No Going Back (Club Aegis Book 6)

by Christie Adams

  “I know.” Ros chuckled. “I’m still not convinced you’re not colour-blind.”

  Guy gave a non-committal shrug. He wasn’t, but it was fair to say his interior design skills were somewhat lacking. “I know you don’t want to have Heather working on this. I also know you don’t want to give Simon even more stress while he’s commissioning the research centre. Have you thought about sharing the decision-making with a couple of your friends?”

  “I need more friends outside the services.” Ros waved her hand over the sprawling mass of promotional materials. “This sort of thing would be as much a mystery to them as it is to me.”

  Which was pretty much what Guy suspected. “There is someone else who could help out with this.”

  Ros raised her eyebrows. “Who might that be, and do I need to bribe them? If so, what will it take?”

  “No bribe necessary. She’s already volunteered.”

  “And you were going to tell me about this when?”

  “When you got desperate enough—which is now, by the way.”

  For a day that had got off to a spectacularly bad start, yesterday had come to a spectacularly good close. An afternoon of incredibly debauched sex would do that. Guy hadn’t stayed the night with Maddie, but over dinner, their conversation had turned to Ros’ wedding.

  Quite how he’d managed to talk her around, Guy still wasn’t sure. He was too grateful for the fact that she no longer saw her relationship with him and her business relationship with Ros as mutually exclusive. He’d even coaxed her into being a little more open about the two of them being a couple now, even if it was only with his nearest and dearest. She’d then amazed him with an offer he regarded as nothing short of a miracle.

  “So who is this wonderful person?”

  “Maddie.”

  Ros’ eyebrows went even higher. “Maddie? Remington Grange Maddie?”

  “The same.”

  “I don’t recall her saying anything like that.”

  Guy shifted, bracing himself for her reaction. “That’s because you weren’t there when she said it.”

  Ros’ gaze didn’t waver as she processed the admission. Forever afterwards, Guy would swear he could see the pieces slotting into place.

  “She wouldn’t happen to be the reason why you’ve been spending so much time away from home lately, would she? And that trip to Paris? She is, isn’t she? That’s who you’ve been seeing.”

  His niece was way too astute.

  “I couldn’t possibly comment.”

  His effort was valiant but futile.

  “Way to go, uncle!”

  While his revelation might have been unexpected, it wasn’t unwelcome, if Ros’ grin were any indication. Then again, she’d never seen him date anyone—not even Liz, thanks to the way he’d always compartmentalised his life.

  Another source of regret. While he couldn’t undo past mistakes, he could, however, ensure he didn’t repeat them, even if the current situation did take some getting used to.

  “So what is it about Madeleine Scott that’s grabbed your attention?”

  Ros had suddenly perked up, and was showing far too much interest in his private life. The way she was looking at him made it quite clear he was on the hook and wouldn’t be allowed to wriggle off it.

  It didn’t prevent him from trying, though.

  “Shouldn’t you be looking at caterers, or something?” He nodded in the direction of a brochure, the cover of which was adorned with a spectacular confection of a multi-tiered wedding cake.

  “Not until you spill the beans about you and Maddie.”

  “I’m not saying anything more. It’s still early days.” And he was still more than a little raw from almost losing her twenty-four hours earlier.

  Ros’ smile softened to one of understanding. “You really like her, don’t you?”

  “I really do. She’s a remarkable lady.”

  Professional, highly competent, and undoubtedly successful when it came to her work, she was both passionate and vulnerable when it came to the intimate aspects of her personal life. Though he’d only shared a few nights with her, Guy missed her when he spent the night alone. He’d woken that morning with a strong suspicion that there might be more to this relationship than a pleasant way to pass the time in convivial company.

  Ros stood and came around the desk to face him. “I don’t know her well enough to know if that’s true or not. There is one thing, though—does she know about Aegis, the lifestyle, and what it means to you?”

  Guy took a deep breath. He hadn’t intentionally avoided mentioning the club and the meeting where he’d revealed he was its owner, but he hadn’t made a point of talking about it, either. Perhaps now was an opportunity for them to become more comfortable about something that was important to both of them.

  “No. Not yet,” he added, casting his mind back to the odd occasions when he’d seen hints of a submissive nature in Maddie.

  “If things get serious, you’ll have to tell her. How do you think she’ll take it?”

  The million-dollar question. “I can’t be sure, but I hope she’ll at least meet me halfway.”

  “I hope so, too. I’ve seen a change in you recently, and if it’s down to her… then she’s good for you. I’d hate to see you have to give that up.” She grinned. “So don’t screw it up, okay?”

  Guy chuckled. “I’ll give it my best shot. But don’t forget what I said—if you need help with the wedding preparations, have a word with Maddie. And before you ask, it wouldn’t be connected to her job at the hotel in any way—it would be as a friend.”

  “Okay, I’ll bear that in mind. I need to speak to her about the options for the evening function anyway. Now go away, and let me sort out the bouquets and buttonholes in peace.”

  “Does that mean you and Simon have finally agreed on a theme?”

  “To be honest… not really.”

  “How about your dress?”

  Her shoulders fell with the almost melodramatic groan. “Don’t remind me. I told him I’m too old for white or ivory, but he won’t have it. I want to get married in something more colourful. Until I talk him around to my way of thinking, making a final decision on the details for his suit is out of the question. Are you sure we can’t elope? There must be a vacant beach somewhere.”

  “Nope. Save the beach for your honeymoon. I’m giving you away—got to make sure you do the job properly. What’s wrong? You’re not still worried about this Nia, are you?”

  Over the last couple of weeks, Guy had noticed the way Ros tensed up whenever Simon mentioned the other woman in her presence. To Guy, nothing he’d heard indicated anything other than a working relationship, but then, he wasn’t his niece.

  “Not worried, exactly.”

  “Have you spoken to Simon about the way you feel?”

  Ros shook her head, and if anything, her sadness seemed to increase. “I can’t. He’ll think I don’t trust him. I can’t let him think that, because I know I can trust him. But if I can trust him, why do I feel this way? It doesn’t make sense. I suppose it could have something to do with… but it’s been months…” She turned away.

  “Since Simon was kidnapped and you nearly died rescuing him?” Guy stood and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s going to take time. You know what the counsellor said.”

  “I know. How can I talk to Simon about this without making a mess of things?”

  “By being honest with him. He’ll listen to you. As one Dominant to another, don’t you think you owe it to your submissive to discuss anything and everything that affects your relationship?”

  “You’re right. I didn’t think of it that way, and I should have done.” She nodded, as if coming to a decision. “I’ll talk to him. And I’m going to tell him about the dress I want to get married in.”

  “You found something you like the look of, then?”

  “I think so. It’s white with an abstract pattern of painted flowers around the hem and up one side. Perfect
for a summer wedding, according to Heather.”

  Guy chuckled. The conversation was straying into areas where no sane man would venture. “You know me and fashion—oil and water, although that does sound like it might actually be a good compromise with what Simon thinks. I do know you’ll look beautiful, no matter what you wear. Feeling better now?”

  “Much.” She turned to face him, and she did indeed look more relaxed about the situation. “I’m going to finish up here, then take Simon for a ride.”

  “Good idea. And don’t forget—this is going to be the happiest day of your life. Make it for the two of you, and never mind what anyone else thinks you should do.”

  “I’ll try to remember that.” Her mischievous grin returned. “And I’ll also add Maddie as your plus one on the guest list.”

  Guy left his niece to her nuptial dilemmas. Now that his relationship with Maddie was in the open, with his family at any rate, his heart was, at least in part, considerably lighter.

  As for the part that wasn’t, that wouldn’t be resolved until he put to bed his suspicions about Maddie’s background. On his return to Stonehaven the previous night, he’d sought the sanctuary of the library, and over a glass of Dalmore, he’d considered what he knew about her.

  She didn’t seem to exist beyond her job and their relationship. Any friends she alluded to were connected with her work, she never mentioned anything about her family, and she’d divulged precious little about her past.

  He hated being backed into a corner, but that was exactly where he was. He had no choice. With an irritated sigh, Guy headed for the kitchen. Ros could probably use some more coffee, and then he’d get on with putting the doubts out of his mind once and for all.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Three weeks into his new role for Spectrum Security, and Guy felt as if he’d been doing it all his life. Working out of temporary offices he could do without, although to be fair, his role had taken him to London for a fair proportion of that time.

  The temporary offices were a short-term solution to the problem of the company’s explosive expansion. Connected by both their work and their membership of Aegis, he and his colleagues weren’t so much a team as an extended family. Far from keeping his personal, professional and private lives as separate as possible, Guy found all aspects of his life were now blending together almost seamlessly, apart from one thing.

  That one thing was Maddie, and the not-insignificant detail that she didn’t exist.

  Not until a few years ago, at any rate. Going back, using the details he’d gleaned from their conversations, he’d found an unnervingly perfect reflection of that information in the sources to which he had access. He could have lived with it, though, except for the fact that a little over eight years ago, the trail stopped. There was nothing, not even a whisper of a clue. To say it made him uneasy would be a massive understatement, particularly given the amount of effort it had taken to find out that much.

  As if that weren’t enough, there was another issue he’d been avoiding ever since it had come to his attention. He wanted to believe it was nothing, but years, decades of training and experience argued otherwise.

  Maddie had left her glasses sitting on a newspaper on her sofa. So they wouldn’t fall victim to accidental damage, he’d moved them. As he did so, he’d been puzzled by the lack of distortion of the text on which they’d been resting. He’d told himself it was because she needed only a slight correction to her eyesight. The devil on his shoulder had him pocketing the rather plain frames, so he could have the lenses analysed by a contact who worked in optics.

  The verdict had been unequivocal—plain glass, with no corrective qualities whatsoever. His contact had handed them back with a laugh and a telling comment about stage props.

  A woman who didn’t exist, using glasses with no prescription. Instincts honed over the years screamed at him that something was very wrong, but standing in the way of that was what he felt for her. He didn’t want to believe there was anything nefarious in what he’d found out, but his head put forward an all-too-convincing counterargument.

  Guy closed his laptop. His working week was done, and he was supposed to be going straight over to Remington Grange to spend the weekend with Maddie. At least, he hoped it would be for the weekend. He hadn’t discussed it with her, but had intended to surprise her.

  If only the information in those reports didn’t exist. If only he hadn’t moved those damn glasses. If only his curiosity and experience hadn’t got the better of him. Before this, he’d had tentative plans to explore Maddie’s inclination towards submission, but now there was an elephant in the room he couldn’t ignore.

  Or maybe he could, just for the weekend.

  Maybe they could have two more days together, before he ruined everything.

  Maybe, in that time, he could even find out something that would explain away everything he’d discovered, and prove she was who she said she was after all.

  >>><<<

  As he made his way through the hotel, Guy nodded to the members of staff who recognised him and greeted him with open, friendly smiles. Though he tried not to allow his recent findings to colour his thoughts, he couldn’t help but wonder about Maddie in the context of the people around her. Did they know more about her than he’d been able to uncover? Doubtful, but if they did, precisely what did they know?

  There were any number of possible reasons, but what Guy couldn’t shake was the possibility that her current life and identity had been created by the Protected Persons Service. Any one of a multitude of scenarios could have led to her requiring official protection. All Guy knew was that if that was the basis for the secrecy, he’d stand by her side to face the threat, whatever it might be.

  And if it wasn’t? He’d worry about that if it happened.

  “You’re early. Come on in. I haven’t had a chance to change yet.”

  Maddie’s smile warmed him even more than the sensation of her arms around him. He returned the hug and held her to him as if he’d never let her go. He didn’t want to let her go, not ever.

  Right now, he just wanted her.

  “I know we’re supposed to be going out to dinner tonight, but would you mind if we ate here?”

  She lifted her head from his chest. “Rough week?”

  How could those incredible eyes, shining with happiness, possibly conceal dark secrets? “You could say that.” Weary to his soul, Guy kissed her forehead. The chill in him lifted with her contented sigh. “What am I going to do with you, Maddie mine?”

  “That depends. If it’s a rhetorical question, I can’t answer that. If you’re wondering about doing something with me tonight, we could always delay dinner.”

  “And why would we do that?” In spite of his gloomy thoughts, he gave in to the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

  “Because I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind all day, I desperately need you to take me to bed. Is that a good enough reason?”

  The smile turned into a soft chuckle. “Now there’s an appetiser I can get my teeth into.”

  Picking up the bag he’d dropped as soon as he’d entered the room, Guy took Maddie’s hand in his and led her to the bedroom. The first time he’d been invited into her sanctuary, he’d been impressed by how accurate a reflection it was of the woman who’d captivated him. The room was feminine without being fussy, delicate but lacking an avalanche of lace, and while the colours were muted, they hinted at a strong, quiet presence.

  “How long can you stay?”

  The hope in the question made his heart ache. “All weekend, if you’ll have me?”

  Her soft gaze, twinkling with suggestive humour, filled him with guilt for harbouring such suspicions about her. “As it happens, I’m available until Monday. You may have to fight your way out of here on Sunday night.”

  “Oh, like that, is it? Planning to tie me to your bed, then?”

  “No, but I was hoping you might tie me to it.”

  His breath hitched. �
�You were?”

  “I have scarves.”

  What? Was he hallucinating now? “What did you say?”

  “I have scarves.” She nodded in the direction of the dressing table. “In the top left drawer.”

  Guy followed her gaze… and roared with laughter. He’d been well and truly played. “So I wasn’t the only one hoping tonight.”

  “I couldn’t possibly say.”

  He kissed her hard. “That’s the kind of attitude that earns a spanking.”

  Fire crested in her cheeks. “Why?”

  “To remind you that I’m in charge.”

  The comment slipped out before he could stop it.

  “You’re in charge? Really?”

  Okay, so he’d run with it. “Really.”

  “So you’re saying using the scarves is your decision?”

  “That’s what I’m saying.” Although scarves wouldn’t be his first choice for a serious scene, they’d work for a little light play. And hell, if she was so willing, who was he to disappoint her? “Do you mind if I fetch them?”

  Eyes wide and innocent, she shook her head. “Please, help yourself.”

  “Thank you. Go and stand by the bed for me, Maddie mine.”

  When she’d said she had scarves, she wasn’t joking. The drawer was full of them, in a glorious profusion of colourful swirls. Guy selected one and snapped it to test the feel. “These are new. Is this your first time?” He’d already been planning to take it easy with her, but if she was a complete novice, he’d keep it even more low-key.

  “If you’re asking if I’ve read those books everyone’s been talking about for the last couple of years, the answer is yes.”

  “I’m asking if this is your first time to try a little bondage.” This time, Guy kept the levity out of his voice. What they were about to do might be termed “play”, but it still had to be safe, sane and consensual. If he had to explain that to her, he wanted to know before they started. He might already have spanked her, but the constriction of bondage was a different matter entirely.