‘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.