Vengeful Love (30 page)

I hear his movement in front of me. Then my hand is taken by his and pressed against his erection. I work his rock-solid penis as he gently applies pressure to my shoulder, guiding me to kneel before him. I grip his base then quickly, catching him off guard the way he did me, I take him in my mouth, swirling my tongue around the tip of him, lapping up the first bead of pre-cum. He groans and fists my hair, a satisfying and massively erotic combination. Holding my head still, he slowly withdraws and slides back in, my open throat becoming used to his length. Sliding out again, he lifts me to my feet and turns me around, bending me forward until my hands are resting on the bed.

I lift my hips, completely exposed, ready, longing.

His length rubs against the cheeks of my arse then he reaches around my waist and moves his finger in a circular motion over my clit, dipping in and out of my wetness with smooth delicious strokes.

“Gregory, please.”

“Please what?”

“Please.”

“Tell me what you want, baby.”

“I want you. I want you inside me.”

Relief courses through every nerve ending when he finally thrusts into me. My muscles grip him greedily, needing him, not willing to let him go.

“I love the feeling of you tight around my cock, Scarlett. You’re fucking amazing.”

I rise instantly back to the brink. Panting as sheer indulgence takes over my body, I push my hips back against him, taking him deeper.

“Jesus!”

He thrusts hard, relentlessly, until I scream his name like he promised I would. His finger works my clit, giving me the most profound orgasm of my life.

He turns me and guides me back on the bed, my weak legs relieved for the rest. Then with something, I don’t know what, he ties my wrists to the bed above my head. It’s strange, restrictive and kinky as hell. He licks me again, my previous orgasm not fully subsided. My hips gyrate uncontrollably, bucking, rotating. I yank at my restraints, desperate to touch him.

I can take no more.

“I want you inside me, please,” I beg.

He raises my hips until I’m forced to bend my legs beneath me. Then he fills me again, his erection no less powerful than the first time. His hands lift my arse as he kneels and drives into me. I build and build.

Hearing him come, hearing my name on his fevered lips, is my ultimate vice. Knowing he’s come over me, that I can do that to him, I explode.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Gregory’s been pacing the lounge for most of the day. He’s become increasingly nervous as the party has drawn closer without the team making strides to find his father. The usual mask of stoicism and confidence has been firmly in place but I’m becoming finely tuned to the man beneath that facade. This morning he and Jackson drove to Lara’s house to brief the team on where they need to be tonight and when. Jackson’s team met Lara’s hired security for the party. Now the good guys know the good guys and there’s a face to match the voices as they communicate through radios later.

“We don’t have to go,” I said to him this morning.

I felt sorry for him when his wide, troubled eyes regarded me. “I can’t leave my mother there and I can’t leave you here. It’ll be safer if we’re all in one place.”

Because he’s been with Jackson all day, he arranged for a hairdresser to come to the apartment so that I didn’t go out alone. After curling and loosely pinning my hair at the nape of my neck, a beautician primed and made up my face. We have an hour to get to the party in our allocated arrival slot so it’s time for me to get dressed. Gregory is in his home office speaking on his Blackberry and in truth, I no longer have a desire to hear those calls. My mind has been racing all day with an almost unbearable mix of excitement, nerves and rage.

My iPhone beeps to tell me I have a text. The sound shocks me, setting my heart racing. There’s no denying I’m on edge.

I am soooooo excited I can hardly breathe!!!!!!!!!!

Smiling at Amanda’s text, I set my phone to one side and get ready. Somehow, I navigate the dress over my head without catching any crystals in my hair, then, realising it’s much easier when someone else does it for you, I put on the Gina sandals. My stomach begins to churn with excitement and anticipation. I hope Gregory likes it. Everything looks in order when I check the floor-length mirror. The last thing I do is gently unhook the diamond choker from its box and delicately place it around my neck, terrified of damaging the goddamn extravagant thing.

On a deep, calming inhale, I whisper to myself, “Ready.”

Jackson and Gregory are already dressed in their finest black tie and waiting in the lounge. Gregory watches the city below the wall of windows with his hands in his pockets, striking the pose that never fails to astound me.

He turns to look at me, takes one hand from his pocket and places it across his chest in that way he does. A smile, so forceful I can’t prevent it, draws across my face. His gaze never leaves mine as I move down the staircase. We stand face-to-face, time frozen, my heart beating against my eardrums. Eventually, he places a hand to the side of my face and strokes my cheek with his thumb.

He kisses me, long and slow.

“This is real,” I whisper to myself. I kiss him again, with the passion that threatens to take over everything I am, my rules, my order, my world as I’ve always known it. And I’ll do anything in my power to make sure I never lose it. Right now, in this moment, the only thing that’ scares me is how far I’d go to protect what’s mine. That awareness is more terrifying that any monster roaming the streets of London.

Jackson clears his throat, reminding me that we’re not alone. “We need to be going.”

Gregory and I walk out of the front entrance and Jackson is already there with a black Bentley.

“No Mercedes?”

“Not tonight,” Gregory says.

He opens the rear door then takes my hand and guides me into the back of the car, being careful not to step on the train of my dress.

“Give us five, Jackson,” he says. The partition between the front and back of the car rises.

Gregory takes my chin between his forefinger and thumb. “You’re incredible.”

“I love you,” I whisper. I can’t believe I’ve said it but I mean it.

Briefly, I see his gorgeous half smile and then he places his lips on mine. I want him so much I could burst. My abdomen ties itself in knots. I never want to forget this feeling. I love him with every inch of my body and I’ll wait for him to feel the same if that’s what it takes, but I need him to know that I love everything about him, every mood, every glance. My heat, my soul, my mind, my body—I give it all up to this man.

We’re on the gravel driveway of Lara’s property before we stop kissing. Faux flame lights line the path to the mansion. Jackson slows the car and crawls behind a chain of other chauffeured cars to the red carpet entrance. Press line the sides of the red carpet behind a chain fence. My throat is dry with terror. I squeeze Gregory’s hand.

“Hey, they aren’t here for us. It’s just you and me, baby.” He kisses my brow then pecks the tip of my nose.

I nod twice, quickly, and take a deep breath to compose myself. My heart starts pounding when the car in front of us, the last car between the red carpet and ours, moves forward. Jackson gets out and opens the back door. The camera flashes start immediately.

Gregory steps out of the car to shouts of “Mr. Ryans!” and “Gregory!”

“Holy shit!”

Gregory turns and leans into the back of the car to see me taking short, shallow breaths.

“Jesus, Gregory, I can see the headlines now. CEO Slumming It. From Beauty to the Beast.”

“Or maybe they’ll say CEO and the Most Captivating Woman at the Gala
.
Come on, you’re with me, I won’t let you go.”

He offers his hand and I take it, trembling. “Let’s get it over with.”

As I step out of the car, the flashes come faster and the shouts become, “Who is she?”

Gregory squeezes my hand tighter and leads me to the middle of the red carpet. “Smile, you’re beautiful,” he whispers into my ear.

Forcing a smile, I try to remember how I’ve seen women pose in magazines. Then, completely unexpectedly, Gregory pulls me into him, looks deep into my eyes and kisses me. With his hand holding my hips to him, he leans me back. I open my eyes mid kiss and ask myself if this is the same, private, mysterious CEO I know.

Waiters hold trays aloft, full of champagne flutes in the hallway of Lara’s home. People looking like members of the aristocracy, covered in fine materials, frosted with diamonds and doused in the scent of money, chatter in small pockets. All eyes watch Gregory as we make our way through the reception, his presence commanding attention. I try to avoid making eye contact with the women who are clearly scrutinising me and whispering their findings. At the end of the hallway an extravagant display of champagne glasses, towering and glowing with the flow of golden bubbles, draws my attention.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“And incredibly wasteful.” Gregory hands me a glass of champagne and leads us out to the garden.

Flame lights and outdoor heaters are roaring, making the air feel like an exotic summer night. Standing at the top of the steps, looking down across the lawn, we see Lara’s planning in full view. LED lights are twisted around the stair rails and sparkle in small trees that decorate every third step leading down to the lawn. Hundreds of people fill the grass. The cream pavilion is the focal point and hosts a big swing band. Dressed tables are scattered as far as I can see in the distance.

A lady I’d place in her fifties wearing a purple gown and covered in more black and clear diamonds than I’ve seen in the whole of Hatton Garden approaches us.

“Gregory, darling, hi!” She kisses him the continental way, one cheek then the other. “It’s wonderful to see you again. Your mother’s done a fantastic job, as ever!”

“Claudia. Can I introduce you to Scarlett Heath?”

“You certainly can. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” I say, allowing her to kiss my cheeks.

“Now, Gregory, you must see David, he’s around here somewhere and he’ll be keen to see you.”

“I’ll make sure I do.”

The next person we see is Camilla, as in the Camilla element of the
non-
royal Charles and Camilla. Surprisingly, I’m actually happy to see her familiar face.

“Oh. My. Good Lord! This is A-Mazing!” Amanda screams, running up the steps toward us.

Thrilled to see her, I throw my arms around her.

“This looks even better than it did in Harrods,” I say, gesturing to her look from head to toe, her gold satin gown showing her figure perfectly.

“You too!” she shouts, needlessly loudly and at a supernatural decibel.

“Hi Amanda,” Gregory says, kissing her on the cheek. “You look great.”

“Well, if you do favours for bazillionaires, good things come of it,” she says, laughing and winking at Gregory.

Gregory looks amused but not quite enough to laugh.

“I’m going to catch up with Jackson. Will you be okay?”

“Of course she will, she’s with me,” Amanda says, snatching my hand and pulling me down the steps. “I swear I just saw Jude Law.”

I look back over my shoulder and smile at Gregory who’s now laughing.

My name is being shouted from somewhere on the lawn. Eventually I match the voice to Lara and she looks astounding. Her deep-purple crushed-satin dress is fitted to her waist with a subtle fishtail bottom and high structured collar. Her blue-black sapphire and diamond teardrop earrings match a much larger version of the same around her neck.

“Scarlett!” She waves me toward where she stands with two couples.

“Lara, you look fantastic.” She hugs me and kisses me on both cheeks then turns me to the couples who she introduces as Gordon and Vivienne and Stella and Jean-Pierre. We exchange pleasantries and I introduce Amanda.

Lara rests a hand on my shoulder and tells the group, “This is the woman who has tamed the lion’s heart.”

My cheeks burn under the four pairs of dissecting eyes. A thousand responses dance around my synapses—gracious, polite, ridiculous.

“I’m not sure he’ll ever be tamed,” I say.

“That sounds like the Gregory we know.” Jean-Pierre’s French accent is smooth. He raises his champagne flute.

“What is it you do, Scarlett?” Gordon asks.

“I’m a lawyer. And you?”

“I design furniture. You might have seen my store in Knightsbridge, Belle Maison.”

“I have actually. Your furniture is amazing, very chic.”

“Oh, well, that’s what we try to achieve.”

“I’m curious,” Stella says with an underlying sharpness to her voice, her lean frame looking down on me by an inch or two. “How did you meet Gregory?”

Her abruptness catches me off guard. Her plump red lips pull to a pout and her eyes bore into mine, her fierceness augmented by her severe up-do, scraping her peroxide blond back from her face into a chignon.

“I did some work for him.”

“Uh huh, and what kind of work was that?”

I pause for a second, wondering what’s passed between her and Gregory to make her take a tone that I
really
don’t care for.

“The confidential kind.”

Vivienne breaks the silence with a high-pitched cackle and the group continues making inane conversation.

“Lara, you don’t mind if I just steal Scarlett away, do you? I’m sure I just saw someone I know,” Amanda says.

“Really? No, of course not.”

Amanda drags me away muttering. “He’s blatantly turned her down before. What a cow!”

“Not just me then?”

“Not. At. All. But forget her, Mr. Cover-me-in-chocolate-sauce-and-lick-me-clean is at twelve o’clock!”

“Amanda, that’s vulgar. Plus, what’s happening with you and—”

“O. M. G. OMG! OMG! That’s the guy who plays that guy in
Inception
.”

“Which guy?” I turn to follow the approximate direction of Amanda’s stalking eyes. “Ohhhh, Tom Hardy? Yes, that’s Tom Hardy.”

“Holy shit! How can you be so calm?”

“Jesus, Amanda, did someone give you a Viagra? They’re just normal people.”

“You’re so cerebral.”

“What, have you swallowed a dictionary now?”

She scowls at me as a waiter steps toward us with a tray of full champagne flutes. Amanda takes the last swig from her glass and replaces it with a full one. I deposit my empty glass on the tray.

“You need to be careful,” I say. “I think Williams likes you and I know you don’t really like him but—”

“Really? Do you think so?” She’s suddenly bright-eyed and paying attention.

“Of course. Don’t you think so?”

“I thought we were just fooling around.”

A moving hand catches my eye. Lawrence is beckoning us over to a pocket of men and women who are closer to our own age than most people we’ve seen so far, certainly closer than that catty cow, Stella.

“Emily, this is Scarlett, Gregory’s girlfriend, and her friend Amanda. Scarlett, Amanda, this is my niece Emily, my nephew-to-be Harry, and their friends Archie and Penelope.”

“Hi, it’s so nice to meet you.”

“Lawrence tells me you’re a lawyer,” Harry says. “I work for Bruckheimer.”

“You’re almost next door to us then,” I say. “Amanda and I both work for Saunders.”

“We should have drinks sometime,” Emily says with a genuine smile. “The four of us meet up with some other friends every Friday at Crux. We’ve tried to get Gregory there but he’s always too busy. Maybe you can persuade him.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“It’s a wonder we’ve never seen you,” Amanda chips in. “Scarlett and I go to Crux if we go out straight from work.”

A loud burst of laughter comes from a gathering not far from us. Turning my head to the right I see Williams telling a story of some sort to the responsive crowd, Gregory relaxed beside him, a rare but handsome sight. When the laughter subsides, Gregory turns his head around the crowd, finally locating me. Fire burns in my body, when our eyes meet my chest flutters. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of watching him. As a waiter offers fresh drinks to the group, Gregory pats Williams on the shoulder as if to say,
you’ve got this
.
Then he replaces his one empty glass with two full flutes.

An elderly lady stops him midway and kisses his cheek but it’s a momentary distraction only. He’s making a line for me, focused, intent, as if I’m the only person in the vicinity. Every part of my body reacts. I can’t help but wish we were alone.

“Hi,” he says, handing me a glass of champagne.