Page 159 of Perfect Liar

“But I don’t do that with my art. None of my works have ever been displayed.”

He grinned and put a soft kiss on my lips, making my heart race just a little.

“Your talent is remarkable, Elle. It will be displayed. We’ll put our mark on the place.”

Our mark. That was him taking back my freedom.

“We’ll see. Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask…when will Thomas start working with you?”

“Soon. He’s preparing now.”

I looked up at him and smiled.

“I’m glad you’ll have his help, because if you dare leave me alone all the time, I’ll definitely hunt you down.”

“You would, I do believe that. We’ll figure it out, baby. You are my priority. And Lissie.”

“What if she’s not Ethan’s, Will? Then what happens?”

That morning we had decided to get Lissie’s paternity tested using Will’s DNA. He shared enough common markers with Ethan to help confirm it.

“You have nothing to worry about,” he said.

In my heart, I knew that.

“Elle, just look at her. Watch how my mum looks at her. She’s a Hastings.”

“Your mother knows?”

“It’s rather hard to miss, and Ethan did talk to her. With my mother involved and the nanny, we’ll have quite a lot of help. I don’t want us managing Lissie round the clock, Elle. I understand she needs you, but she now has a whole family, and she’ll want for nothing. I want you with me.”

Will stared down at me, waiting for an obedient response, for me to agree with him, but I couldn’t think it through so quickly.

“Don’t fuck with me, Elle.”

But really, I had nothing to think about, because I was just as obsessed with him. I lifted my chin and gave him my approval.

“I love Lissie, and I can see you do too. I know this family will surround her with so much love, so yes…you come first, Will. Our relationship needs to be our priority.”

He exhaled, his broad shoulders relaxing.

“Lissie’s your family, and she should have your name,” I added.

In a flash, Will had me on my feet, and I crashed into him. He pressed my head against his chest, keeping his hand on my head to hold me there.

“You are my family. She’s our niece, and it’s Ethan’s name she’ll have, not mine.”

Deep down, I’d known my choice of words would trigger him.

“It’s you and me, Elle. I want to hear you say it right now.”

As I listened to his heart beating, I remembered how coastal thunderstorms in the night had soothed me when I was a child. Being in his arms, hearing his strong heartbeat, it made me feel that way again.

“It’s you and me,” I whispered.

“You lock down on that, baby. It’s all that matters…without it, there’s no family, there’s nothing at all. Understand?”

“Yes.”