The Price of Winning: London Calling Book Four (15 page)

She reached for him, unsurprised when he linked his fingers with hers. Here, away from London, he was like a modern knight—protective but impossibly gallant. He looked like a prince in his bespoke black tuxedo and pearly white shirt. The characteristic waves in his raven hair had been tamed for the event, pushed back from his forehead. More than once, she wished she could simply loop her hands behind his neck and pull him down for a kiss.

It should have been easy but it wasn’t.
 

Sebastian was unfailingly polite. In fact, he was a perfect gentleman.
 

And it was nice, truly. Madeleine felt beautiful and cherished.
 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. She wanted him to hunger for her, yearn for her. As she did for him.
 

With a grim sense of humor, she recalled the days when she’d had all the male attention she could want. Too much, in the end.
 

The memory of that time didn’t provoke the usual fear. She could look back and celebrate the incredible experiences she’d had. One man should never have been able to rob her of that, but that was over too.

It was like another lifetime ago. And now she was here, holding Sebastian Payne’s hand.

Her parents would be proud of her.

They were nearly to the hotel. A circular fountain sat front and center of the building. As if performing for its coins, it bubbled and splashed, sending droplets of water high into the air.

A uniformed employee opened the door for them, ushering them inside. Sebastian motioned to the hotel’s lounge. “Would you like a nightcap?”

Madeleine shook her head. It would be tempting to rely on alcohol to lower her inhibitions. But ultimately, she would either summon her bravery sober or not at all.

“Let’s go upstairs.” It sounded like a suggestion for more because it was.

Sebastian seemed to falter, almost missing a step. It gave her an odd boost, and she could only hope it was due to her effect on him.

As they reached the elevators, she inhaled deeply through her nose. If ever there was a time for her to rally her courage, this was it.

She pasted on a wide smile and turned to him. “Thank you. This has been an absolutely perfect day. One of the best of my life.”

“The pleasure was mine, Madeleine.”

The elevator stopped, arriving on their floor. He escorted her to her door and held out his hand for her key card. She held her breath, but he merely opened the door for her and took a step back.

She shifted on her feet, lightheaded but stubbornly hopeful. Sebastian stood waiting, his body posture tense. Madeleine nervously licked her lips.

His gaze sharpened and dropped to her mouth. Suddenly, the air was thick and heavy between them.

This is it.

She let the thought bolster her and reached her hand out to him. He stared while she let it hang there, until she was sure her entire body was trembling.

“Be with me.” Her voice was husky and low.

Sebastian took her hand, turning it over. “I don’t want to take advantage, Maddy. I promised myself I’d take care of you. Protect you.”

“And you have. But please, Sebastian. I want this.” She could feel her hand quivering in his.
 

He looked pensive. Undecided. “I’m not sure I can resist you anymore.”

Madeleine pressed her advantage.

“Then don’t. For tonight at least, let’s just be a man and woman who desire each other. Make love with me, Bas.”

He closed his eyes for long seconds. Fear of rejection tore through her, but she kept her hand in his. Finally, he lowered his head then pressed a kiss to the tender underside of her wrist.
 

Madeleine thought her knees would buckle.

She felt him smile against her skin. He looked up through the veil of his lashes, his eyes dark and devastating. Time slowed until he uttered the one word she wanted to hear.

“Yes.”

***

For one second Sebastian considered the wisdom of becoming lovers with Madeleine. He turned his back, his fingers flexing on the door handle. Somewhere behind him, he could hear the faint rustle of her gown. He inhaled, taking in the scent of wild roses.

Before he could change his mind, he turned the deadbolt, locking them inside.

He felt her hand touch his shoulder, gently pulling him around.
 

Her smile was pasted on a little too bright. Something inside him loosened, tearing free from doubt. He placed his lips on her forehead, then her cheeks and behind one ear.

Madeleine sighed just as he reached her mouth.
 

Her lips parted, immediately taking him inside. Unlike those other times, their desperation was tempered, the outcome now certain. Their tongues mated, languid and unhurried. Sebastian angled his mouth, deepening the kiss as she melted against him.

One of his hands pushed into the hair gathered at her nape while the other cupped her bottom, pulling her up and against him. She moaned as her body came into contact with the hardness of his. He moved his mouth to her neck, lightly nipping at its slender length.

He could have stood like this, kissing her for hours.
 

But his desire for her, banked low for so long, wasn’t as patient. Embers ignited to flames, licking and biting at him. Their caresses became more urgent, their mouths more ardent.

Madeleine reached down to cup him.
 

Sebastian threw his head back, teeth gritted. His erection surged, thrusting against her hand. He couldn’t remember feeling so wild, so uncontrolled.

Mustering every bit of strength he had, he deliberately stepped back, removing himself from her reach. Already, they were both breathing hard, their chests rising and falling in time with each other.

He would not rush this. Sebastian scraped a hand through his hair. Madeleine balanced on one leg, her dress slightly hiked up. She reached down as if to remove her shoe.
 

He stilled her, instead moving her to the edge of the bed. Gently, he pressed her down to sit.

She looked up at him, eyes impossibly wide. He dropped to his knees, kneeling before her.
 

Carefully, he bunched the hem of her gown, pulling it up to reveal her sleekly toned calves and delicately arched feet. Pale pink painted toes peeked out from the leather straps of her sandals.
 

He looked up through his lashes, gesturing for her to hold her skirt. Her fingers were nearly white as they clenched the velvet.
 

He unfastened her shoes, removing each one to set them to the side. Taking one foot between his palms, he massaged it, kneading the ball of her foot and caressing her in long strokes. He looked up to see her leaning back slightly with her palms braced against the mattress. Her head was tilted back, her long hair pooled behind her.
 

He repeated his actions on her other foot, stopping only when Madeleine sat up to face him. She reached for him, running her fingers through his hair.
 

“Bas, I want to touch you too.” She cupped his face in her palms and ran her thumbs over the contours as if memorizing them. Her touch, feather-light, paused on the scar that ran along his jawline and dipped under his chin. She traced it back and forth then leaned forward to press her lips to it.
 

Sebastian sat back on his heels. He caressed her calves, circling to find the sensitive area behind her knees. Madeleine gasped, her legs parting to allow him access.

He took it, ducking his head to kiss the insides of her thighs. With one large hand, he pressed her backward, tumbling her against the mattress. He shifted, wedging further between her knees.
 

Her skin was like living satin. He stroked and petted, steadily making his way higher. He paused when he reached her panties, which were no more than a wisp of ebony silk. Sebastian rolled forward, caging her under him. She stared back, eyes sparkling. Her hair rippled across the bed, deep russet and bronze in the dim light of the room.

Pure feminine satisfaction was in her smile.
 

His heart skipped a beat, and his arms began to quiver. She beguiled and bewitched him. He wanted to drown himself in her until neither one of them remembered the world outside.
 

He rolled to his side, taking her with him. She faced him, quite content to follow his lead. He reached under her arm and found the fastening to her dress.

The zipper released with a muted hiss. Warm, naked skin greeted him as he pushed aside the fabric to find her beneath.

He couldn’t wait much longer. He jerked upright, taking her with him. She barely had time to sway on her feet as he pushed the straps off her shoulders and let the dress fall to the ground. She stood before him, petite and pliant in her tiny silk panties.
 

He hoisted her clear of the gown’s voluminous folds and dropped her back on the bed. She grabbed his lapels, trying to bring him down with her. Sebastian braced his arms, a little alarmed to feel himself shaking.
 

He closed his eyes and took a calming breath.
 

“Madeleine,” he growled. “I’m too heavy.”

She smiled, minx-like. “Maybe if you took off some of those clothes, you’d feel lighter.” Her fingers flew over his chest, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it free of his trousers. Before he could stop her, she’d popped his pants open as well. “I will have you, you know.” She dimpled at him. “Don’t make me pull a takedown on you, Payne.”

He laughed, disarmed. “I think I’m starting to like when you wrestle me to the ground.” He stood, toeing off his shoes and removing his socks. Next, he shrugged off his jacket, shirt, and pants with record speed. He left all of it crumpled on the floor beside her dress.
 

He crawled across the bed, wearing nothing but fitted boxer briefs that were near to bursting from the force of his erection. Looping a finger into the elastic of her panties, he pulled them down the length of her legs and dropped them.

Finally, she was bared to him. Sebastian looked his fill, taking in the pale freckled skin of her torso. She was tiny compared to his bulk, but lithe and supple. Her breasts were small and perfectly formed. Her nipples pouted up at him, begging for his mouth.

He obliged. Spanning her waist with both hands, he pulled her higher on the bed, arranging her body so she was propped on the pillows. He lowered his head and took one breast in his mouth, engulfing her while plucking at the other.
 

She arched into him, forcing her breast further between his lips. He licked at her, whirling his tongue around the hardened tip before alternatively lapping at it to soothe. Madeleine moaned, threading her fingers into his hair and pressing him harder against her.

He flattened his tongue, latching onto her nipple to suck it hard against the roof of his mouth. She cried out, scoring his back with her nails.
 

Astonished, Sebastian felt himself lengthen and engorge even further. He felt a delicious tightening in his groin, and the tip of his penis pushed above the waistband of his briefs.
 

Dear God. He shoved his underwear down, allowing himself to spring free. Roughly, he wrapped his fist around his shaft, squeezing hard. Thankfully, the self-inflicted discomfort brought him some measure of control.

He looked up to see Madeleine staring down where he gripped himself tightly. Her cheeks were stained red, her mouth slightly open. Slowly, her eyes lifted to his, and she licked her lips.
 

He was out of time. Swearing to go slower during the next round, he braced himself over her, thrusting his hips toward hers. Immediately, she parted her legs, making room for him.

The tip of his penis slipped between her folds. A shiver ran up his back. Rocking his hips, he allowed himself to slide against her, back and forth.
 

Madeleine gripped his shoulders, bowing her back. They moved faster, their bodies sweat-slicked and slippery.

He reached between them and found the hardened nub of her clitoris. He thumbed it, circling it around and again. She was gasping, her chest flushed rosy by her impending orgasm.

He pinched her between his thumb and forefinger, sending her over the edge.

Madeleine choked off a scream by biting his shoulder. She writhed beneath him, desperately panting as he continued his assault, never letting up. As he pressed his thumb against her, she grabbed his ass, pulling him forward.

He hissed as several hard inches of him slipped inside her. He gritted his teeth, head reared back, inhaling violently through his nose. He pushed his hands into the mattress to withdraw, but Madeleine was having none of that.

She tilted her hips, taking him further inside her. She moaned, shifting beneath him while her body adjusted to his girth and size. Sebastian couldn’t do anything except freeze in place, trying like hell to ignore how tight she was, like a silken fist.

Her legs came up to partially encircle his waist. They weren’t long enough to reach around him.

He paused, taking one finger to push aside a lock of hair that was stuck to her sweaty cheek. She smiled up at him, but Sebastian thought she looked strained.

“Are we okay?”

She undulated, thrusting upward. Sebastian slammed his palm back on the bed, but it didn’t matter. He was seated fully inside.

“Now we are.” Her dimple flashed in her cheek. “Can we get on with it?”

Sebastian felt the pounding of his own heart. He shook from the force of his need to thrust into her. He twisted, his hips bucking.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Maddy.”

She thumped him good-naturedly. “If you don’t start moving, you’re the one that’s going to be hurt.” She raked her nails down his chest, pausing to flick his flat nipple.
 

It was like an electrical charge. Pleasure zinged straight to his groin, making him surge upward within her. Her muscles tightened and throbbed, sending Sebastian straight into a vortex of lust and passion.