London Loves - Book 3 - Love's Great Adventure Series (8 page)

“Hello, darling,” he announced, rushing over to greet her with a passionate kiss.

Tess teetered on her heels. “Wow, miss me that much?”

“You have no idea,” he replied. “I made a light salad, if you want to eat.”

“Oh, that sounds perfect. Could you open a bottle of wine while I get changed and check on Mattie?”

Sebastian confirmed her request by kissing her on the forehead. He busied himself in the kitchen while Tess changed out of her suit. He lit a taper candle and placed her salad and wine on the dining table. Tess came back dressed in her blue silk robe, her hair flowing over her shoulders. She was beautiful and Sebastian would never tire of looking at his wife.

“So how did things go with investigator?” she asked before taking a bite of her salad.

“Okay, I suppose. I mean it’s not as if I expected him to say, ‘I can find your father in twenty-four hours.’ Unfortunately, we didn’t have much information to give him. He has to find a paper trail. I don’t know how long it will take or if he’ll even find anything.”

“And how did things go with Max?”

“Things are getting easier in our relationship. He took me to his club for lunch. I ran into Alistair Windsor.”

Tess hadn’t heard that name in a long time. Her curiosity was piqued and she raised an eyebrow. “What’s up with him?”

“He said I should ring him to catch up. He was surprised I had a family.”

“Considering what you two used to do when you hung out together, can you blame him for being surprised?”

“No, I can’t blame him. It was odd being in between Penny’s ex-flame and current one, though.”

“You slept with her, too. So technically all three of you were paramours.” Tess grinned. “So are you going to meet up with him?”

“I don’t know.”

“You changed—maybe Alistair has, too.”

“How was your day?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Good. My boss has been so happy with my articles, he wants to send me to Paris next week to cover a story.”

“That’s great news! I’m so proud of you. When do you leave?”

“Wednesday night. Come with me, Bas. We can spend the weekend in Paris. I had such a wonderful time there on our honeymoon.”

Sebastian reached over and took her hand. “I would love that, but what about Mattie?”

“Don’t be mad, but when my boss asked me to go I called Penny and asked if she wouldn’t mind taking Mattie. She was more than happy to say yes. They’ll spend the weekend at the castle with Max.”

All Sebastian could do was chuckle. “I really don’t know if Penny understands what she agreed to, but I’m game. I certainly would love a romantic weekend with you.”

Tess reached over the table and kissed her husband. “Thank you!”

Sebastian and Mattie rode to Penny’s townhouse in a black cab. When they arrived at their destination, Sebastian paid the cab driver and then took Mattie’s suitcase and stepped out onto the sidewalk while holding his daughter’s hand. Mattie ran up to the familiar red door and knocked. Sebastian reached for the doorbell.

Penny opened the door with a warm smile and Mattie jumped into her arms.

“Well, hello, you two,” Penny beamed, hugging the child.

Sebastian leaned in and kissed Penny’s cheek. “Thanks for taking her this weekend.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

“When is Uncle Max picking us up?” Mattie asked impatiently.

“He should come around in about an hour.”

Sebastian knelt down in front of his daughter. “Martha, be on your best behavior this weekend. I’ll know if you aren’t and you won’t be permitted to stay with Aunt Penny again.”

The child let out a heavy sigh. “Daddy, I’m always good.” She then looked up at Penny for confirmation. Penny simply laughed.

Sebastian hugged Mattie and kissed her goodbye. “Ring me at the hotel if you need anything, Pen.”

“We’ll be fine. Go have a wonderful weekend with your wife!”

Sebastian sat on the Tube heading back to St. John’s Wood, studying his fellow riders. It was a constant source of fascination to him. You could observe people from all walks of life: businessmen in their suits and ties, mothers holding babies in their arms, an elderly woman with her grocery shopping, young lovers standing close and whispering in each other’s ears. He never would have noticed any of these things if it weren’t for Tess. The writer in her was compelled to take in all these little details and she naturally shared them with him, unwittingly turning him into the observer he was today.

The train pulled into the station. The prerecorded message played on the PA system: “Please mind the gap.” The riders filed out onto the busy platform and made their way toward the exit.

Walking along the tree-lined street, he reveled in the bright, gorgeous summer afternoon. He was going to spend four days in the City of Love with his amazing, wife and he was heady with anticipation.

Sebastian opened the door to the flat to find Tess grabbing a Coke out of the refrigerator. “Hey, Bas,” she greeted.

“You’re home early,” he said, coming up behind her and planting a kiss on her neck.

“Yes, my boss said I could leave early to pack. Did you get Mattie to Penny’s okay?”

“Yes, they both seemed very eager for their weekend in the country.”

“I put the suitcases on the bed. Let’s go pack. I’m so excited. I can’t believe we’re going back to Paris!”

The sun was setting as Sebastian and Tess arrived at their hotel, just a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower. The bellman collected their luggage while the couple walked up to the front desk to check in. “Monsieur et Madam, bienvenue!”

“Merci beaucoup,” Sebastian rattled off without thought.

Tess glanced over at her husband and smiled as he and the desk clerk continued their polite conversation in French. She watched as the clerk handed over the room key and motioned for the bellman to take their luggage to the room.

After the bags were delivered, the bellman left them to the comfort of their accommodation. It was modern and elegantly decorated, nothing like the ornateness of the George V. The AP was footing the bill, so Tess couldn’t complain. The room did have a lovely view of the Seine River.

“I can’t believe I have you to all to myself for four days,” Sebastian murmured, walking up behind his wife and wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Speak to me in French,” she requested, leaning into her husband.

“Je’taime, mon chéri.”

Tess closed her eyes and sighed. “You turn me on when you speak in different languages.”

“I thought everything about me turns you on,” he teased, nipping her ear with his teeth.

Tess turned around and kissed Sebastian—a sweet, soft kiss. Then the kiss deepened, turning feral and desperate. They spent so much time these days working and raising Mattie, there seemed to be little time for just the two of them. Well, not tonight—Sebastian would see to that. He picked Tess up off the floor and carried her over to the king-sized bed, gently laying her on top of the luxurious ivory, silk duvet. Her long brown hair fanned out on the pillow, and the top few buttons on her blouse popped open to reveal her cleavage. Sebastian teased her by running his fingers along the swell of breast on view for him.

Sebastian closed his eyes and inhaled her scent while various things he wanted to do to her body raced through his mind. He reached for her waist and pulled down the zipper of her navy skirt. She lifted her hips and shimmied the fabric down her legs. Next, Sebastian unbuttoned her silk blouse. It fell away to reveal her black, lacy demi-bra. Tess sat up and removed the blouse and then reached around her back to unhook the bra. It was carelessly thrown on the floor as she put her arms around his neck and pulled him back down on top of her. His hand ran over her panties and felt she was wet and ready to take him. “I want you so badly,” he growled, kissing her with force.

“Take me, I’m yours,” she replied in a breathy, seductive tone of voice.

Sebastian pushed away from his wife and stood to remove his clothes. The action done with such haste, a cuff link went flying across the room and bounced off the lamp. His lust-filled eyes roamed over her curves. Soon he was back on the bed, kissing her feet and working his way up her legs until he reached the sweet spot he so wanted to delve into. Removing the delicate lacy fabric, he licked his lips and began to work her into a frenzy with his tongue. Tess squirmed under this touch, eager for more. Just as she was about to climax, Sebastian pulled back.

“No,” she whimpered, reaching out for his body, mourning the loss of his tongue on her.

Sebastian took the tip of his erection and guided it to her folds. With one swift motion, he was inside her: hard, quick, and fast. The sudden movement sent Tess over the edge. Feeling her body orgasm did Sebastian in and he soon followed suit—happy, sated, and in love.

“I will never tire of being with you like this,” he said between ragged breaths. “I love you.”

“I love you, Bas,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair as he laid his head on her shoulder.

“I could use a nap,” he yawned.

“And then some room service so we can do this again,” Tess added.

“Most definitely.”

They slept for an hour and then ordered room service. Happily sitting in bed, noshing on French crepes and fresh fruit, Tess looked over at Sebastian. “I wonder how Max and Penny are doing with Mattie.”

“They have our number if they need to reach us. Mattie should be asleep by now.”

“I think things are pretty serious between Max and Penny.”

“I don’t want to talk about them, darling. I just want to concentrate on you,” Sebastian said, taking the tray of food away from Tess and placing it on the floor.

“Hmm, you’ll get no argument from me,” she purred, wrapping her naked body around his.

“What time is your interview tomorrow?”

“Ten o’clock,” she replied, kissing his chest.

“Good, then I have all night to make love to you.”

Mattie was dressed in her fancy pink dress, the one with all the ruffles on the skirt. She sat at the dinner table with Max and Penny, eating an early supper. “Can I ride the pony tomorrow?” she asked her uncle.

“Yes, we can ride tomorrow.”

“Awesome!”

Penny chuckled at the child’s enthusiasm. “Don’t you miss your mum and dad, Mattie?”

“No, I love coming to the castle. I wish I could live here.”

Now Maxwell joined in the chuckling. “You’re welcome here anytime.”

“Mattie, if you’re finished your meal, you should get ready for bed. The pony will be up bright and early tomorrow morning, so you must be ready.”

Thankfully, the mention of the pony was all that was needed to convince Mattie it was bedtime. “May I be excused?” Mattie politely asked, looking at Maxwell.

“Yes, you may be excused,” he replied, touching her little hand.

Penny and the child stood from the table and made their way upstairs.

Once they were inside the nursery, Mattie changed into her pajamas and crawled under the covers. “Will you read me a story like Daddy does every night?”

“Certainly. What would you like to read?” Penny asked, walking over to the bookshelf filled with children’s books.

“Paddington Bear.”

“Ah, this is a good one,” Penny said, pulling a copy of
Paddington Abroad
by Michael Bond from the shelf.

Penny sat down on the bed and began to read the book. In the story, Mr. Brown decides the family should take a vacation to Paris and Paddington is given a beret and French phrase book. Fifteen minutes into the story, Mattie was sound asleep.

Maxwell was watching the two interact, quietly hanging back in the hallway. Penny closed the book and laid it on the bedside table. “You’re wonderful with her,” he whispered, padding into the room and placing his hand on Penny’s shoulder.

“She’s a joy, Max. Sebastian and Tess are so lucky to have her.”

Maxwell got down on one knee, pulling a small box from his tuxedo jacket. He slowly opened the velvet box to reveal a five-carat emerald cut diamond flanked by two baguettes set in platinum. “Penelope, I know we haven’t been together for a very long time, but I love you and I want to marry you. Will you have me?”

Penny let out an audible gasp at the sight of the ring and Max kneeling before her. She threw caution to the wind and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes! I will marry you, Maxwell. I love you, too.”

Beaming with joy, Max slipped the ring on her finger. He pulled her up from the bed, picked her up in his arms, and carried her from Mattie’s bedroom.

Penny lay in Maxwell’s arms after they made love. She couldn’t take her eyes off the ring he had given her a few hours earlier. “Happy?” he asked, pulling her closer.

“Stunned, elated, ecstatic. You’ve made the happiest girl in England. This ring—I have no words.”

“I’m glad you like it. It’s a family heirloom. It was my grandmother’s engagement ring,” he explained.

“You’ve given me the Countess’ ring. Oh, Max,” she smiled at him, tears threatening to spill over onto her cheeks.

“So, when do you want to get married? I vote for sooner rather than later.”

Penny nodded in agreement. “I would like to get married as soon as possible.”

“Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s?”

“Neither,” Penny quickly answered. “They’ll be booked for months.”

“I am an earl, I can pull some strings.”

“Let’s get married here at the castle. Sebastian and Tess’ wedding was at their home in America. It was an intimate, romantic affair. I want that, Max.”

“But, love, I’m an earl and you come from a prominent family. I don’t think we can get away with a small affair. However, I do love the idea of having the ceremony here. God knows there’s enough room.”

Penny grinned with joy. “I can pull it together in two months.”

“You can find a dress that quickly?”

“My parents own a department store. I have connections, too.”

Max leaned in and kissed her full on the lips, savoring her scent and taste. “September it is. You’ve made me the happiest man on earth.”