Текст книги "Disgraced"

Автор книги: Annabel Chant

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

    Forty

Him

Within fifteen minutes, she was out again. She looked as if she might cry as she ducked into the back seat, next to me.

‘What happened?’ I asked. ‘Aren’t you staying?’

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Then she burst out laughing. ‘I told Max where he could stick his job.’

‘Ouch,’ I said. ‘I’ll bet that hurt.’

She giggled, brushing away a tear from her cheek. ‘I’ve never seen him lost for words before.’

‘I don’t think I have, either.’ I put my arm around her. ‘Are you okay with it, truly?’

‘I think I am,’ she said, slowly. ‘And I put in a good word for Liv, before I went. You know.’ She put her hand on my knee and waggled her eyebrows.

‘Did you?’ I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of it. ‘Do you think that’s wise?’

She looked surprised. ‘Well, yes,’ she said. ‘Liv adores him and, I mean, he was on his own last night. It’s not like he’s got a girlfriend, is it?’

‘No, I suppose not.’ I said. ‘Not as such.’

I thought of Max’s odd relationship with Dominique, but didn’t mention it. That was his business and it was high time he sorted it, once and for all, anyway. Maybe this would give him the kick in the ass he needed, if he was even interested. You could never tell with Max.

‘He’s not like me, you know, Max,’ I said, instead. ‘I hope your friend is made of stern stuff.’

‘She knows him well enough.’ She settled back in the seat, looking pleased with herself. ‘And she’s not like me, either. She’ll be all right.’

Stephens turned round. ‘Where to, now, Sir?’

I looked at Grace. She seemed to have got over her face-off with Max and seemed almost radiant. Whether it was from joy or relief, I couldn’t tell, but her eyes were sparkling as she snuggled into me.

‘I have to go to the Castle,’ I replied, before turning to Grace. ‘I’ve a meeting with Ronnie and…some others. Financial, as a matter of fact. Maybe you could join us? We can stop in at yours on the way, and get you some clean clothes. We can shower there.’

‘Okay,’ she said, sounding uncertain. ‘If you’re sure you want me to.’

I’d never been so sure of anything in my life. It wasn’t so much about the meeting, but I didn’t tell her that. I thought the truth might make her even more nervous. To be honest, I wanted to show her off to someone. It was so frustrating, having to keep things secret, but it was for her own good. I could introduce her to my mother, though. She’d have no clue who she was. Even if she did, she wouldn’t tell anyone – they wouldn’t believe her, anyway. She lived in her own fantasy world nowadays.

I just hoped she’d welcome her. It was about time she accepted that I could be happy with another woman than Aimee. She’d never accepted Ronnie, or any of the other few women I’d seen occasionally. Grace was different, though. I had a feeling she’d fall in love with her on sight or, at least, I hoped she would.

‘I do,’ I said. ‘So much.’

‘Okay,’ she smiled. ‘The Castle it is.’

‘Chiswick, then, Stephens, please,’ I said, kissing her forehead as she leaned into me. ‘And then onto the Castle.’

It was barely eleven when we arrived. The meeting wasn’t until twelve, so I took her up to my quarters. I had fresh clothes there, and we both needed a shower.

Before we went upstairs, I sent a maid to get Mary.

‘Have my mother come to lunch, please,’ I said, when she arrived. ‘Twelve o’clock in the drawing room. I’ve someone I want her to meet.’

Grace was standing over the other side of the entrance hall, looking at some of the old family portraits. Mary looked over at her, curiously.

‘Grace,’ I said. ‘Come over and meet Mary – my father’s nurse.’

She came over. She’d withdrawn into herself, somewhat, and I suspected she still found the scale of the family pile intimidating. I wanted her to feel comfortable.

‘Hi, Mary,’ she said. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

‘Ooh.’ Mary looked awestruck. ‘Grace Anderton, here, in this house. I can’t wait to tell your mother. She’ll be so excited.’

‘Well, don’t go getting her over-excited,’ I said. ‘You know how she can be.’

My quarters were well aired, as usual, and smelt freshly polished. It was touching, in a way.

‘I’ve got you all to myself again, Angel,’ I said, coming up behind her in the living room. I kissed her neck and, moving my hands around in front of her, started to unbutton her top. ‘I think I might need to get you a little dirty before I clean you up.’

She giggled, laying back into me as I undid the remaining buttons and peeled her top down over her arms. I let my hands wander over her breasts, as I did so, and the fullness of them sent shivers of anticipation down to my cock. Within seconds, it was standing to attention, pressing into her ass so hard it was almost painful.

‘Let’s get you into the bathroom,’ I said, pulling away and taking her hand.

    Forty One

Her

The bathroom was sage-panelled and just as elegant as everything else at the Castle. A roll top bath took centre stage, with a double sink and a large shower cubicle taking up the far wall. He’d already taken off his t-shirt by the time we got in there. I put out my hand to touch him and, for once, he didn’t stop me.

‘No time for games this morning, I’m afraid,’ he said, watching as my hands ran over his chest. His muscles were so hard, they barely gave under my touch. I could feel myself growing wet and, as he pulled me closer, I kissed his shoulder, letting my tongue trace a line up his neck and across his jaw to his mouth.

‘God, I want you,’ he groaned. ‘I always want you.’

‘You can have me,’ I said, pulling away and looking into his eyes. ‘I’m yours.’

‘You’re dead right, there, Angel.’ He felt around behind me and unzipped my skirt, pushing it down until it fell in a puddle around my ankles. ‘And, rest assured, I’m going to be having you…in there.’ He motioned towards the shower. ‘But, before that…’

He looked down at his groin. I could see his hardness, standing out against his jeans and I couldn’t help laughing. ‘You’ve gone commando, I see,’ I said, the sight of it making me wetter still.

‘Never a good idea when in your company,’ he said, looking down at it, ruefully. ‘Not one of my better choices. It was lucky I stayed in the car, all considered.’

He put his hand to the top of my head and pushed me gently downwards until I was on my knees before him. ‘Christ, Angel,’ he muttered, tearing apart his fly and forcing his jeans down over his taut thighs. ‘You on your knees…it does it for me every time.’

He put his hand to his cock and guided it into my mouth, placing his hand at the back of my head and pushing me forward onto it. I took it in, sucking on it softly before pulling back a little and let my tongue swirl around the end. He let out a moan and I pulled back further.

‘No moaning,’ I said, grinning up at him. ‘Them’s the rules.’

He laughed. ‘Unfortunately, Gorgeous, you don’t get to make the rules.’

He leaned forward and scooped up my hair, twisting it around his hand until it was tight.

‘I’ve got you on a leash now,’ he murmured. ‘I think you’ll find that means I’m in control.’

He stood up again, pulling my hair towards him and thrusting me, hard, onto his cock. ‘Ah,’ he said, with a sigh. ‘Now, that’s more like it.’

He pulled out again, then pulled me back in towards him. I sucked on his cock, moving my tongue all around it as he fucked my mouth with steady, regular strokes. The sight of his flat, smooth stomach just above my eye line turned me on even more and I sucked more and more eagerly on his length, taking it further and further in with every thrust. His balls were firm against my chin and I cupped them in my hands, licking up and down him as moved in and out.

‘Fuck, Angel,’ he said, pulling out. ‘No more. I want to be able to take you properly, not just for my personal gratification. That’ll come later.’

He pulled me up, letting my hair fall loose over my shoulder, and walked over to the shower cubicle. He turned a lever and immediately water gushed out from the huge, square shower-head.

‘I should make you get straight in, while it’s still cold,’ he said. ‘For trying to take charge. And I would, if I didn’t love you so much.’

I giggled, holding back away from him until I could see the moisture beginning to cloud on the glass panels.

‘Who do you think you are, anyway?’ he said, advancing upon me. ‘Trying to tell me what to do?’

I stifled a laugh and ran around the other side of the bath.

‘Oh?’ I could see he was trying not to smile. ‘So, it’s like that, is it?’

He walked slowly and purposefully around the bath. I let out a little squeal – half of nerves, half excitement – and ran back around the other side.

‘You know, Angel,’ he said, barely suppressing a grin. ‘If you don’t come quietly, I may have to forget what I said about personal gratification and take that pretty little bottom of yours.’

I squealed again – definitely from nerves this time – and he came back around the bath again. I was torn – should I run, or should I just give in?

As he neared me, I realised I wasn’t even seriously considering giving in. I shrieked and ran back around the bath. He, cool as you like, reached across it and snatched my wrist into his palm. I tried to break free, but his grip didn’t even waver and he dragged me, squeaking and giggling towards the shower cubicle.

‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ he murmured into my ear, as he pulled me under the flow of the water and into his chest.

He kissed me, his mouth claiming mine savagely as the water coursed down across our faces. As our tongues met, we clung together as if we’d been parted for years, our hands moving over each other, his knee pushing mine apart.

He ran his hand down over my breast, fondling it roughly, before sliding it further down, over my tummy and between my legs. He pushed my thighs apart and slid one finger, then two, inside me, rubbing at my clit with the heel of his hand.

‘Oh,’ I breathed, in between kisses. ‘Take me…please.’

‘I will,’ he murmured. ‘But not in the way you want. In the way I want.’

‘Anyway you want,’ I whispered back, my desire taking over and making me more daring. ‘Just take me.’

He slid his fingers out and, turning me around, came up behind me and pushed me forwards. ‘Put your hands against the glass. Spread your legs.’

The glass was cold and slippery, but I hardly noticed. I was too distracted by his hands, one of which was back in place in front, massaging my clit. The other had moved down behind and was fondling my buttocks.

I couldn’t help but moan again.

This time, he pulled his hand away and spanked me. Hard.

‘I warned you – this is for my pleasure now, Gorgeous.’

He pushed his fingers in between my cheeks and started to stroke around my asshole, pushing at it with each pass. His fingertips were slippery with the water and, each time, it pushed further inside me. After several passes, the tip of his finger pushed right inside.

‘There’s a good girl,’ he whispered. ‘Now, how does it feel?’

‘It’s…all right.’ I was surprised. I’d thought it would be painful.

‘This is nothing, Angel,’ he said, sounding amused. ‘Relax, okay?’

I nodded, hardly reassured by his words.

He pushed his finger further in, moving it around inside me. It felt odd, but not unpleasant.

‘You have such a beautiful ass,’ he said, bending down to look at it. ‘Has anyone ever fucked it before?’

I shook my head. ‘You know they haven’t.’

‘I suspected,’ he said. ‘From your reaction at Dominion. I couldn’t be sure.’ He kissed my ass cheek, letting his tongue run over it as he pushed at my hole. ‘Sliding another finger in now, Gorgeous. Relax.’

I felt it as his fingers pushed my hole further open. Once inside, he twisted them around, squirming them inside me as he toyed with my clit. ‘This will make it easier on you,’ he said. ‘Trust me.’

He came back up behind me, his wet length slapping against my thigh. I felt his fingers slither out, as he took hold of his cock and positioned it at the entrance.

‘I’m going to go slowly,’ he said. ‘Or it’ll really hurt. Just keep calm.’

As he pushed it in, I felt it spreading my hole apart. Once the tip was inside, he paused, but didn’t stop working away at my clit. It was sending shudders of excitement through me, tamed only by my nerves. ‘Just a little at a time,’ he murmured. ‘And you’ll be fine.’

Bit by bit, he pushed his cock into me, spreading apart my hole until, suddenly, it almost seemed to pop, and it was inside. It hurt, but not as much as I was expecting. He stopped again, nuzzling at my shoulder blade as I panted with fear and excitement.

‘How’s that, Gorgeous?’ He pulled away slightly. ‘Remember, you can say stop at any time.’

‘It’s…not so bad.’

‘It’ll get better.’ He began to move his cock inside me, just a tiny bit, back and forth. With each movement, I noticed the pain growing less and the sensation becoming more enjoyable. ‘How’s that?’

‘It’s...different.’

‘Different?’ He sounded amused. ‘It’s fucking amazing from this end.’

He worked his fingers faster on my clit and, now that the slight pain had dissipated, I started to relax into it. My clit was on fire under his fingers, the sensations spreading from it into my pussy and even into my ass. I found myself pushing backwards against him, in spite of myself, as he pushed his cock further into my hole, filling it up with his length.

‘Do you feel dirty, Angel?’

‘Yes,’ I said with a gasp. ‘Yes, I do.’

‘That’s because you are,’ he whispered. ‘You’re my dirty little Angel, letting me fuck your ass.’

I leaned back against him, his fingers pulling and pushing at my clit, his cock thrusting in and out of my ass. He was nuzzling my neck now, his other hand kneading at my breast as he took me harder and harder. ‘What are you?’

‘I’m…’ I quailed for a moment, then, I said it. ‘I’m your dirty little Angel.’

‘Why are you?’

‘Because I’m letting you fuck my ass.’

‘And you’re enjoying it.’

‘And I’m enjoying it.’

Being made to say it aloud, coupled with the sensual assault in my rear, was just too much. My clit and pussy shuddered, over and over, in his hand as I came.

He held me tight until I’d finished, his hands stroking my clit gently as I came down, and then he turned me to face him. ‘On your knees, now, there’s a good girl.’

I felt my eyes widen. Surely, he wasn’t expecting…not straight after…

But as I looked down, I saw that he was stroking his cock, clearly almost on the verge himself. His hand was moving faster and faster until it was almost a blur.

I sank to my knees in front of him, watching as he brought himself closer and closer to the brink.

‘Open your mouth,’ he said, looking down at me. ‘Be my dirty little slut.’

I did as I was told, opening my mouth against the water still gushing across us. As he came, he moved my head from under the flow, his cum spattering into my mouth and across my cheeks, over and over.

‘You look fucking adorable,’ he murmured, his breath coming short and shallow. ‘You wanted to be a slut and now you are, Angel. You’re my dirty little slut, now and forever.’

    Forty Two

Her

Ronnie was waiting in the entrance hall, when we came downstairs. If she was surprised to see me, she made no show of it. I wondered how she’d feel about me being involved in their meeting.

We walked through into the drawing room. It was large and airy, with the sash windows open and the scent of honeysuckle blowing in from the grounds outside. The only thing out of place was a hospital bed, sticking out from one of the bay windows. Around it, were positioned several armchairs, a coffee table flanking each one.

In the bed, a man was lying, a tube attached to his nose and a heart monitor at his side. He sat up slightly as we came in, his eye alighting first on Nathaniel.

‘Oh,’ he said, wheezing. ‘So you’re here then, are you?’

He didn’t make it sound like a good thing and, when his attention turned to me, I shrank back, wondering whether my reception would be any better.

‘And you’ve brought a lady. Well, she’s a bit easier on the eye than the last one.’

‘Shut up, you cantankerous old git,’ said Ronnie, as he burst into hoarse, breathless laughter. She was smiling, though, and went over and dropped a butterfly kiss on his forehead. ‘How are you today, Quin?’

‘Shite as fuck. How’s the club?’

‘You’d be ecstatic,’ she said.

‘And the rest?’

‘Seamless.’ She cast a knowing glance at Nat. ‘Nat’s running it all beautifully.’

He gave a disparaging laugh. ‘Well, he’s good for something, then. No grandchildren, yet, though, I notice.’

He shot a curious glance at me and I felt myself flush.

‘Not exactly child bearing hips, eh, Nat?’ he added, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

‘She’s perfect.’ Nat put his arm around me. ‘You jealous bastard. This is my father, Grace. Quinlan Fforbes.’

I smiled at him. ‘Hello.’

He was about to say something else, when there was a knock at the door. Ronnie went to answer it. There was a murmur of voices outside and, then, Ronnie’s, high-pitched and querulous. ‘Oh no – not again. This is too much.’

She stepped back, putting her hands up to Nat in a don’t blame me gesture.

A woman with red hair, flanked by a police officer, pushed past her into the room. They shut the door behind them, but it was pushed open again, almost at once. An elderly woman followed them in, her hand resting on the arm of a younger woman, blonde and beautiful. I had the feeling I recognised her, but couldn’t think why.

‘Greetings, Mr Fforbes,’ the red-haired woman said, smoothly. She had a smug air about her, almost as if she was revelling in the moment. She walked over to where Nat still stood, at his father’s side.

‘Who are you?’ barked Quinlan Fforbes. ‘What the devil are you doing in my house?’

‘They’re not after you.’ Nat sounded resigned and looked at me wearily before turning to the woman. ‘It’s me she’s after. She’s my own personal fan club.’

She gave a smirk and stared him in the eye. ‘Oh, yes, I am.’ She turned to Quinlan. ‘I’m DI Brown, Your Honour, and I seem to spend my whole life chasing your son around.’

Quinlan let loose another burst of wheezing laughter. DI Brown didn’t seem amused and turned to Nat. ‘I’m such a big fan of yours, I’ve come to collect you again. Personally. I’ve some more questions I’d like to ask you, concerning the disappearance of Aimee Maitland.’

Quinlan looked thunderstruck and shot a glance at Ronnie. There was a cough from near the door, and the elderly woman shuffled forward, helped along by the blonde woman.

I looked at Nat. He looked ill. His eyes were fixed and staring, his skin ashen.

‘I think I can help you there,’ said the blonde woman, coming forward.

‘And what’s it got to do with you?’ snapped DI Brown. ‘How can you help?’

‘Well, you see.’ The blonde woman looked at Nat. He’d sunk down onto one of the armchairs and didn’t return her gaze. ‘I’m the woman you want to question him about. I’m Aimee Maitland.’

All the heat drained out of me, then came flooding back in a wave of nausea that made the sweat stand out on my brow. No wonder Nat looked so shaken. No wonder I’d thought I recognised her – she was the girl in the photo on the mantelpiece in his quarters. The one for whom he’d said he did everything he did. The one who’d disappeared, presumed dead.

I turned to look at Nat, but he didn’t return my gaze. He was still just staring at nothing, his brow furrowed, his expression unreadable.

She seemed to realise she’d caused a stir because she gave an awkward laugh and went to put her hand out to him. He stood up and, pushing her hand aside, left the room, closely followed by Ronnie.

DI Brown looked almost as devastated as Nat. She threw Aimee an irritated glare, and then turned to follow Nat out of the room. I was left standing there, not knowing what to do or say.

‘Aimee,’ said Quinlan, breathlessly.

‘Yes,’ said the elderly woman – presumably Nat’s mother. ‘I told you all along, didn’t I?’

He turned to me. ‘Much as it’s been a delight to meet you,’ he said, as if the opposite were true. ‘I’d like a few moments alone with Aimee, if it’s all the same to you.’

I nodded, still speechless, and turned to leave the room.

‘Take her with you,’ he added, indicating the elderly woman. ‘I want to spend a few minutes with my long-lost foster daughter.’

I held out my arm to the woman and she took it, her hand light and dry against my skin. ‘I did tell them,’ she said, confidentially, as we made our way slowly out of the room. ‘I told Nathaniel, and he wouldn’t listen.’

Nat was standing in the entrance hall when we reached it, flanked on either side by DI Brown and the other officer.

‘He’s still going to have to come with us,’ DI Brown was saying, as we made our way over to them. ‘That woman in there? She could be anybody.’

Ronnie made an exasperated clucking sound. ‘It’s too ridiculous,’ she said. She looked almost as pale as Nat, and kept running her fingers through the curls at the front of her hair, until they flopped into wings, either side of her face. ‘That’s Aimee Maitland, as I live and breathe.’

DI Brown ignored her. ‘Go and get her,’ she said to the other officer. ‘Let’s get this freak show on the road.’

Ronnie gave a snort of disbelief and, for the first time, Nat spoke.

‘Leave it, Ronnie,’ he said. ‘She’s just doing her job. Nobody saw this one coming.’

Ronnie gave a shrug. ‘Fair enough,’ she said, but she still looked worried.

The officer returned in due course with the woman, Aimee. The last I saw of her or Nathaniel was the pair of them dipping down into the back of a police car, before it swept away up the long avenue of lime trees, leaving us standing on the gravel in front of the Castle.