to count. She swam for a while, feeling the tension of the world dissolve with each stroke.

When she surfaced, she looked directly at him. Cage stood on the edge of the pool, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and torment. She didn't say anything. She just… looked and made no attempt to hide what she was looking at and what she thought about what she saw.

Unable to bear her gaze, Cage looked away. The night air was filled with the sound of her breathing and the gentle lapping of the water against the pool's edge.

Willow knew this was a game of power, not just a game about sex. The pool water dripped from her body, each droplet a testament to her rebellion. She felt powerful, knowing he wanted her and that he was fighting his desire. His internal struggle was almost palpable, and it thrilled her in a way she hadn't felt in years. Yes, it was wrong of her, but when you've been without power for as long as she had and still had little to none to speak of, you take what you can get.

She wanted Cage's control to snap, wanted him to give in to what they both wanted and needed. According to Jones—those homebrews weren't just delicious, they were intoxicating—Cage kept to himself but hadn't indulged with a woman in years. Willow's gaze stayed locked on him, urging him silently, daring him to cross the boundary he had set. For all he knew, her damn divorce had been finalized. But when Cage looked away, a knot of worry tightened in her gut. What if he never gave in? He had made a promise to someone and meant to keep it. At least he was loyal to Colby Reynolds, but was Colby Reynolds going to give him a blowjob that would rock his world? She doubted it. Oh well, too bad; it was Cage's loss.

With a sigh and a shake of her head, Willow pulled herself out of the pool, water streaming down her naked form. She walked back to the house, her wet feet leaving a trail on the stone pathway, into the house, up the stairs, and down the hall to her room. Once inside, she closed the door, leaning back and locking it as she willed herself not to cry. If Cage wanted to join her in her bed, he was going to have to break the damn door down.

She sank onto the edge of the bed, the weight of the night pressing down on her. She had played her hand, and now all she could do was wait and see if Cage would ever cross the line.

CAGE

Cage watched her go and checked in with security to make sure she'd gone to her room. He drained the beer and decided he needed something strong—something much stronger. He looked at her clothing and tossed it over on the lounge. She could bloody well go looking for her own jewelry. And if he never saw that wedding ring again, it would be too soon.

Returning to the dining room, he poured himself a whiskey and then took the glass and the bottle to the table. For the next few hours, Cage sat and drank. It wasn't an indulgence he usually allowed himself, but it had been a long day, and Willow's little striptease hadn't helped.

Much later, when the house was silent, he heard her footfalls as she came down the stairs and headed towards the dining room. What now? Willow entered the room, her thin, silk-knit robe tied only at her waist. Did she really think that thing did anything to disguise her delicious curves?

She walked to the bar, not realizing he was in the room. He'd need to teach her to never enter a room without being sure she knew if there was anyone there, not to mention noting any possible escape routes.

Cage hadn't bothered to turn on any lights so the room was dim except for the moonlight that filtered through the French doors. Willow leaned down, her robe emphasizing her luscious backside. She pulled out a bottle of the homebrew, opened it and then brought it to her mouth. As she tilted it up to take a long drink, she turned and noticed him for the first time since she'd entered the room.

Willow froze, the bottle still tilted up to her mouth, but no longer swallowing. She said nothing. Cage stood. He'd been at war with himself since he met her that night on the landing strip. He was tired, fed up, and frustrated. He wanted her; she wanted him; and more importantly, she was his fucking mate. She belonged to him.

His watch buzzed. A message from one of his team

"I don't understand, but Colby wanted me to let you know all systems are go, and you have a green light."

He texted back.

"Message received."

Walking over to Willow, he picked her up, carried her to the table, and set her on it. Parting her legs, he pushed her robe out of the way to puddle on either side of her thighs. Kneeling before her, he breathed in deeply and felt his iron control snap like a twig.