Chapter 65
Anton
Ihave been summoned.
It was only a matter of time. It’s been three weeks since I persuaded Gen to take a chance on me, and I haven’t looked back. I even managed to drag her out to Antibes again this weekend for a quick ’n’ dirty forty-eight hours.
We’ve been to Alchemy a few times, too, and I’ve fucking loved walking into that place, knowing I’ll get the most beautiful woman in the club into a private room before the evening is up.
Knowing those fantasies I’ve had about her since the moment she gave me that bloody tour will come true, and she’ll submit to me.
To be honest, my fantasies fell short. Because the reality of what she and I get up to in those rooms after some light foreplay in The Playroom is so fucking incredible even I couldn’t have imagined it.
Saying I’m falling is inadequate, because the truth is that I’ve fallen. I was falling from the moment we met, and I was a goner from the second she allowed me access to her body and her soul.
Our trysts at Alchemy mean a lot. And let me tell you, that place is well kitted out. But they fall short of our trysts at home, at my place or hers. Or our dates at neighbourhood Italian bistros. Because every single way she lets me get intimate with her has me falling further.
Harder.
I’m sure she’s not perfect, but I’ve sure as hell yet to see a single flaw in her.
I knew we were similar animals, but each moment we spend together confirms that in my heart.
It was only a matter of time before her closest friends and protectors demanded an opportunity to shake me down. To investigate my true colours for themselves.
And I don’t blame them in the slightest.
I’d do the same in their place.
The inquisition comes disguised as an invitation to a ‘family barbecue’ at Gen’s colleague Zach’s house one Wednesday night.
‘They’re all dying of curiosity,’ she tells me. ‘They want to see if you live up to the hype.’
‘The hype or your hype?’ I ask, because when you get to my position in the business world, most people have an opinion. An assumption.
‘Both,’ she says seductively.
And so I present myself on Zach’s immaculate doorstep. His home is only a three or four minute stroll from mine, and it looks stunning. Gen wasn’t kidding about those guys raking it in through their hedge fund.
Zach’s girlfriend, Maddy answers the door with the black lab I’ve met a couple of times at Alchemy.
She’s wearing a very short dress and looks pleased as hell to see me.
Gen may have let slip that Maddy’s been a confidant of hers since we’ve started seeing each other, and that she’s aggressively ‘shipping’ us.
I have an idea of what that means, thanks to Amie and Annabel, and I’m grateful Maddy’s in my corner.
Not sure Gen’s male friends are, but I intend to show them tonight that I’m serious about her.
‘They’re out the back,’ Maddy says now, twisting her mouth in delight.
I hand her the bottle of champagne I brought and give the sweet dog a good rub before following her through what looks like a beautiful family home.
I know from what Gen has told me that Zach lost his wife a couple of years back.
So fucking horrific.
I can’t even imagine.
These days, ‘barbecues’ for me involve my chef cooking up all sorts of fancy marinaded joints and producing epic salads.
It’s been a long time since I stood in front of a grill with a pair of tongs.
But it looks like that’s exactly what Zach’s doing.
He’s got an enormous Weber going, and whatever he’s cooking under that hood smells incredible.
‘I think you’ll know everyone except Zach’s girls,’ Maddy says as we step outside. ‘It’s just us guys.’
Us guys is Gen, Callum, Rafe, his girlfriend Belle, Zach and Maddy, as far as I can see. There are a couple of little girls loitering by the bowl of crisps. But my eyes don’t stray far from Gen, who’s in a floaty floral sundress that I reckon I’ll have on my bedroom floor in two seconds flat later.
She’s chatting to Belle. Her face lights up when she sees me. I’m so fucking pleased that her poker face days are behind us. And I’m pretty happy when she makes an instant beeline for me, tilting her face up for my kiss.
I keep it PG. There are kids here, after all.
But she looks and smells and tastes delicious, so I hope our audience appreciates my self-control.
‘You look very beautiful,’ I murmur against her lips before releasing her, and she smiles up at me in a way that’s bashful and pleased and pretty fucking adorable.
The other guys greet me politely rather than effusively.
They’re a tough crowd. I get the best reception from Belle, who’s been sweet each time I’ve met her at Alchemy, and from Zach’s daughters.
Forewarned by Gen that they were serious Swifties, I had Rix sort out a custom t-shirt for each of them printed with, respectively, Stella’s Version and Nancy’s Version.
They’re absolutely, and noisily, thrilled, and I’m reminded of little girls’ ability to make you feel like utter shit or a fucking god, depending on the circumstances.
The others kick off the inquisition shortly after the girls’ nanny has appeared to usher them inside and we’re relaxing on Zach’s terrace with a few magnums of Rock Angel on ice.
‘So,’ Callum says. ‘Gen tells me you’ve been married three times.’
‘Cal!’ Gen exclaims, practically spitting out her rosé. ‘Jesus Christ! You promised to play nicely, remember?’
I’m amused. I’d have tapped Zach or Rafe as her protector—Callum seems the most laid-back of the three—but it appears he’s looking out for Gen, which I have no problem with.
Besides, we all know why I’m here, and I’m in a jovial mood.
It’s a beautiful evening, and, through the fabric of her dress, Gen’s thigh is warm and toned under my hand.
‘It’s all good,’ I tell her. ‘That’s right, mate. Three ex-wives and four kids. My life is a circus.’
Rafe shudders. ‘Brave man.’
‘I’d say it’s less telling that Anton has three ex-wives and far more telling that he’s on very good terms with all of them,’ Gen retorts. She must like me if she’s fighting my battles on my behalf, surely?
I’m being disingenuous, obviously.
I know very well how much she likes me.
‘Three wives, four kids, and a PA with benefits,’ Callum muses aloud, and I almost spit out my drink, because this guy is not pulling any punches, and it’s pretty funny.
Gen puts her drink down and looks ready to slap him. ‘What the hell is the matter with you?’ she hisses. ‘I told you that in confidence.’
‘Ex-wives,’ I tell him. My smile says I’m amused, but my eyes are steely.
‘And an ex-EA, as a matter of fact. I’m not interested in benefits with anyone other than Gen, these days.
’ I massage Gen’s thigh. ‘I can give you the number of the agency, if you want, but I’m sure a good-looking guy like you who owns his own sex club has no need to pay anyone for sex. ’
Not that you could afford Seraph, anyway.
Callum’s dark eyes are spitting fire, until his entire face breaks into a huge grin.
‘Okay, okay. He’s passed round one. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Gen.
If he can’t handle some uncomfortable questions, he’s not worth your time.
’ He holds out his hand, and I release Gen’s thigh so I can shake it a little too firmly.
I smile. He’s got a nerve. ‘You’re a cheeky little fucker,’ I tell him.
‘Damn right, but I’m Gen’s cheeky little fucker,’ Callum tells me. ‘And you’re right, mate. Some of us don’t have to pay for sex.’
I throw back my head and laugh. He’s a piece of work. I know the type. Charming playboy. Joker. Never lets things get too serious.
‘So you’re the only one without an extremely beautiful, much younger girlfriend,’ I muse aloud, just to fuck him off.
Everyone else around the table smirks. Maddy tosses her hair dramatically at my compliment.
‘Don’t want a girlfriend,’ Callum protests. ‘Like you said, I run a fucking sex club. I have no intention of settling down. No offence,’ he mutters to his friends.
‘Your loss, pal,’ Rafe tells him. Belle’s wearing a backless black jumpsuit that makes her look like she’s just walked off a Bond movie set, and she’s tucked cosily into the crook of his arm. Looks to me like monogamy is working just fine for him.
Just like it is for me.