Текст книги "Disgraced"

Автор книги: Annabel Chant

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    Twenty Four

Her

It wasn’t until we were in the Aston, on the way back to the Dominion hotel, that I remembered he’d said it. He’d kissed me so passionately, afterwards, that everything else had flown from my mind. The taste of his hot, strawberry-sweetened breath, the feeling of his tongue swirling and mingling with mine, the sensation of safety that came from being wrapped in his arms; these things had taken away all thought, all reason, and replaced it with an almost primal desire to be one with him, to have nothing separating us but our naked skin.

‘Let’s go back to mine,’ he murmured, between kisses. ‘I can’t keep my hands off you a moment longer.’

I’d nodded, unable to speak for the emotions running through me, and we’d gathered up the picnic and headed along the south bank of the Serpentine, its waters still glittering with evening sunlight, towards Park Lane and Stephens.

In the air-conditioned cool of the Aston, his words came back to me.

‘What did you mean?’ I asked. ‘When you said you had my back before I ever knew it?’

‘Just what I said.’ He took his sunglasses off and turned to look at me. His eyes were bluer than ever, and slightly creased at the corners, from where he’d been looking into the sun. It made him look tired, but no less handsome for it. ‘I’d had my eye on you ever since that morning in Max’s office.’

‘But…why?’ I didn’t understand. To say I’d been stand-offish was an understatement. What had made him take an interest in me from so early on?

‘Because I saw you on the news that lunchtime – when you came out of the bank. You’d just been royally shafted and, I suppose, I knew what you were going through, to some extent, having just taken it up the ass myself. Not literally,’ he added, as if he thought it likely I might think so.

‘How?’ I said, digesting this new factoid. His life just seemed to get more and more complicated. ‘What happened?’

‘It was the night before, as a matter of fact.’ His face hardened. ‘It was Charlotte…’

I went to speak, but he cut me off.

‘Yes – that Charlotte. She was with me the night before. She’d set me up. I was waiting to deal with her when I saw you on the news.’

I was waiting to deal with her… The words sent an involuntary shiver down my back. ‘And did you? Deal with her?’

He nodded. ‘Yes. I put an end to her little game, although much good it did me.’ He stared out the window moodily. ‘The story they got from it in the end was far worse.’

I remembered the headline. It had sat above mine on the front page. Fforbes the Filth Monger.

‘But you didn’t kill her,’ I said, hardly daring to breathe. ‘You didn’t, did you?’

He gave a shrug. ‘No, but I don’t suppose I helped matters, if I’m honest.’

It was hardly the reassuring response I’d been looking for. I sat for a moment, before broaching the subject again. ‘But you didn’t do it,’ I said.

He didn’t look at me. ‘Look, Grace. I’m not a saint. I mean, earlier today, I saw a man killed.’

‘Murdered?’

‘Yes, murdered.’

‘Were you involved?’

‘No, but I was partly the cause.’

‘Did you know him, then?’

‘He was an old friend.’

‘Will you tell?’

‘Never.’

I sat and looked out at the busy evening streets – the Londoners, the tourists, all wrapped up in their own affairs. I wondered if their lives were as confusing and complicated as that of this beautiful man sitting next to me. Somehow, I doubted it.

‘Look, Grace,’ he said, turning my face to his and staring searchingly into my eyes. ‘Sometimes, you just have to trust people. I’ve had your back from the first. I’m not a saint, but I’m not exactly a sinner, either. Charlotte…the guy this morning…even Aimee…. Sometimes, people conspire at their own destruction.’

I wasn’t sure what to make of this and we sat in an awkward silence until Stephens pulled up outside the Dominion.

    Twenty Five

Him

I led her into the hotel foyer. She hadn’t spoken a word since our conversation in the car, and I could tell she was still mulling over what I’d told her. I was sorry that it had discomfited her so much, but it had to be said. I couldn’t have her thinking I was some villain or – perhaps worse – the knight errant Charlotte had once described me as. I’d only disappoint her.

I couldn’t help a wry smile at the memory of Charlotte’s description. If I’d gone with Knight Errant on the business card, things might have worked out differently, at least as far as my public profile was concerned. As it was, I was the Filth Monger and likely to remain that way indefinitely.

Grace had obviously noticed the smile.

‘What?’ she said. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘I…’ I began. ‘You still have your sunglasses on.’

‘Can I take them off, now, then?’ She put her fingers to the frames.

‘No,’ I said, taking her hands in mine. ‘Leave them on, at least until we get upstairs.’

She pulled her hands away and gazed around her. ‘So, this is where you live?’

‘Yes.’ I steered her towards the lifts. ‘Most of the time. If I have business there, I sometimes stay in my quarters at the Castle, but not often.’

‘And the club…?’ She indicated down towards the floor.

‘Yes.’ I pressed the button for the lift. ‘Beneath our feet.’

‘I’d like to see it,’ she said. She seemed intrigued; peering at the floor as if, at any moment, a crack might appear in it and afford her a private view.

‘Really?’ I don’t know why I was surprised, knowing what I knew about her, but, despite everything, she still seemed so innocent and naïve. Well, compared to me, she was innocent and naïve. ‘If you want to pay it a visit, it can be arranged.’

She didn’t reply. I got the feeling she was slightly embarrassed by her own curiosity.

The lift came and I stepped aside to let her in.

‘Sunglasses won’t cut it at Dominion, though,’ I added, thoughtfully, as the lift ascended. ‘I’ll have to make arrangements.’

She still didn’t reply, but flushed slightly, as if the continued mention of the club just added to her embarrassment.

‘You don’t have to be ashamed in front of me,’ I said. ‘I want to know everything about you…find out how your mind works. There’s nothing you can’t tell me.’

She smiled wanly. ‘Thank you. I’m just…interested, I suppose. I want to find out everything about you, too.’

‘You’ve heard a lot of it, already.’ The lift reached my floor and I ushered her out, into the hallway and through my front door. ‘You’ve seen the Castle, this hotel – I’ll take you down to the club later – and, of course, the Fforbes hotel in Mayfair.’

‘The F Bar,’ she said. ‘Yes, of course.’

She didn’t say any more for a moment. When she did, it was in an accusatory tone. ‘We were on the guest list there.’

‘Yes, you were.’

‘Was that…?’

‘Yes, it was at my personal request.’ I led her into the lounge where, only the day before, all my closest associates had been gathered to decide what to do about Rick. What a difference a day made. ‘I couldn’t just hope to bump into you on the off chance. I told you – you’re not the only stalker in town.’

‘But I nearly went off with…’ Her voice trailed away in dismay.

‘I’d never have let that happen.’ I knew that for sure, now. She’d been mine from the moment I’d laid eyes on her. She just hadn’t known it. ‘You were too precious to let slip. I’d have done anything to keep you safe. Hell, I nearly did.’ The memory of her in the playroom at the Castle, surrounded by my pawing, groping men, made me shudder involuntarily.

‘I know,’ she came over to me, her hands held out towards me. ‘I’m sorry…really. I was just…mixed up.’

I nodded. ‘You reminded me so much of Aimee, it was scary,’ I said. ‘I wasn’t going to let that happen again.’

She took my hand and held it up to her face, kissing my fingertips one by one. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, in between kisses. ‘If I’d only known...’

‘I think you knew, really,’ I couldn’t help saying. ‘You were just intent on getting back at Leo.’

‘Some people conspire at their own destruction,’ she murmured, holding my hands to her face. ‘I’m over that now.’

The sensation of her lips against my fingers sent tiny shivers of anticipation down to my cock and the sight of her angel face, staring up so sorrowfully into mine was more than I could take.

‘Do you finally understand?’ I said, staring down into her eyes. ‘You’re mine. You have been, from the start. Do you get that, now?’

She nodded, punctuating it with the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. I smiled back and, scooping up her lithe, light frame in my arms, carried her into the bedroom.

    Twenty Six

Her

His penthouse was stunning. The lounge was all clean lines of wood and glass, an open-stepped staircase going up to a minstrel gallery above it. The whole of one side was floor-to-ceiling glass, with French windows opening out onto a large, enclosed balcony.

I was still feeling nervous when I entered, wondering who this man really was and how he could be so much deeper than the arrogant, self-assured dick I’d first taken him for, but, after a few minutes, I’d relaxed.

I hadn’t realised how much he felt for me. He’d gone out of his way to orchestrate the meeting at the F Bar and I’d nearly gone off with a group of strangers. Even after that, he’d pursued me, only for me to carry on in self-destruct mode. Finally, he’d stepped back to let me achieve my fantasy, despite – I now realised – how much it would have hurt him.

All these realisations hit me at once, when he’d admitted arranging the invitation to the F Bar, and I felt a sudden rush of loyalty to this man who’d been so loyal to me. Taking his hands and kissing them seemed so natural, suddenly, and I wasn’t even embarrassed as I kissed each and every finger.

Now, laying on his bed and watching him unbutton his shirt, I felt the same quiver of anticipation as I’d felt the first time.

He stood over me. ‘I keep wanting to do this right,’ he said. ‘Tie you up…ruin you…’ His eyes glinted. ‘Punish you…but it’s no good. I need you too badly.’

His words sent that thrill of anticipation flooding through every cell of my body and, as he lay down next to me, I instinctively moved in towards him, my mouth hungering for his tongue, my body longing for him to enter me.

He rolled on top of me, resting on his elbow as he stared into my eyes. ‘I’ve missed you so much, Angel,’ he said, gruffly. ‘My cock has ached for you since the moment I saw you. My whole body’s ached. It’s like…having permanent flu.’

I couldn’t help laughing and he grinned back, looking slightly abashed.

‘So…I’m like a viral infection?’ I said, disapprovingly.

‘If you are,’ he said. ‘It’s not one I want to get over, ever.’

He brought his lips down to meet mine, the fine stubble around them grazing my skin as he kissed all around them. I lifted my head slightly off the pillow, trying to connect with him, but he held back.

‘Uh-huh,’ he said. ‘Little Miss Impatient. ‘Who’s in charge here, exactly?’

‘You are,’ I breathed. ‘Just…kiss me. Please.’

‘You’re learning,’ he said, sounding satisfied. ‘Whatever Madam desires.’

He brought his mouth down on mine, his lips soft at first before hardening as he thrust into my mouth with his tongue, his free hand caressing my jaw as he pushed further in. I teased at his tongue with my own, licking at it and rubbing along it, his taste buds gently rough against mine.

‘God, I’ve never wanted anything so much,’ he murmured into my mouth, as he let his hand slip from my cheek and trace an electric line down my neck to my breast. He cupped it in his palm, kneading at it softly as he rubbed at my nipple through the cotton of my sundress.

‘This won’t do,’ he said, pulling away from me and sitting up slightly. His hand moved to the opening of my dress, which he unbuttoned deftly, not stopping until the whole front of my dress peeled away. ‘A bra as well?’ he said, with a reproving tut. ‘Have you no manners?’

‘Sorry,’ I said, giggling like a schoolgirl. ‘Sir.’

‘I’ll let you off,’ he said, still disapproving. ‘This time. But next time…no underwear is required. Besides,’ he added, with a wink. ‘You don’t need it – you’re perfect without.’

He pulled me up towards him, as he pushed down the straps of my sundress and leaned round to unclasp my bra. I nibbled at his neck, desperate to touch him, to hold him, to be in contact with him every second. My whole body was burning for him, and he was the only one who could extinguish the flames.

He pushed me back down on the bed and cradled my breasts in his hands, running his tongue over one, then the other, before moving down the bed slightly. ‘Lift that pretty bottom up,’ he said. ‘I think these can be dispensed with, too.’

He slipped down my panties, before holding them up and throwing them a dirty look. ‘Coming between me and paradise,’ he said, scoldingly, before pushing my thighs apart and burying his head between my legs.

He kissed inside one thigh, then the other, his lips tingling each area of skin as they passed over it. He pressed my legs further apart with his fingers as his warm breath moved up between my thighs and onto my mound. I couldn’t help a moan. I was sure I was going to come the moment he touched me.

‘Now then,’ he said, as if reading my mind. ‘A little decorum, please, Angel. No moaning or sighing – and definitely no coming – at least, not yet.’

I could have wailed aloud. How was I supposed to keep control of myself when he had my legs spread wide open and his face buried between them? As his tongue began to skate over my folds, I couldn’t help a gasp of excitement.

He pulled away at once. ‘Now, now,’ he said. ‘I think you know that’s against the rules. What do you say?’

‘Sorry,’ I gasped again, as he teased at my clit with his fingers. ‘Sorry…Sir.’

‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘Now, no more misbehaving or I’ll have to deal with you before Dominion and, if I do that, we’ll never get there at all.’

After that, I had to content myself with groaning inwardly, as he gently opened up my folds and plunged his tongue into me, teasing my clit with his fingers as he pushed his tongue deep inside me, lapping at my walls until I was arching my hips to get him further in.

‘Are you being greedy, Miss Anderton?’ he said, looking up at me. The skin around his mouth was glossy in the last rays of the sun, slick and shining with my juices.

‘Yes,’ I gasped. ‘Please don’t stop.’

‘Whatever you want,’ he said. ‘This is for your pleasure, Angel. Tonight, after the club…not so much.’

His face disappeared again, between my thighs, and he began to nibble at my clit, his fingers rubbing against my lips. Gently, he inserted first one finger, then two, deep inside me. At this, it was he who let out a gasp.

‘Oh god, Angel. I can feel every tiny muscle grinding against me.’

I knew it – I could feel it too, my walls working around his fingers as they pushed in deeper and faster, each individual muscle grasping to pull them in still further.

‘It’s no good,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to have you.’

He rose up above me, undoing his fly and pushing the cream linen down and over his knees before pushing my thighs up in the air. ‘I’m going to take you now, Angel.’

‘Yes,’ I said, my breath coming shallow and fast. ‘Please, take me. Take everything.’

He reared up in front of me, his cock sticking straight up, rock hard and with beads of pre-cum already standing out on it.

‘Now, Angel,’ he said. ‘I’m going to ask you now, and never again. Has there been anyone else, since last time?’

I shook my head, jarred out of the moment by the abruptness of the question.

‘Good,’ he said. ‘I had to ask. For both our sakes.’

‘And you?’ I tensed, half sitting up and hardly wanting to hear the answer. If there’d been someone else, all this would suddenly be meaningless…to me, at least.

‘You just don’t get it, do you?’ he said, shaking his head and smiling gently. ‘There could never be anyone else after you.’

I subsided again, back into the sheets, and he ran his cock up and down my folds. With each pass, I couldn’t help but buck my hips, trying to pull him inside me. He pushed my thighs up again, so they were almost touching my shoulders and put the tip of his cock just inside my entrance.

I couldn’t help but moan again.

‘I’m adding that to your list of misdeeds,’ he said, with a satisfied grin. ‘You moan as much as you want now, Miss Anderton. You’ll pay for it tonight.’

I didn’t care. If anything, it excited me still further. As he pushed further in, I arched my back in ecstasy, pushing myself up against him and gripping his length with those same muscles, desperate to keep him inside me.

‘It’s okay, gorgeous,’ he whispered. ‘I’m not going anywhere. It’s all about you, remember?’

He pulled out slightly, before pushing in again, deeper this time, pushing my thighs further apart with his hands, as he did so. In the position we were in, I could see his cock, sliding in and out of me and glistening, as his face had been, minutes before, with my juices.

‘Look at me, Angel,’ he commanded. ‘Look into my eyes while I’m fucking you.’

Hesitantly, I looked up at him. After everything that had happened since that night at the Castle, it was almost like the first time again, and the thought of meeting his gaze was almost overwhelming. I couldn’t help but look away.

He leaned forward and put his hand to my jaw, turning my face back to his. ‘Don’t be shy,’ he said. ‘Remember – this is about you and me. It’s not just sex…it’s us.’

This time, I didn’t avert my gaze, but stared into his eyes as he moved in and out of me. As his thrusts came quicker, he let my thighs drop and moved on top of me, pushing them further apart and, as he did so, I ran my arms over his shoulders and across the smooth, tanned planes of his back.

He began to grind into me, circling his hips slowly and rhythmically, each movement sending a shudder of pleasure through me as I matched him, movement for movement. And still he looked into my eyes, a look of something approaching pain on his face.

‘I’m going to have you in every way possible,’ he said, groaning. ‘I want you to be totally open with me. No embarrassment…no shame…we’re going to do everything together.’

At that, he began to move faster inside me, still grinding but, at the same time, thrusting with his hips, harder and faster, rubbing against my clit until I couldn’t take it anymore.

‘Yes,’ I whispered. I was totally caught up in the moment now, all shame gone. ‘Do everything to me.’

‘Everything, Angel?’

‘Everything.’

At that, I exploded into the most extreme orgasm I’d ever had and, as my walls clenched and tightened around him again and again, he let out a long, shuddering moan and I felt him release inside me, over and over until he collapsed on top of me.

We lay there for a moment, getting our breath back, before he rolled off me and lay, propped on one elbow beside me. He looked down at me, a soft smile on his face.

‘You’ll be the undoing of me, Angel.’ He ran his hand through my hair. ‘No one’s ever made me lose control like this.’

‘Maybe, then,’ I began. I paused, self-conscious again, now the drug-like influence of my sex hormones had worn off. I was tired, suddenly, my eyelids growing heavy in the dusky evening light.

‘Maybe?’

‘Maybe…’ I hesitated, wondering if I was saying the right thing. ‘You’ll have to make an effort to regain it, later. After the club.’

He gave a short laugh, almost of disbelief. ‘Oh, make no mistake, my dear,’ he said. ‘You’ve got it coming. If you think I’ve forgotten about the…your…bus, you are greatly mistaken.’

His words sent a thrill through me, even in my soporific state, and I rolled towards him. He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. I snuggled into his chest, sated, both sexually and emotionally, for the first time since that night at the Castle, and within moments I was asleep.

    Twenty Seven

Him

She looked so peaceful I didn’t like to wake her, so I let her sleep and took a shower, before running her a bath. I could feel myself growing hard again, remembering her slim legs, spread so invitingly; her soft breasts, rubbing against my chest as I pushed into her; her sun-kissed hair, twining and catching in my fingers. I shook my head, willing the memory from my mind. I knew I’d want to have her again, as soon as she woke up, and I didn’t want her to think it was just about the sex.

But, as I tried to think of something else, the image of Rick came back to me, tumbling and twisting, over and over, against the bleak backdrop of the building site. I rubbed at my hair, brusquely, with the towel, as if trying to shake the horror of that morning from my mind, and then headed back to the bedroom to dress.

She was stirring as I walked in and, as I sorted through my wardrobes for some appropriate attire, she sat up slightly and watched me. When I looked at her over my shoulder, she turned her head towards the window, as if embarrassed to be staring at my nakedness. That one small gesture of innocence was enough to wipe all thoughts of Rick from my mind. Fuck, I wanted her.

‘You don’t have to look away,’ I said. ‘I’m as much yours as you are mine.’

‘I…’ She nodded towards the window. ‘I was just admiring the view.’

I didn’t say anything, just looked at her, my eyebrows raised, and she smiled sheepishly.

‘Well, I was admiring the view,’ she amended, looking bashful. ‘You have the most fantastic body.’

‘As do you, Miss Anderton.’ I took a dinner shirt from my wardrobe, and pulled it on. ‘And I have a bath all ready for it. What can I tempt you with for dinner?’

‘Dinner?’ She looked faintly appalled. ‘We ate at the park.’

‘You ate half a scotch egg and a few strawberries.’ I took a dressing gown from the wardrobe and held it open for her. ‘That hardly constitutes dinner.’

She slid gracefully from the bed and let me wrap her in the fluffy gown. ‘I haven’t been eating much recently.’

‘I can tell.’ I couldn’t keep the reproving note from my voice. ‘It’s time you had a decent meal inside you.’

‘I…can’t eat,’ she mumbled. ‘I’m…too nervous.’

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard, but one look at her pinched face put paid to that notion. Her head had dropped and she couldn’t meet my eye.

‘Nervous?’ I almost laughed. ‘Is it me?’

She shook her head and smiled awkwardly. ‘Not, exactly. I’m just...’ She hesitated, before gesturing around her. ‘It’s just all this…you…us…the club…everything.’

‘Does it frighten you?’ When I thought about it, I wondered if Dominion would be too much for her. I thought back to her reaction in the playroom at the Castle. That whole scene would’ve been considered bland at Dominion.

‘Not exactly,’ she paused again. ‘It’s just a bit overwhelming.’

It was my turn to pause. It hadn’t occurred to me before that my life was anything but ordinary but, now she’d pointed it out, I realised it must seem strange. I took her in my arms and tipped her chin up until she was looking into my eyes. ‘I’ll never take you anywhere you don’t want to go, I promise. Nor do anything you don’t want me to do. That goes for everything, in the bedroom and out. I may have the authority, Angel, but you have the power of veto. All you have to do is tell me to stop.’

‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘It’s just…later on – after the club. After Leo, I…’

Sparkes, again. Suddenly, it all made sense. I pulled her into me and held her tight. ‘I’ll promise you one other thing. I’ll never raise my hand to you in anger, gorgeous,’ I nuzzled her ear. She smelt soft and fresh from her bath. ‘After the club…it’s meant to be pleasurable for both parties.’ I pulled away from her and looked at her intently. ‘Both, do you understand? If you don’t like it, what do you say?’

She stared back at me, her eyes still liquid and troubled. ‘Stop,’ she whispered.

I nodded. ‘That’s my girl. Just give it a try…see if you like it.’

‘And if I don’t?’

‘Then you know what to say.’

‘And you won’t be disappointed?’

I laughed. ‘I’ll be exceedingly disappointed.’

She looked crestfallen.

‘For five minutes,’ I continued, running my hand down her cheek. ‘And then, I’ll get over it. I’m a big boy. It won’t change anything, Angel.’ My words took me aback, even as I said them, but I realised they were the truth. Grace was more important to me than anything, regardless of how little time I’d known her. She had been all along. If it meant quitting the lifestyle, I’d take it.

‘I’m not Max,’ I added, thinking of his behaviour at Dominion the evening before.

‘Max?’ She looked puzzled.

‘Never mind,’ I said. ‘Come on, let’s order some food. We can’t have you wasting away.’

By the time dinner arrived, she’d bathed and was combing out her hair in the bathroom mirror. She stayed in there, while the waiters served the food, so she missed the package that arrived along with it, sent straight up from Dominion. Ronnie was a sweetheart. She must have known who it was intended for, yet she’d come through with the goods, anyway.

I left the package on my bed and went to the kitchen to pour some wine.

She was already in the dining room, standing by the table in my navy blue dressing gown, when I came back in. She was running her fingers through her still damp hair, and looked lost and awkward.

‘Don’t stand on ceremony, Angel,’ I said, putting the wine on the table and walking round to pull out her chair. ‘Sit down – make yourself comfortable.’

‘I…wasn’t sure whether I ought to,’ she said, as I pushed in her chair. ‘You know…what with…’ She tailed off, leaving the words unspoken.

For a moment, I had no clue what she meant. When the penny dropped, I almost laughed again. ‘You’ve got it all wrong,’ I said. ‘It’s not like that. Not for me, at least. I can’t speak for…others.’ I was about to say Max again, but checked myself just in time. ‘What goes on in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom. Or in the club, of course.’

‘In the club?’

‘I was speaking generally.’ I sat down opposite her. ‘I’m not going to make you play in the club, don’t worry. I’ll never make you do anything you don’t want to. Tonight’s a recce, that’s all, to show you a bit more about my…um…life.’

‘I don’t have anything to wear, anyway.’ She pushed a sliver of salmon around her plate.

‘Well…’ I took a sip of my wine. ‘You won’t be going anywhere, anyhow, if you don’t eat your dinner.’ I put my glass down. ‘And don’t worry… the clothing situation has resolved itself.’

‘Okay,’ she said, reluctantly spearing the salmon with her fork and putting it to her mouth. She didn’t sound as reassured as she could have done, and I wondered, not for the first time, if she was really ready for Dominion.