And, with that, I lifted up my chin and stalked out of Max’s office, and out of Ffyvells, forever.

    Forty

Him

Within fifteen minutes, she was out again. She looked as if she might cry as she ducked into the back seat, next to me.

‘What happened?’ I asked. ‘Aren’t you staying?’

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Then she burst out laughing. ‘I told Max where he could stick his job.’

‘Ouch,’ I said. ‘I’ll bet that hurt.’

She giggled, brushing away a tear from her cheek. ‘I’ve never seen him lost for words before.’

‘I don’t think I have, either.’ I put my arm around her. ‘Are you okay with it, truly?’

‘I think I am,’ she said, slowly. ‘And I put in a good word for Liv, before I went. You know.’ She put her hand on my knee and waggled her eyebrows.

‘Did you?’ I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of it. ‘Do you think that’s wise?’

She looked surprised. ‘Well, yes,’ she said. ‘Liv adores him and, I mean, he was on his own last night. It’s not like he’s got a girlfriend, is it?’

‘No, I suppose not.’ I said. ‘Not as such.’

I thought of Max’s odd relationship with Dominique, but didn’t mention it. That was his business and it was high time he sorted it, once and for all, anyway. Maybe this would give him the kick in the ass he needed, if he was even interested. You could never tell with Max.

‘He’s not like me, you know, Max,’ I said, instead. ‘I hope your friend is made of stern stuff.’

‘She knows him well enough.’ She settled back in the seat, looking pleased with herself. ‘And she’s not like me, either. She’ll be all right.’

Stephens turned round. ‘Where to, now, Sir?’

I looked at Grace. She seemed to have got over her face-off with Max and seemed almost radiant. Whether it was from joy or relief, I couldn’t tell, but her eyes were sparkling as she snuggled into me.

‘I have to go to the Castle,’ I replied, before turning to Grace. ‘I’ve a meeting with Ronnie and…some others. Financial, as a matter of fact. Maybe you could join us? We can stop in at yours on the way, and get you some clean clothes. We can shower there.’

‘Okay,’ she said, sounding uncertain. ‘If you’re sure you want me to.’

I’d never been so sure of anything in my life. It wasn’t so much about the meeting, but I didn’t tell her that. I thought the truth might make her even more nervous. To be honest, I wanted to show her off to someone. It was so frustrating, having to keep things secret, but it was for her own good. I could introduce her to my mother, though. She’d have no clue who she was. Even if she did, she wouldn’t tell anyone – they wouldn’t believe her, anyway. She lived in her own fantasy world nowadays.

I just hoped she’d welcome her. It was about time she accepted that I could be happy with another woman than Aimee. She’d never accepted Ronnie, or any of the other few women I’d seen occasionally. Grace was different, though. I had a feeling she’d fall in love with her on sight or, at least, I hoped she would.

‘I do,’ I said. ‘So much.’

‘Okay,’ she smiled. ‘The Castle it is.’

‘Chiswick, then, Stephens, please,’ I said, kissing her forehead as she leaned into me. ‘And then onto the Castle.’

It was barely eleven when we arrived. The meeting wasn’t until twelve, so I took her up to my quarters. I had fresh clothes there, and we both needed a shower.

Before we went upstairs, I sent a maid to get Mary.

‘Have my mother come to lunch, please,’ I said, when she arrived. ‘Twelve o’clock in the drawing room. I’ve someone I want her to meet.’

Grace was standing over the other side of the entrance hall, looking at some of the old family portraits. Mary looked over at her, curiously.

‘Grace,’ I said. ‘Come over and meet Mary – my father’s nurse.’

She came over. She’d withdrawn into herself, somewhat, and I suspected she still found the scale of the family pile intimidating. I wanted her to feel comfortable.

‘Hi, Mary,’ she said. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

‘Ooh.’ Mary looked awestruck. ‘Grace Anderton, here, in this house. I can’t wait to tell your mother. She’ll be so excited.’

‘Well, don’t go getting her over-excited,’ I said. ‘You know how she can be.’

My quarters were well aired, as usual, and smelt freshly polished. It was touching, in a way.

‘I’ve got you all to myself again, Angel,’ I said, coming up behind her in the living room. I kissed her neck and, moving my hands around in front of her, started to unbutton her top. ‘I think I might need to get you a little dirty before I clean you up.’

She giggled, laying back into me as I undid the remaining buttons and peeled her top down over her arms. I let my hands wander over her breasts, as I did so, and the fullness of them sent shivers of anticipation down to my cock. Within seconds, it was standing to attention, pressing into her ass so hard it was almost painful.

‘Let’s get you into the bathroom,’ I said, pulling away and taking her hand.

    Forty One

Her

The bathroom was sage-panelled and just as elegant as everything else at the Castle. A roll top bath took centre stage, with a double sink and a large shower cubicle taking up the far wall. He’d already taken off his t-shirt by the time we got in there. I put out my hand to touch him and, for once, he didn’t stop me.

‘No time for games this morning, I’m afraid,’ he said, watching as my hands ran over his chest. His muscles were so hard, they barely gave under my touch. I could feel myself growing wet and, as he pulled me closer, I kissed his shoulder, letting my tongue trace a line up his neck and across his jaw to his mouth.

‘God, I want you,’ he groaned. ‘I always want you.’

‘You can have me,’ I said, pulling away and looking into his eyes. ‘I’m yours.’

‘You’re dead right, there, Angel.’ He felt around behind me and unzipped my skirt, pushing it down until it fell in a puddle around my ankles. ‘And, rest assured, I’m going to be having you…in there.’ He motioned towards the shower. ‘But, before that…’

He looked down at his groin. I could see his hardness, standing out against his jeans and I couldn’t help laughing. ‘You’ve gone commando, I see,’ I said, the sight of it making me wetter still.

‘Never a good idea when in your company,’ he said, looking down at it, ruefully. ‘Not one of my better choices. It was lucky I stayed in the car, all considered.’

He put his hand to the top of my head and pushed me gently downwards until I was on my knees before him. ‘Christ, Angel,’ he muttered, tearing apart his fly and forcing his jeans down over his taut thighs. ‘You on your knees…it does it for me every time.’

He put his hand to his cock and guided it into my mouth, placing his hand at the back of my head and pushing me forward onto it. I took it in, sucking on it softly before pulling back a little and let my tongue swirl around the end. He let out a moan and I pulled back further.

‘No moaning,’ I said, grinning up at him. ‘Them’s the rules.’

He laughed. ‘Unfortunately, Gorgeous, you don’t get to make the rules.’

He leaned forward and scooped up my hair, twisting it around his hand until it was tight.

‘I’ve got you on a leash now,’ he murmured. ‘I think you’ll find that means I’m in control.’

He stood up again, pulling my hair towards him and thrusting me, hard, onto his cock. ‘Ah,’ he said, with a sigh. ‘Now, that’s more like it.’

He pulled out again, then pulled me back in towards him. I sucked on his cock, moving my tongue all around it as he fucked my mouth with steady, regular strokes. The sight of his flat, smooth stomach just above my eye line turned me on even more and I sucked more and more eagerly on his length, taking it further and further in with every thrust. His balls were firm against my chin and I cupped them in my hands, licking up and down him as moved in and out.