Thy Kingdom Come

He’s here.

Before I have a chance to flee, he’s on top of me, arm over my throat, pressing us nose to nose. The slither of moonlight peeking in from the curtains illuminates his eyes. They glow, like a hungry predator’s and I’m his prey.

“Get off me!” I cry, slapping at his arm. His hold isn’t tight, but it’s rigid enough that I can’t escape.

“I think not.” His voice is smooth, dangerous, and in the darkness, it’s amplified tenfold. “Awful soon is now, wee doll.”

I don’t know how Punky found me, but he can’t be here. It’s not safe…for either of us.

“I think we need to have a talk.”

“About what? I told you everything I k-know.”

“Bullshit!” he sneers, pushing harder against my neck. “Yer go

“I can’t,” I pant, squirming beneath him.

“Can’t? Or won’t?”

“Can’t. How’d you know where I live?”

Punky loosens the pressure but doesn’t let me go. “Y’ve got a brass neck on ye like a jockey’s bollocks, Baby! I’ve met no one like ya. Most would be pleadin’ for their life, but not you. Yer asking me questions instead.”

“I told you, I’m not afraid of you,” I state with conviction because Punky is the good guy—even if he doesn’t believe it.

I’m not making excuses for his behavior because he’s done some really shitty things, but so have I. We’ve both got an agenda, but it seems we’ll happily sacrifice that to protect the other. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand why we co

I was sent here with an ulterior motive, one I will never divulge, but pretending to like him has never been the problem because I like him too much. That’s the problem.

I knew the consequences of telling him that he was going to be raided. But I had to tell him because I was the one who planted those drugs. But I had no other choice. This was just another way to get what they want. That’s why I was working at the party.

But when Punky confessed his past, about what they did to him, to his mother, I just couldn’t do that to him as I knew he would go down too. And now, that choice has fucked everything up beyond repair. But I wouldn’t take it back.

I need to find another way to get what I want. And using Punky isn’t one of them.

“Co

Shit.

Frantically sca

“I answered yer question, it’s time ya answered mine.”

“I overheard one of the waiters—”

“Quit yer lyin’!” he exclaims, not buying into my bullshit. “I’ll not tell ya again.”

“It’s the truth!” I cry, twisting madly, desperate to break free.

“What, who’re ye protectin’?” he asks, putting two and two together.

I stop fighting and turn my cheek, ashamed of the looming tears. I have no right to cry. “I can’t tell you, Punky, because if I do…he’ll kill me.”

Silence.

The room is eclipsed in total darkness, and it’s just Punky and me versus the world.

He realizes I’m not being melodramatic. “Who will? For fuck’s sake!”

“Do your best,” I challenge, my breaths growing panicked. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”

“I’m askin’ ya to tell me.”

“And I’m telling you that I can’t.”

And this is something I won’t budge on. The lives of the people I love most in this world rely on me. Failing isn’t an option. I don’t trust him…but better the devil you know.

“Amber thinks yer accent is off. That ya don’t sound like a Londoner.”

And that’s because I’m not.

I knew she’d be onto me. This is spiraling out of control. “I thought Amber was a na

“Get up.”

Before I can ask what’s going on, he launches off the bed and pulls back the curtain on the window to let in the moonlight. My eyes adjust to the change in lighting, and I see that he’s still in his suit but missing his tie and jacket.

I wonder what happened tonight. The fact he’s here means the police didn’t find anything. Everyone was escorted from the residence, much to the horror of all the gossipers. The Kellys reputation is notorious for another reason now.

They’re no longer untouchable as the chief constable isn’t playing by their rules. He’s in cahoots with another family.

I won’t cower. I didn’t get this far being a coward, so I toss aside the blanket and stand angrily, daring Punky to do his best. But his best tests my bravado.

“Those welts on ye, I reckon they were punishment for not givin’ the right answer. They show how hard it is to break ye. I respect that.”

I stand perfectly still, watching Punky closely.

“But, wee doll, I’m just as stubborn as you,” he warns, interlocking his hands behind his back. “I have an advantage over whoever that fucker was, and that’s ’cause I think ye’d like me to punish ye.”

A gasp leaves me because…he’s right.

Losing control with Punky is a taste of freedom which I’ve become addicted to. Being shackled against my will with invisible manacles has crushed my very soul. But being with Punky is the only time I feel free.

He is dangerous, vicious, and ruthless, but that just makes me want him all the more. I know he’d never really hurt me. He could, but he won’t, and that’s because he knows I can hurt him too.

We share an equal playing field, although I have an advantage—I know who’s hunting him. They’re hunting me, too.

“Cocky much?” I quip, pretending I’m not quivering at the thought.

His grin catches the moonlight, and I remember how utterly sinful he looked with his face slathered in war paint. He scares me…and I like it.

“Only one way to find out. Ya can take that off, or I will.”

He’s referring to my nightgown.

This is a test. He doesn’t know how to break me, so he’s trying to scare me instead. But I’m not easily scared.

Without hesitation, I slip the nightgown over my head, and it pools by my feet as I drop it, unapologetically. The darkness helps with my confidence, and I wonder if this is the reason he didn’t turn on the light.

We both thrive in the darkness because it’s here, where our demons can play.

His unhurried examination of me both excites and terrifies me in the same breath. Every part of me craves his touch. I know what his hands, his mouth, his tongue feel like, and my body wants more.

“Who’re ye?” he asks, his confusion, his frustration clear.

“I’m Babydoll,” I whisper, happy to be anyone other than me.

“I could force ya to tell me.”

“You can try,” I challenge, my naked skin prickling with goose bumps.

“Aye, I could,” he hums, ru

I’m embarrassed at how breathless I am, while Punky’s breaths are even and in control.

I know Punky won’t hurt me like they have. His touch is welcomed, and no matter what he says, I know there’s a line he won’t cross. But that doesn’t mean he won’t coerce me to straddle that line until we’re both breathless in need.

“Go on then, Puck Kelly. Or are you all talk?”

A low growl echoes deep, and I grin, pleased with the response I elicited from him.