“I’m glad you think so.”
“So are you going to stay? I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“Since you ask so nicely. Give me a minute.”
He needed five, and when he joined her, Maddie turned over and rolled straight into his arms. “The perfect end to a long day.”
She was asleep before she heard his whispered response.
“The perfect end to every day.”
>>><<<
“So, who is she?”
While Maddie held her glorious mane of hair up and out of the way, Guy zipped up her dress. As he did so, he inhaled deeply. Her enchanting fragrance, a subtle combination of something light and floral underpinned by the scent that was uniquely her, wove its sensual magic around him. The intimacy of the task was both a surprise and a thrill. One thing would have made her outfit perfect, and that was a necklace they’d both know in truth was her collar. He’d been thinking about it more and more over the last few days, ever since he’d broached the subject of changing their living arrangements. The time was fast approaching when he’d have to do something about both.
“She’s a scientist. I’m not sure what she does exactly, but she joined Simon’s research facility a couple of months ago. Her name’s Nia Shepherd.”
Maddie shook her hair loose, flicking it up with both hands so it settled around her shoulders. The sight made him want to go all caveman on her and drag her off to bed.
“Do they normally invite new recruits to dinner?”
For a moment Guy debated how much to tell her, then realised there was no debate to be had—Maddie was family, and had been for some time. “The day Ros and I first went to Remington Grange, she told me she didn’t think she was enough to keep Simon happy. She thought there was the potential for something to develop between him and Nia. I tried to reassure her, but since then, I’ve noticed there’s been a couple of times those doubts have resurfaced. I suggested asking Nia to dinner.”
“So Ros could see for herself she has nothing to worry about?”
“That’s the idea, although I haven’t told her that in so many words.”
“That sounds like a good plan, assuming there is nothing for her to worry about.”
“Not a thing. I’ve known Simon for years. Given that none of us have to hide anything about being in the lifestyle now, he’s told me Ros is everything he ever wanted in a Domme and more. He never thought he’d be lucky enough to find love in the same perfect package—his words, not mine.”
“Has anyone ever told Ros that?”
“Both of us—in my case in a roundabout way, I have to admit. I suspect her background in the RMP has a lot to do with it. Her subconscious is holding out for unequivocal proof.”
Maddie wrapped her arms around Guy’s waist and laid her head against his shoulder. “I hope this works out.”
“It will.” Guy held her close, in the kind of embrace he hoped would leave her in no doubt about his feelings. “Are you all right with the seating arrangements for dinner?”
The small dining room, with its circular table, would accommodate the five of them with ease. With the way Guy had things planned, Ros would have a grandstand view of her husband-to-be and his colleague.
“I can’t say I’m entirely happy, given that it’s happening behind Ros’ back. How did you contrive all this?”
“I had a word with Simon. He mentioned someone new had joined the team, but was too busy working to spend much time socialising. Seemed to me it was a golden opportunity for Ros to see she has nothing to worry about.” Guy stroked her back, a gesture meant to provide comfort and reassurance. She didn’t yet know Ros and Simon as well as he did, but the fact that she was so concerned for them touched him. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine, you’ll see. Now, if you’re ready, shall we go down?”
He felt her absence as she stepped back and out of his embrace, the loss partly mitigated by the hand she tucked in the crook of his arm.
“I’m ready—although I may need a good stiff drink once we get down there.”
>>><<<
After a tense start, the evening evolved into a huge success. When Nia arrived, Ros was wound more tightly than ever, but by the end of the evening, she was at least as relaxed as Maddie had ever seen her.
As for their guest… There was something about the petite woman that intrigued Maddie. She intrigued Guy, too. Maddie saw it in how he looked at her and the way he was talking to her. He was still the master of subtle interrogation techniques.
During the evening, Simon played the perfect host. Although there was some shop-talk between him and Nia, it soon became crystal-clear they were no more than to each other than friends and colleagues.
“It’s been a lovely evening, thank you very much for inviting me. It really has been a great pleasure to meet you all—especially you, Ros. Simon’s told me so much about you, I felt as if I already knew you,” Nia said as they made their way to the entrance hall.
“Thank you for coming.” Ros’ reply was warm and genuine. “I hope you’ll join us for dinner again, when Simon and I finally move into a place of our own.”
“I’d love to. I’d also love to invite you all over to dinner, if I ever get to stop living out of boxes. I moved in three months ago, and I still haven’t unpacked everything.”
“Are you sure you won’t stay the night?” Guy offered. “We have plenty of room for overnight guests.”
“Thanks. It’s very generous of you, but I do need to get back. I have a conference call first thing in the morning, and a terrible boss who’ll have my head if I miss it.” She grinned at Simon.
Guy stepped forward. “In that case, I’ll have the car brought around to take you home.”
“Oh no, please don’t go to any trouble on my account. I can call a taxi.”
“I won’t hear of it. It’s late, and we want to make sure you get home all right.”
“I appreciate the offer, Sir Guy. I’d have driven over, but I’m between cars at the moment. Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
“Our pleasure, Nia. Have a safe journey home.”
They watched the Rolls-Royce leave, driven by Guy’s recently recruited chauffeur, then returned to the drawing room. Or would have done, but for Ros declaring she was tired and ready for bed.
Simon agreed. “Good idea. I know you have to go to the office tomorrow, but do you think they’d mind if you slept in for once?”
“We’ll see. You go on up, Simon—I’ll be right there. I just want to have a quick word with uncle dear.”
“I’m not surprised you’re tired,” Guy said, after the other man left, his reluctance to leave his fiancée blindingly obvious. “So—what’s this quick word you want?”
“Oh, not much—just to congratulate you on a well-executed plan.”
“Plan? My dear niece, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you ‘my dear niece’ me, Guy Somerton. Simon told me this evening was your suggestion.”
Guy shrugged. “He told me Nia was new to the area and didn’t get out much outside of work. I was merely being hospitable, and I have to say, I found her quite charming.”
Ros gave him a wry grin. “You’re not fooling me for one moment. I know your games of old. And for the record—I like her.”
Guy snorted. “I can’t say I’m surprised. She reminds me a lot of you.”
“Is that so?” Ros folded her arms.
“That is so. I think you’ll find you and she have a great deal in common, once you get to know her. Now go to your man, and leave Maddie and me in peace.”
“Are you two going to bed now?”
“Imminently. Now go.”
“All right then. Good night, children—I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t make too much noise!” With a cheeky grin, Ros headed for the stairs. As she put her foot on the first, she called out, “And don’t be late going to bed!”
“Bloody nerve,” Guy muttered.
Maddie chuc
kled. “You know you love her.”
The mutter turned into a grumble. “Just as well. Come on, let’s have a nightcap.”
She groaned. Her lover’s nightcaps tended to be of the alcoholic variety. “Do you mind if I pass? I think I had rather too much wine tonight.”
“We can always make it cocoa, if you prefer?”
And he knew full well she hated cocoa. “Make it coffee, and you’re on.”
The kitchen was quiet, the staff long since departed after providing a delicious dinner for their guest. Guy made her take a seat by the range, while he busied himself with their drinks. When they were ready, he moved another chair to a spot beside her.
Maddie sipped her coffee and groaned with pleasure. “Oh, that’s good. Just perfect. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Now—tell me what you think of Nia.”
Of all the questions he could have asked her, Maddie never would have guessed he was interested in her thoughts regarding their dinner guest. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I saw the way you were looking at her, and I’d like to know if you came to the same conclusion I did. And don’t ask me what that is—I want to hear your thoughts first.”
“Okay, if you promise not to laugh.”
“I promise.”
Maddie bought herself a few precious seconds with another sip of coffee. “Ridiculous as this may sound, there was a point during the evening when I wondered if she might be a Domme. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but there was something about her confidence, her sense of self-assurance. The way she used your title, as well, even though you told her it wasn’t necessary. I can’t really explain. You said she reminded you a lot of Ros.” The pieces slotted into place. “You thought the same.”
“I wondered.”
“Do you think she’s in the lifestyle?” Maddie wasn’t sure where the question came from, or why she was asking it.
Guy frowned. “I wouldn’t like to say. I know Simon extended tonight’s invitation to include her partner, which was when he discovered she’s not in a relationship.”
“Playing devil’s advocate here, but why is it any of our business?”
“I’m not sure—yet.”
And Maddie wasn’t sure that was the whole truth. She remembered Guy’s sixth sense about people of old. If his instincts were asking questions, even if based on only the slightest cause for concern, those instincts wouldn’t rest until answers had been found.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Here. Let me do that. We can’t have you looking like an unmade bed for the photos.”
Guy never looked like an unmade bed—it was a matter of personal pride. Furthermore, he was more than capable of fixing his own bow tie, but he was becoming rather partial to having Maddie fuss over him. Today was a special day for so many reasons. Not only was it Ros and Simon’s wedding day—it was the day he’d chosen to ask the woman he loved to be his. To ask her if she’d do him the honour of wearing his ring and his collar.
They’d spent the night together in Maddie’s quarters at the hotel. When she’d tried to sneak away at a ridiculously early hour to check on the preparations for the ceremony, he’d put her over his knee. After giving her a sound spanking for not sharing the responsibility with him, he’d accompanied her on her quest to make sure everything was as close to perfection as possible. He’d seen her professionalism first-hand, and been both impressed and not in the least surprised. She’d applied the same dedication, focus and resourcefulness when they’d worked together in British Intelligence.
In the lightweight summer dress he’d helped her choose for the wedding, she was a jaw-dropping beauty. The soft-hued tones were a stunning complement to her colouring. Right now, it was still on its hanger. Although he was honoured to give Ros away to the man who loved her, the greater honour for him was to take his place at Maddie’s side.
“Madeleine.” He turned in her arms and took a step back, so he could take her hands in his. The sight of her in the lacy lingerie was almost enough for him to throw caution to the winds and take her back to bed. If he did that, though, Ros was likely to kill him for missing her wedding, and she knew so many interesting ways to do it. “There’s something I need to say to you. Please remove your shoes and kneel for me. Hands behind your back.”
She was so elegant. His body responded instantly to the sight of her on her knees before him, with her hands clasped at the base of her spine. Her eyes were lowered in respect, and her shoulders were back, thrusting her breasts into delightful prominence. He placed his hand on the crown of her head, taking care not to disturb the intricate updo. The tension stiffening her body evaporated.
“Today is Ros and Simon’s day, but before we go down and get this show on the road, I have a question I need to ask you.” He gave a short, humourless laugh. “I need to ask you more than one question, and I should have done it a long time ago.”
He opened the dresser drawer, where he’d stashed the jeweller’s boxes. The larger one, which he removed first, held two items—one for her, and one for him. Hers was the diamond necklace, an elegant creation he’d had made for her. He’d barely been able to wait for it to be completed. He’d collected it just the day before. His part of it was the key that fastened the delicate, jewelled padlock at one end of the necklace.
“Will you do me the honour of accepting my collar and the commitment it represents, and belong to me as I belong to you?”
She looked up at him, and if he’d ever doubted her love, what he saw in her gaze would have extinguished every last glimmer of uncertainty.
“I will, Sire. And the honour is mine. Thank you.”
Guy carefully released the breath he’d been holding. Amazingly, he didn’t fumble as he locked the necklace in place. For now, the key would be safe in his waistcoat pocket. After the weekend, it was going on a chain around his neck, close to the heart he’d given to this woman a long time ago.
“Give me your hands.”
He helped her to stand, then picked up the second, smaller box. He flipped the lid open. The jeweller had told him the Art Deco ring was over eighty years old. The stunning design was centred on a rectangular emerald. The stone was flanked by two baguette-cut diamonds, with smaller diamonds on the shoulders of the platinum and yellow gold setting. The exquisite jewel paled into insignificance next to the woman whose finger he hoped it would adorn.
“Now for the second question. Would you marry me? Or at least move into Stonehaven, and stop me rattling around the place like a fossilised old fool. Please?”
“Guy, I’m not sure—”
“Not sure? About what?” Whatever reassurance she needed, she’d have.
“I’m not sure I’m cut out to be Lady of the Manor. What about Heather?”
“Heather runs Stonehaven, but she’s not its mistress. Her role is completely different. You and she would make a great team. Besides, she’d love another woman in the place to keep me in line. Anyway, you don’t think the ‘Lady of the Manor’ sits around, drinking camomile tea all day, do you?”
“No, but I don’t think there’ll be much time for camomile tea in my future.”
“Meaning?” Guy wasn’t sure whether he should feel uneasy or not.
“I need to work.”
“You know I won’t stop you. I know you’ve arranged the wedding of the season for Ros, but are you really telling me you really want to spend the rest of your life organising parties for a bunch of inbred ingrates?” The lack of conversation around Alex Lombard’s job offer had disturbed him. The waste of her talent and experience appalled him, but if she’d chosen to decline the offer after all, he wouldn’t stand in her way.
“When I could be doing precisely what instead?”
He wanted to believe he heard a hint of teasing in her voice. “Working with me. Think you might accept the challenge?”
“I’m close to making a decision, I think. I just have another couple of questions.”
“Maybe I can help.”
“Maybe you can. I was wondering—does this job have any perks that might… sway my decision?”
The twitch of her lips and the sparkle in her eyes gave away the ribbing behind her words. For her, he could think of plenty of perks, the kind that were making him hard again. “Time in the playroom for good behaviour.”
“Only time? Surely some sort of activity would be involved?”
“What do you suggest?”
Her lashes lowered, and when she looked at him again, a spike of pure lust targeted his groin.
“Whatever pleases you, Sire.”
“At any other time, what pleases me is you under my cane, kitten, but right now, I’m looking for an answer to my question.” The conversation had darted here and there, but she still owed him an answer. He didn’t think he’d ever been quite so nervous in his entire life. He braced himself, because there was no guarantee he’d get the outcome he wanted.
For long, painful seconds, she looked at him, then at the ring, then back at him. His racing heartbeat pounded in his ears, and the longer the silence stretched between them, the less hopeful he became.
Maddie gave him a nervous half-smile. “The first time around, I thought you were the best thing that ever happened to me. I became addicted to you so fast, it scared me. You scared me, but I couldn’t walk away. At first I thought it was infatuation, and it would fade as quickly as it started, but it didn’t. I was head over heels in love with you before I knew it, but before I felt confident enough to tell you, you became distant, and I retreated. Perhaps if I’d said something—”
Guy placed his finger over her lips. “Ifs and might-have-beens can’t change what happened in the past. The question is, can we build a future on what we have now? And if we can… do you want to?”
Again she looked from him to the ring and back again, then held out her left hand, palm down. “Yes. The answer to everything is yes.”
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No Going Back (Club Aegis Book 6) Page 20