\[William’s POV\]
I stare at Elise as she considers what I’ve said, or was she thinking of something else? I couldn’t quite place why, but I could sense something more, something substantial shining in those beautiful blue eyes of hers, but before I can actually figure out what it might be, it is gone and her mask of indifference returns.
“I’ll hold you to it.”
“Sorry to disturb.” Marty announces, ruining the moment. “But since we’ve seen that things are being taken care of, we should head back.”
“So soon?” Elise pouts. “I was enjoying the breeze and scenery from up here. If you want to go back, you can go without me.”
“No can do, beautiful.” He chuckles. “You know that I’m in charge of making sure you stay out of trouble. So, you’re stuck with me.”
Frowning, I try to ignore the jealousy that is beginning to bubble in me. If Rosco wanted someone to watch Elise, why didn’t he simply choose me?
‘Because you have other motives.’ Rue chuckles, only adding to my annoyance.
‘And you don’t think Marty doesn’t?’
‘Who knows.’ He responds easily. ‘Whatever is going on in that quack's head doesn’t concern me.’
Didn’t concern him. If he had his eyes set on Elise, then wouldn’t it concern both of us?
‘Then make your move, idiot.’ Rue huffs. ‘Stop dragging your feet.’
Stop dragging my feet. If only it was that easy. Even if I was attracted to her and wanted to get closer, there was no fucking way to know that she would feel the same about me. Add in my family's prejudice and my future position, and I had a whole fucking mess holding me back from doing what I wanted to.
“I can easily keep an eye on her.” I say before I can stop myself. “You can go back if you want to.”
At my words, Marty’s expression shifts, and a look of amusement flashes in his eyes. When his smile begins to broaden, I know I’ve said the wrong thing.
“Are you perhaps trying to get a moment alone with our dear Elise?”
Was I? Wasn’t it fucking obvious that was exactly what I was trying to do? Why did he have to point it out like that? He was making me sound like some creep.
“Don’t pick on him.” Elise sighs. “You’re going to make him blush.”
Feeling my annoyance prick, I open my mouth to argue, but I feel that damned blush beginning to burn on the tips of my ears and my cheeks.
Fuck. I was becoming a damn joke to Elise, despite my best efforts to get her to take me seriously.
“Sorry to break it to you.” Marty continues. “I can’t go against Rosco’s wishes. If I were to leave the two of you here alone, he would lay into me, and I don’t mean verbally.”
“Are you saying you’re afraid of him?” I challenge. “And here I thought you were more than capable of handling yourself.”
From what I knew about Marty, he was a mercenary before joining Rosco. He was also well known in the underworld for his brutal killings.
“I have different fighting standards for friends.” He shrugs. “Anyway, could we stop arguing and get moving?”
Letting out a grumble of disappointment, Elise doesn’t speak as she hoists herself onto the banister in front of us. As I watch on, she slowly begins to rise until her feet are planted firmly on it.
Opening her arms, she gives me a wink before flipping off while a yelp of shock escapes me.
Moving forward, I throw myself over the banister and realize that there is a large tree just beneath.
She tricked me. Goddess, this woman really was going to be the death of me.
When I reach the tree, I grab onto the branch closest to me and begin to move, leaping from one to another until my feet hit the ground.
As I land, I find Elise watching me with a look of amusement on her face.
“You do care.” She giggles, eyeing me.
“Are you prone to making people worry about your well-being?” I counter, feeling a wave of relief rush through me, knowing that she was fine and in front of me. “Or do you like to face death head-on?”
"Both, maybe,” she admits, sticking out her tongue. “What do you say? Should we try to get away from the warden?”
Lifting my gaze, I watch as Marty looks down at us from the top of the tower. Despite Elise’s escape act, he doesn’t look bothered. Instead, he looks amused by the whole thing.
“Yeah,” I respond before I can stop myself. “Why don’t we get away from this place for a bit?”
For a moment, Elise just stares at me while clearly debating whether or not she should go along with me.
“And where exactly do you intend to take me?” She asks, though it is clear that she isn’t that worried. “And what will your cousin think? I don’t want to be responsible for someone being murdered.”
“Rosco will be fine.” I assure her, holding out a hand. “Or are you too afraid to trust me?”
I knew that I was asking a lot of her, given the fact that she barely even knew me, but you couldn’t get anywhere if you didn’t take a chance, and I was ready to take a leap.
“Alright,” she says slowly, reaching out and taking my hand.
Later, I stand on the private balcony of my family's penthouse within the city. I stare down at the phone in my hand while debating whether or not I should really call Rosco and tell him of mine and Elise’s current location.
After a few minutes of deliberation, I finally hit his number and wait while my phone rings.
“Where the fuck are you?” He growls in the way of greeting. “Do you have a death wish?”
“Not quite yet,” I admit. “I’m currently somewhere safe with Elise. I’m only calling to let you know that I’ll be keeping her with me for a few days, so do what you need to do while we are gone.”
Not waiting for a response, I hang up and then turn so I can watch Elise step out onto the balcony and make her way toward me.
“How pissed is the warden?” She asks. “And how long until he comes to find us?”
“He won’t be coming to find us.” I assure her. “Rosco can act hard, but he doesn’t give that much of a damn about other people's things.”
“Not even when you have one of his prisoners with you?” I counter. “I’m sure that he is about to burst at the seams with rage.”
Chuckling, I move forward until I’m mere inches away from Elise, and while she watches me, I snake my arms around her waist and pull her to me.
“Did we come all the way here to talk about Rosco?” I husk, enjoying her warmth so close to mine.
Growing quiet, I wait as understanding flashes in Elise’s beautiful blue gaze.
“So that was why you brought me here.” She says, slowly untangling herself from me. “You didn’t have to try so hard.”
As she speaks, she begins to pull off her shirt so that she is left standing in a lacy black bra that does nothing to hide her pierced nipples beneath and a pair of pants.
“If you wanted me, you just had to say the word.”
Keeping her eyes locked on me, she begins to pull off her pants so that a matching black thong comes into view.
Immediately, I feel my dick twitch with anticipation over the perfect body of the woman in front of me. Fuck. How long had it been since I slept with anyone in an attempt to stop myself from feeling lonely?
Too long. That was the answer, and now that Elise was all but flaunting herself in front of me, it was taking all my self-control to not jump her.
“Are you just going to stare, or are you going to join me?” She asks, raising a brow.
“And what exactly am I joining you in doing?” I ask seductively.
Giving me a mischievous grin, she nods toward the private pool just to our right.
“A late-night dip, of course.” She responds, grinning. “What did you think I meant?”