The Price of Winning: London Calling Book Four (18 page)

She patted his leg. “I know.”

Angeline cleared her throat. “Perfect. Then you’ll like my suggestion.” She felt an adrenaline rush quicken her pulse. “Madeleine will be arriving within two days to Jersey. I suggest we’re all there to meet her.”

She stood, unable to sit still. She paced across the room and back, head nodding. “Yes. She’ll arrive in the Payne helicopter, and we’ll be waiting. Rather than you going to Austria,” she pointed at Dominic, “Natalie and Madeleine will go. You and I will take the helicopter back to London.”
 

“Where we’ll act as backup.” Dominic nodded his approval. “Is there still time to stop the entire thing from happening?”

“I thought about it, and I don’t think so. I’m afraid it would cause even more suspicion. As it is, I’m worried he’s been too obvious about the attendees. But if we suddenly cancel without a damn good reason, it might guarantee they catch on.” She took a long swallow of wine then cut back across the room, her steps quickening. “Then, no one would be safe. They might target the club.”

She thought she heard Dominic grumble under his breath. “Backup it is then. But when this is all over, I get to punch Payne.”

Natalie chortled. “Save it for the bag, Dom. Sebastian’s a black belt in Krav Maga.”
 

“No shit?” Dominic tipped his head to the side. “Well, that’s good, right? It’s an advantage. Plus, he’s a big bastard.”

Angeline smiled, her face tight. “He is, but even Sebastian can’t outrun a bullet. He’s lethal, but it’s still one against many if they corner him.”

Dominic smirked. “We’ll just have to make sure no one corners him, then.” He pinched Natalie’s hip. “What do you say about going to the spa with Madeleine?”

She grinned. “I think I can handle it. But I want a rain check on that vacation. I was looking forward to having you to myself.” She beamed at him.

“It’s a date.” Dominic winked then barked out a laugh. “Hell, it’ll be worth the delay just to see Payne’s face.” Dominic rubbed his palms together. “He should have known better than thinking he could get ahead of you, Ms. Angeline. And after this he’s going to owe me one.”

Natalie thumped him in the arm. “You should be doing this because he’s your partner. And it’s the
right thing to do
.” She glared a little.

“I am, I am,” he protested. Dominic threw his hands up in mock defense. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.”

Angeline chuckled. Sebastian and Dominic were like two boys, bickering and fighting. Maybe this would be the thing to make them stop.
 

She walked over to the kitchen to set her glass beside the sink.
 

Somehow, she doubted it.

***

It was late by the time Sebastian arrived home. The house was dim, with only the muted lights of the wall sconces in the grand foyer and hallways to light his way.

It didn’t matter, because he knew the floor plan like the back of his own hand. He’d lived here since he was a boy, had eventually begged his parents to return even after he was kidnapped from the sidewalk outside the gate.

He padded into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. Outside, through the windows, he could see lights flickering in the walled garden.
 

Bemused, he sat his glass down and walked through the kitchen to one of the back exits that flanked the conservatory. He peered through the glass to see Madeleine sitting outside on a blanket in the grass. Pillar candles flickered inside canning jars along the edges of the fabric. In front of her was a wicker basket propped open to reveal plates and cutlery alongside a bottle of wine and two stemless glasses.

She looked up and saw him, a wide smile lighting up her face.

God, she was beautiful.
 

He pulled open the door and stepped outside. He didn’t visit the garden very often; it held too many bittersweet memories. But he would go for Madeleine.
 

He was starting to think he’d go anywhere for her.
 

She patted the ground beside her, still beaming. “Take off your shoes, Bas. We’re having a picnic.”
 

He stood at the side of the blanket and toed off his shoes and socks. Then he reached down to roll his pants up several inches. Gingerly, he stepped on the blanket, being careful to avoid the spread she’d unpacked.
 

A wooden slab contained a variety of cheeses alongside salted nuts and olives. A stack of whole grain crackers was fanned across one end of the board next to a dewy cluster of red grapes.
 

Madeleine uncorked a bottle of claret and poured some into a glass. Once he was settled she handed it over, then picked up her own.

“To late night picnics.” She clinked her glass against his. “We have a variety of fabulous English cheeses.” She pointed, playfully indicating the different selections. “We can begin with a lovely Cornish Camembert. It’s a little like cheating, but the cheesemonger assured me it’s at least twice as good as its French cousins.” She gave him a dimpled smile, lifting the edge of her napkin in a mock curtsey. “Then we’re on to a hearty Cheddar straight from Somerset. We end with a blue, and it had to be Stilton.” She pinched off a corner, popping it into her mouth. “I’m a purist about blue cheeses.”
 

Sebastian was charmed, right down to his toes. She’d gone to all this effort with the singular goal of pleasing him.
 

He leaned forward to steal a kiss. “Thank you, Maddy.” He plucked a grape and fed it to her. “But as much as I love an aged Cheddar, I might just prefer tasting you.”

She giggled. “But kind sir, I insist. We must keep your strength up.”
 

Sebastian fell into her mood, forgetting all about Russians and the seedy side of human nature. He waggled his eyebrows, leering at her. “Hmm, I like the sound of that. And you too, sweet miss.” He picked up a plump green olive, letting it hover over her lips.
 

Madeleine snapped her teeth on it. He saw her chew then watched the muscles in her throat move as she swallowed. With his pinky, he dabbed a bit of juice from the corner of her mouth and raised it to his own.
 

She was staring at him, her eyes rounded and unblinking. And suddenly, he couldn’t wait to be with her.

He pushed the board off the blanket, uncaring what scattered to the ground. The wicker basket was next, followed by their plates and glasses.
 

Madeleine was laughing. “Careful. My God, there won’t be any dishes left.”

He arched over her, pitching her backward onto the blanket. The smell of crushed grass wafted upward to blend with the fragrance of her perfume. He bit her neck then playfully soothed the tiny pinch with the tip of his tongue. She wore a chambray shirtdress with buttons extending all the way down the front. He started flicking them open, one by one, his mouth trailing a path down her chest and abdomen.

He deliberately avoided her breasts, but Madeleine was no passive participant. With a healthy grip, she tugged his shirt free of his pants then tore it open, sending buttons flying everywhere.
 

“You minx,” he growled. “I liked this shirt.”
 

She cocked an eyebrow. “It’s a plain white shirt, Sebastian.” She walked her fingers down his chest to toy with his waistband. “Consider it collateral damage.” She pulled hard on his pants, nearly toppling him.
 

“Easy tiger.” He held himself up, his forearms braced beside her. He captured one of her curls to rub between thumb and forefinger. “So soft,” he murmured, “like spun silk that’s captured all the shades of the sun.” Nearby, a bee buzzed along a rosebush.
 

She arched upward, seeking his mouth.
 

He readily obliged, sinking like a stone into her arms. She tasted salty from the brine of the olive yet sweet, as if she’d sipped honey. He dipped his tongue into her mouth, supping until he was drunk with wild desire.

Madeleine popped his last button free, the one fastening his trousers. There was a faint hiss as she lowered his zipper, and then she was reaching in to cup him.

Every time she touched him, he fell deeper into her. The wanting never ebbed, only grew stronger by the day.
 

He was her captive, a willing prisoner to the spell she’d cast over him.

He shrugged off the remains of his shirt then took down his pants. He left his underwear on for the time being, knowing he’d be hard pressed not to ravish her once they were completely naked.

He spread apart the sides of her dress. She was braless, and her breasts pouted invitingly in the cool, evening air. Delicate white panties hugged her hips, seducing him more than fancy lingerie ever could.

She looked up at him, open and guileless. She was his opposite, a foil to his darkness.
 

He’d never deserved anyone less. But he was powerless to resist her.
 

He kissed her breasts, lightly suckling the hard tips until she moaned, restless beneath him. Then he shifted downward to lick her belly and thighs.
 

Madeleine parted her legs, eager and anxious. Sebastian stilled as she pulled at his boxer briefs, taking them down so his penis bobbed free. A breeze blew, stiffening him unbearably with its light caress.

Then she touched him, circling her hand around his girth to tug and pull at him. With one finger, she swirled the tip, capturing and spreading his juices around the head.

His hips jerked and he thrust into her hand. In return, she milked him, her grip surprisingly strong.
 

And then he was climaxing, pulsing against her in endless, long spurts. His eyes rolled back, the world going dark for one pounding second before he heaved air in his lungs, battling for control.

Madeleine lay before him, wanton and wild with her dress hanging off her shoulders.

Dear God.

He fumbled for the stack of napkins nearby. He pressed one to her stomach, blotting and cleaning her. His hands were trembling so hard he nearly dropped the linen.

She stopped him by looping one hand around his wrist. “Sebastian.” He froze. “Sebastian, look at me.”

His face felt impossibly hot, like a sunburn. Everywhere else his skin was tingling and hypersensitive. Distant sounds of muted traffic were trapped outside, beyond their walled paradise.

He wanted to apologize, beg her forgiveness for being so crass. But he sealed his lips, knowing he would babble. He swallowed, finally looking up at her face.

She was smiling.
 

She squeezed his arm. “Stop it. I don’t want you to be embarrassed.” Her gaze was level. “You’re always so controlled, restrained almost. I like knowing I can make you wild for me.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Are you kidding me? I’m practically feral.” His gaze drifted down her body and he felt his penis stirring back to life. “I can’t get enough, Madeleine. Even now, I could eat you alive.”

She made a humming sound. “Then what’s stopping you?” She lifted her hips to slither her panties down. When they reached her feet, she kicked them off to join the rest of the picnic debris. She licked her lips, her gaze as hungry as he felt. “
Do it.
”

He spread his hands over her, easily palming each breast. He rubbed and stroked her, massaging her softened nipples. Then he plucked at them, pinching them into diamond hardness.
 

She yelped. Leaning back onto his heels, Sebastian wedged his shoulders between her legs, holding her wide and open to his gaze. Then he latched onto her.
 

He plied her clitoris with his tongue, circling and flicking until she whimpered beneath him. Slipping one long finger inside her, he plunged it back and forth while pushing the heel of his hand against her.
 

Madeleine cried out, a high keening sound. He felt her muscles begin to spasm and slipped another finger inside, curving it just so. She begged and pleaded, her body jolting as she climaxed.
 

He kept thrusting his fingers in and out of her, but slower now, allowing her to recover. And he continued to lick, tonguing along the crease of the soft folds guarding her entrance.

Time seemed to stand still. There was only the wind now, rustling through the trees, and Madeleine’s soft sighs as he continued to pleasure her. Sebastian thought he could stay like this forever, memorizing the taste and scent of her.

Too soon her breath quickened again. She moaned above him. “Stop, Sebastian. I’m too sensitive.” Her hips jerked, nearly dislodging him.

He caught her clitoris in his teeth. She arched her back while her knees squeezed tight around his head. He slipped his fingers out of her so he could wrap his hands round her hips. Anchoring her, he sucked at her hardened nub.

She sobbed, her feet drubbing him in the back. She spasmed and shook, her hips moving like pistons. With something close to desperation, he reared back and lifted her, impaling her on his swollen shaft. He bucked and shook, working her back and forth along his length, crazed by lust.

His erection swelled further, burgeoning within her. Madeleine threw her head back and screamed as another orgasm wracked through her, hard on the heels of the last.

Sebastian felt the veins in his neck stand out. With one last thrust, he erupted, shouting his pleasure. He fell onto his back, bringing Madeleine with him, their bodies still joined.

Their breathing quieted along with the heavy pounding of their hearts. Fine tremors vibrated from her body to his, until they too finally calmed.

“I love you.” She breathed the words into the stillness of the night surrounding them.

He shifted, bringing the corner of the picnic blanket up to partially cover them. The candles had long since sputtered out, doused as they’d tipped and tumbled.

He tipped her chin up. “I love you too, Madeleine.”
 

She smiled, dreamy and satisfied. Her fingertips idly traced his chest, feathering through the hair to find his scars.

Sebastian inhaled, forcing himself not to flinch.