AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I hold my breath.
He looks up and scrutinizes her face, comparing it to her photograph, and then stamps her passport. “Welcome to the UK, miss,” he says.
I blow out a breath.
She’s here! Legally! Hurrah!
Alessia rewards him with a dazzling smile, and we follow our escort into one of the stylish and comfortable suites to await our luggage.
“Your butler will be with you shortly to take your breakfast order. We should have an update on your baggage in the next ten minutes. There’s an en suite just behind you should you need it. Anything else, just press the call button.” She points to a red button on the coffee table.
“Thanks.”
With a bright, practiced smile, she leaves us, and I offer Alessia the menu. “Are you hungry?”
She shakes her head.
“Me neither. Did you sleep?”
Alessia nods, taking in our surroundings. “I have never been anywhere like this. Do you always do this at Heathrow?”
“Yes.” I kiss her hair. “Get used to it.”
She smiles. “I think it will take a while.”
I shrug as there’s a knock at the door and one of the butlers enters.
“Good morning, Lord Trevethick. May I bring you breakfast and a drink?”
* * *
They are back in the expensive black car, and a man in a smart suit is driving them into London. As they sit in traffic on the motorway, Alessia glances over the skyline and notices the towers at Brentford.
Magda! Michal!
She wonders how her friends are doing in Canada. She doesn’t have a phone number for Magda, but maybe she can contact Michal through Facebook. That part of her life seems so long ago, yet it was only weeks. And now here she is in a fancy car with her beloved husband, shooting into London after a holiday in beautiful Mustique.
What has she done to deserve such good fortune?
Maxim threads his fingers through hers. “Seems an age since we were here,” he says, and he sounds a little wistful.
“Yes.” She returns his squeeze but doesn’t know what else to say. She’s feeling overwhelmed and a little untethered, as if she’s in a dream and she’ll wake at any moment to some dreadful reality.
He raises her hand to his lips and plants a sweet kiss. “We’ll be home soon. I’m going to need a nap.”
“Did you sleep?” They’d traveled first class where their seats converted into comfortable beds.
“Not much. The flight was noisy, but mostly because I’m too excited to get you home.”
Alessia smiles, and just like that, her misgivings disappear.
The black car pulls up outside Maxim’s building on Chelsea Embankment, and the chauffeur opens Alessia’s door. He removes the bags from the trunk and places them in the foyer. Maxim graciously tips him and, grabbing their bags, heads to the waiting elevator. Maxim ushers Alessia inside, and the doors close, leaving just the two of them and their luggage. Maxim presses the button for the top floor, and his emerald gaze moves to hers. Alessia’s breath catches at his smoldering look.
He steps toward her and cups her face gently in his hands. “You’re safe. We’re home,” he whispers and leans down to kiss her, a slow, sweet, and grateful kiss, but as his coaxing, teasing tongue finds hers, desire blossoms deep inside Alessia. Her body has become so attuned to his that she wants him. Now. Here. Maxim presses her to the wall, his excitement hard against her belly, and it feeds her lust. She moans, her body molding to his and kissing him back with a fervor that sears her soul.
The elevator stops, the door opens, and Maxim guides them out of the elevator while they are still locked in an embrace, still locked in each other.
Will she ever get enough of him?
“Maxim, how lovely to see you. Have you been away?”
* * *
The not-so-dulcet tones of Mrs. Beckstrom interrupt our make-out session, which I’m hoping will lead to some pre-nap hot sex. Briefly, I lean my forehead in frustration against Alessia’s, then peek down at her, and she looks as dazed as I feel. Taking a deep breath, I hold Alessia against me to hide my evident excitement.
“Mrs. Beckstrom. And Heracles.” I bend and give her annoying lapdog a quick pat. He bares his teeth in disgust. “How lovely to see you. How are you? May I introduce my wife? Alessia.”
“Oh, how lovely.” Mrs. Beckstrom holds out her hand to Alessia, who’s breathless.
“How do you do?” Alessia says as they shake hands.
“You are so pretty, my dear. Wife, did you say, Maxim?”
“Yes, Mrs. B.”
“You finally got married. Well, congratulations. That was rather sudden. Are you in the family way, my dear?”
For fuck’s sake! I daren’t look at Alessia’s face as I haul our luggage out of the lift.
“No, Mrs. Beckstrom,” Alessia says quickly, and her cheeks are rosy despite her tan.
“But I’ll see what I can do about that!” I wink at Mrs. B, and Alessia’s blush deepens.
