London Loves - Book 3 - Love's Great Adventure Series (13 page)

Sebastian watched his gorgeous wife through heavy lidded eyes as she moved up and down with deliberate, artful strokes. His hands caressed her naked thighs, so soft and silky to the touch. “So fucking amazing,” he muttered, his eyes clamped on hers.

“You do this to me, Bas. Only you can make me feel this way.” She blushed before reclaiming his mouth. Tess picked up the pace and Sebastian flexed his hips to meet her demand. At this pace, he wouldn’t last much longer, feeling the excitement build in his groin and start to spread through every nerve ending. With one last thrust, he pushed into her, up to the hilt, and exploded. “Oh, Tess, damn!”

She collapsed into his arm, leaning her forehead on his shoulder, panting for breath.

“We aren’t finished yet, darling. Hold onto me.” With that he stood from the chair, Tess' legs wrapped around his waist. He walked the short distance to the bed and laid her down on the mattress.

She was naked except for the silk thigh-high stockings and leather pumps she had left on. Sebastian shrugged out of his suit coat, followed by this white shirt, and then his trousers. Kneeling down on the floor in front of his wife, he removed her shoes. Next he carefully rolled down the stockings, planting light kisses along her leg as he went. Once she was completely naked, he leaned back on his calves and gave her a devilishly wicked grin. Placing his hands on Tess' thighs, he spread them open and then leaned forward to touch her, his fingers sliding up and down against her sex. She was so wet and ready for him, and now he was going to make her come. Slipping a finger inside her, he licked his lips before placing his tongue on her swollen clit.

Tess arched her back to meet his advances. The onslaught of his tongue and fingers worked her into a frenzy. Leaning up on her elbows, she looked down to see Sebastian peering up to glance at her, his eyes alight with mischief. “My cheeky Bas,” she panted between ragged breaths. A few more expert flicks of his tongue sent her crashing over the edge in ecstasy.

Sebastian lay down next to Tess, instinctively pulling her into his arms. “I love how you distract me,” he said before kissing her beautiful lips. “You wear me out.”

“That’s the idea,” she giggled. “Let’s get under the covers. I’m tired, too.”

Reluctantly, Sebastian stood from the bed. He picked up his rumpled suit and Tess' lingerie and draped them over the armchair. Switching the light off, he crawled back into bed with his wife and cradled her in his arms. Within a few minutes, they both fell off to sleep.

Sebastian looked down at the paper in his hand that contained his father’s address, and then he looked at the villa in front of him. It was a small one-story home with turquoise shutters and quaint flower boxes hanging from the windows. Now all he had to do was will his feet to move forward and knock on the wooden door. He glanced at Tess, who silently nodded her approval, and then took her hand. Together they walked to the entrance. Taking a deep breath, Sebastian raised his knuckles and rapped on the door.

After a few moments, the door opened. An older, slender woman—maybe in her fifties—with long raven hair greeted them. “Hello, how may I help you?” she asked in a French accent.

Sebastian wanted to answer her question, but his mouth was dry. He swallowed, trying to find his voice. Just then, a gentleman came up behind the woman, asking, “Colette, darling, do we have visitors?”

Sebastian stared at Martin Christopher Baker. The resemblance was alarming. It was as if Sebastian was looking at his reflection in the mirror and seeing himself age thirty-five years. His father’s eyes were still bright blue, with soft wrinkle lines around them. Martin’s hair was thick with a smattering of gray. His demeanor was happy and relaxed.

The couples stood on opposite sides of the doorframe staring at each other. Finally Sebastian said, “I’m Sebastian Irons and this is my wife, Tess. I’m your son.”

Martin’s mouth opened, surprised at the revelation. Colette looked up at Martin and then back to Sebastian. “Please come inside,” she said, stepping aside to allow them entrance.

Once inside the home, the four of them stood in awkward silence. “I’m sorry to come unannounced,” Sebastian apologized. “I realize this must come as quite a shock.”

“Let’s sit on the terrace. I’ll get us some drinks,” Colette suggested.

They followed the elegant French woman to the tiled terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea. “It’s beautiful,” Tess remarked, taking in the view.

Martin took a seat and ran his fingers through his hair. “Forgive my surprise. I’m usually not this quiet.”

Colette let out a full, melodic laugh. “That is an understatement, mon cheri.”

“When were you born?” Martin asked.

“May 27, 1967.”

“Lily was pregnant when we divorced?”

“Yes.”

“If I had known…”

“What—what would you have done? Given up the payments she’s been making to you for years?” Sebastian asked with disgust.

“How did you find me?” Martin demanded to know.

“It wasn’t easy, believe me,” Sebastian spat.

“Okay, let’s just take a moment and breathe,” Tess suggested, breaking up the brewing fight.

“Tess, this was a big mistake. We should go.”

“Sebastian, I didn’t know you existed,” Martin began, his voice softer and calmer. “Please don’t go.”

Colette walked out onto the terrace carrying a tray of beverages. She passed out the drinks and joined the others at the oblong wrought-iron table. “Martin, I can’t get over how much he looks like you when you were younger.”

“Have you and Martin been together for a long time?” Tess asked.

“Oh, yes. It’s been twenty years now. We met in Monte Carlo.” She threw her head back, looking up at the sky, and reminisced. “Do you remember that day, Martin?”

Martin reached over and caressed her hand. “I remember it like it was just yesterday. But I must say you look far more lovely today.”

Sebastian grimaced. Martin reminded him too much of himself, and that knowledge didn’t bring him any comfort. “You’ve been married for twenty years?”

“We’re not married,” Martin informed the young couple.

“We’re living in sin and it’s delightful!” Colette chimed in.

“You’ve been monogamous for twenty years?” Sebastian rephrased.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

Sebastian shrugged. “Wasn’t that the reason Lily divorced you in the first place?”

“Your mother wasn’t the easiest person to live with.”

“I’m more than aware of that fact.”

“Have you had a good life, Sebastian?”

“That’s an odd question considering you left my brother and sisters without a second thought.”

Martin sighed. “I loved those children the best way I knew how.”

“Loved—that’s past tense. Did you feel any remorse at all leaving them?”

“Of course I did. My hands were tied. Your mother comes from a very powerful family. I could either leave with a handsome stipend or leave a penniless fool. Either way, I was banned from ever seeing my children again. What would you have done if you were in my circumstance?”

Sebastian chuckled at the irony of the entire situation. “I gave up the money and walked away.”

“You are a better man than I am.” Martin closed his eyes, becoming introspective. “How are they: Maxwell, Victoria, and Sigourney?”

“They are well,” Sebastian replied, not going into detail.

“Do you still have contact with your mother?”

“Lily’s not my mother.”

Martin stared at Sebastian, a look of confusion in his eyes. “Who was your mother, then?”

Given his father’s philandering, that probably wasn’t the best way to word the statement. “Lily is my biological mother, but she was
never
a mother to me.”

“I’m so sorry, my boy,” Martin stated with sincerity.

“I’m not
your
boy,” Sebastian ground out with contempt.

“I sense you didn’t have the best childhood.”

“My childhood was fine. It was my teenage years that proved to be difficult.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing,” Sebastian replied, brushing the question aside.

“Why are you here today?”

“I wanted to meet my birth father. I wanted to see if you had any remorse for leaving us.”

Tess reached over and squeezed his knee with her hand. Instinctively, his hand closed around hers.

“I made my decision and I’ve had to live with that. I don’t believe in remorse. Maybe when you get older, you’ll understand.”

Sebastian threw his fist down on the table, rattling the glasses that rested on top. “I understand the ramifications of hard decisions. I also know the difference between doing what is right and wrong. You have no right to pass judgment on me when you don’t even know me.”

“I could say the same of you,” Martin coolly added.

Sebastian stood from his chair so quickly it toppled over, making a clanking sound as it hit the patio. “We’re through here, Tess.”

She stood and Sebastian led her into the house and out the front door.

They walked a few blocks before he decided to speak. “That daft prick!” he fumed, gripping her hand even harder than before.

“I’m sorry it didn’t turn out the way you wanted,” Tess finally said.

“I’m not sure I fucking know what I expected. It was stupid of me to come here and drag you along.”

“To hell with Martin. You don’t need him.” Tess leaned into her husband and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’m not sorry you dragged me along. We did have a wonderful night last night.”

His expression softened has he recalled their lovemaking. “It was wonderful. Are you trying to distract me again?”

“Maybe,” she replied, giving him a coy smile.

“You know what? Martin doesn’t deserve to take up another moment of my thought.” He reached for his wife’s hand, deciding to leave all the misery behind him and focus on the positive. Life was too short to spend it lamenting over Martin Christopher Baker. “Let’s enjoy the day. We can consider it a mini-vacation before we have to go back to the hoopla that will be Max and Penny’s wedding. By the way, I invited your mom to the wedding. I figured one more person to look after Mattie isn’t a bad thing, and maybe I can enjoy a few dances alone with you.”

They walked down to the beach, each taking off their shoes before stepping onto the soft sand. “Do you think Lily will skip the service, like she did the engagement party?”

“I imagine so, although it would look bad from a social standpoint to do so. You know how she feels about propriety.”

“Well, I hope she stays away for everyone’s sake,” Tess sighed. “Things are so much easier without all the drama.”

They stopped walking and sat down, looking over the clear green Ionian Sea. “Why is it that my family comes with all the drama and your family is so laid back?”

“Well, considering it’s only my mom and me—how much drama could there be? Not to mention the fact that there is something to be said for living a simpler life.”

Tess certainly had a point. He loved the life he lived with his family, not regretting for one moment the aristocracy he’d left behind. The only problem was that now he was being dragged back into it. “Maybe getting close to my brother and sister again is a bad idea.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I’m getting pulled back into that world and dragging you and Mattie along with me.”

“Bas, I like your brother and sisters. If you want a relationship with them, you should have it. That decision has nothing to do with Lily or your father. You’re lucky you have siblings. I always wanted them. Now I sort of feel like I do, the way they welcomed me into the family.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, but you’re being way too kind.”

“I don’t think I am. They accept me for who I am—something Lily never did. They also adore Mattie. What more could I ask?”

Again, his wife had taken the complicated and reduced it to something so basic and simple. “You are the most brilliant person I know,” he complimented, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

“I have my moments,” she grinned. “Buy me lunch. I saw a cute little café down the street.”

Sebastian stood and patted the sand off his trousers. He extended his hand to Tess and pulled her into an upright position. “For you—anything,” he replied pulling her into his arms and kissing her on the lips.

Tess walked through the door first, followed by Sebastian, who carried their luggage. Mattie ran at them full force and jumped into Tess’ open arms. “Welcome home!”

Sebastian placed the bags on the floor and scooped Mattie up in his arms. “How’s my favorite girl?”

“Awesome!”

“Did you have a nice time with Grandmom Kate?”

“Yep.”

Tess hugged her mom. “Hope she behaved for you.”

“We had an amazing time. How did things go in Greece?” Kate inquired.

Tess shook her head. “Later,” she replied.

“Did you bring me anything, Daddy?”

Sebastian raised his eyebrows. “What makes you think that?”

Mattie giggled. “Daddy, you always bring me something when you go away on a trip.”

“I’ll make you a deal: you go get your pajamas on and I’ll look through my suitcase and see what I can find.”

“Yay!” she exclaimed, racing down the hall to her room.

Kate hugged Sebastian. “I’m sorry things didn’t go like you wanted them to.”

“I have no regrets. I’ve spent years wondering about him and now I know. Deep down, I never expected a happy ending on that front.”

“Would you like some tea? I can put the kettle on.” Kate offered.

“Yes, I’d like that.” Sebastian picked up the bags. “Let me go get Mattie’s present before she gets all riled up and I can’t get her to bed.”

“I’ll come with you,” Tess offered.

“No, I’ve got it. Stay here and fill your mom in on the trip.”

“Is he really okay?” Kate asked as she busied herself in the kitchen.

“Yes, we had a good talk. I think he’s reconciled with the fact that Martin won’t be a part of his life. I mean, he never was to start with, so it’s not like he’s losing a father—not like me,” she said, full of melancholy. They sat down at the kitchen table together. “Bas told me you’re going to the wedding. I’m so happy you’ll be there.”