Chapter 46 Wesley
Wesley
Family dinner
A few days later, I catch Madison in the hallway after the long bath I insisted she take to give me enough time to set up her surprise.
We’re both eager to start.
“I have a surprise for you, my love.”
Madison gasps, hand going to her tracking necklace. “Something sparkly?”
Remembering that was her exact reaction last time, I chuckle and run my hand down her soft, silky hair. “No. Sort of shiny, though.”
“Color me intrigued.”
I lead her into the office, where Some Bills has taken up residence in the corner of the couch closest to the windows, where his naps are occasionally directly in the sunbeams streaming through the thick curtains.
As soon as she steps into the room, Madison inhales sharply, seeing the alterations I’ve made.
The desk that used to sit along the back wall and hold all my half-finished soldering projects has been cleared and pushed next to my own. On it, there’s a brand new, ridiculously overpowered and top-of-the-line laptop, a mechanical keyboard, a wireless mouse, a headset, and a double monitor arm.
“When did you…” she begins, trailing off as her eyes zigzag across the tech like she can’t decide what she wants to look at first. “How…”
“You’re going to need your own setup if we’re to track down all the remaining copies of the Gener-AI program and wipe it out.”
“Side by side,” she says, eyes teary and full of love and hope.
“Side by side,” I confirm, then nod encouragingly at the desk. “Go check it out.”
With a child-like grin of excitement, she bounds over to her new desk and examines everything with a critical eye. She lifts the top of the laptop, cranes her neck to read what kind of chip it has, and whistles. “You went all out.”
“Only the best,” I agree. “You deserve it.”
“It’s all…” she trails off, swallowing thickly, “it’s perfect, Wesley. Thank you.” When I come around, she leans up and kisses my cheek.
I take my seat and gesture to the one next to me. “Good. Now, get to work. You’ve got a laptop to set up, and we’ve got local government systems to hack into.”
She nods absently, looking down at her own office chair. It’s the same model I use, so I’m surprised when she makes a face. “It’s all perfect except…”
“You don’t like the chair?” I ask, feeling my brows lift.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong… this is a nice chair,” she says, gripping the back and jerking it back and forth like she’s testing the wheels. “Sturdy. Encourages proper posture.”
“Ergonomic is the word you’re searching for, I believe.”
“Mmm,” she hums her agreement. She takes a step towards me, eyes playful. “But it’s not the chair I want.”
“No? You had another model in mind?” I ask, catching on to her game. I spin away from my desk.
She bites her lower lip, and her eyes drop to my lap. “Well, it’s not the seat I want, I guess I should say.”
“Ah.” I lift a brow as she takes another slow step, letting the motion of her body rock all her gorgeous curves back and forth. “We have work to do, Madison,” I say, playfully stern. “We can’t get distracted.”
“I’ll be a good girl, Sir.”
I grin, but I know it looks as dark as it feels when her eyes flash with excitement. “Then take your seat, my love.”
With a thrilled little noise, she spins, grabs her new laptop, and slides it over to my desk. She sets it on the table and then turns and presents me with her ass.
“Wait,” I instruct, and she pauses with her knee slightly bent. Her hair cascades down her back, and I want to grab a fistful of it and drag her down onto me, but I can’t do that quite yet. I settle for grabbing a hip in each hand. “Panties off, first.”
She laughs, a husky, pleased noise. Her hands go to the hem of her skirt. But instead of reaching under and tugging any material down her juicy, thick thighs, she flips up the back and shows me her stunning, bare ass. “You’re assuming I’m wearing any, Sir,” she says hoarsely.
“Traviesita,” I hiss, reaching down to cup and then squeeze one of the tan globes. Giving in to the urge, I bend down and bite the thickest part—where it’s roundest.
She squeals and drops in my lap, grinding her bare cunt into my trousers as she does so.
“We have work to do,” I chide, grabbing her tightly to settle her.
With a hum of amusement, she begins working through the setup screen on her new laptop, and I open up the code I’ve been working on to create a back door we’ll need to gain access to the system used in one of the cities that purchased the Safe-T Keeper package.
Clicking around with my right hand leaves my left free. I settle it against her lower stomach, taking a handful of her through her skirt and making her squirm.
“Eyes on your screen.”
As she opens her mouth, there’s a sharp knock at the door and Eleanor appears in the opening, hand over her eyes. “Everyone decent?”
Madison sighs, throwing me a look over her shoulder. “Unfortunately.”
With a wide grin, Eleanor lowers her hand. “Hungry?”
“Starved!”
“Dinner’s in the dining room in two minutes.”
“The dining room?” I repeat, confused. As far as I know, the formal space that seats 12 has only ever collected dust on the polished mahogany and linen-covered chairs. “Why?”
Eleanor beams. “Family dinner! We’re being extra. I even found candles in the drawer!”
“I love that.” Madison lifts her arms, stretching out her back before she rises. “Do you need help setting the table?”
“It’s all set up. Just bring yourselves.”
Madison tugs me up, and we follow Eleanor down the hall. I almost can’t contain my surprise to see a room that’s stood empty for all this time with lit candles on the table and food arranged prettily in serving platters I wasn’t aware we had.
“Eleanor, this is great!” Madison enthuses.
“Yeah, I thought it would be fun. Mac’s grilling the steaks—he’ll be in in a second,” she says, popping into the kitchen and reappearing with a bowl of mashed potatoes.
Nicole follows a second later with broccoli, and Dimitri has a stack of plates that he begins dutifully placing at each of the silverware settings.
I didn’t even realize the long table condensed, because this shorter version is much more appropriately sized for the six of us.
Much cozier. Madison, Nicole, Dimitri and I choose spots at the table as Eleanor flits around with finishing touches and Mac strides in proudly, carrying a large platter of sizzling meat.
“Which one is the most done?” Madison asks, going up on her tiptoes and trying to see into the platter as he passes her to set it onto the table.
“The most done?” Mac repeats, like the very idea offends him. “I’m the grill master, Mads. There’s nothing dry or burned on this plate. If you want well-done meat, you might as well eat one of Nicole’s tofu steaks.”
“I will take hers,” Dimitri volunteers instantly.
Madison narrows her eyes at Dimitri and sticks a fork into one of the smaller steaks to lift it onto her plate like she’s staking her claim, before turning back to Mac. “Rare meat is some gringo bullshit. Mexicanos like our carne marinated and sliced thin.”
“Right. I guess I have to remember that you see the world from a different perspective.” At Madison’s curious frown, wisely not believing his contrition or easy defeat for a second, Mac grins.
“That was a short joke. I’d ask if it went over your head, but,” he levels his arm, sweeping it through the air above her, “everything does.”
She raises a brow at him, wearing her bratty smile that gets my blood pumping. “Big words from someone who’s lactose intolerant.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” he snorts, piling broccoli onto his plate.
“I’m not gonna be spoken down to by a guy who can be taken out by cheese.”
He turns to Eleanor, something akin to betrayal on his face. “You told her?!”
“I didn’t know it was a secret?” Eleanor says skeptically, taking her seat at the head of the table.
Nicole and I laugh, and Dimitri shakes his head—something akin to amusement—and we all start digging into the lovely meal. Chatter is idle as we settle in, sticking to shallow, neutral topics like what show Eleanor and Mac are watching and a story about how George and Some Bills are getting along.
I watch Nicole decline a glass of wine and exchange a look with Madison. She gives me the smallest nod, and I grin. “When are you due?”
“August 11th,” she replies, beaming at Dimitri, who offers a warm smile back.
“Wait, what? You’re pregnant?” Mac asks, the words muffled by a mouth full of food. He looks around at all the smiling faces with accusation. “Am I the only one who didn’t know?”
“Apparently,” I reply loftily, refusing to admit that I just figured it out. At least I did figure it out.
“A Leo?” Madison repeats, grimacing. “Oof. That’s gonna be rough for you.”
“Why?” Nicole laughs, taking a big forkful of broccoli.
“Because you’re a Virgo… Leos are super emotional and love the spotlight. Virgos are analytical and prefer subtlety. They show their love through fixing things and organizing.”
“That’s true,” Nicole says thoughtfully. “I still can’t believe you guessed it so accurately.”
“It’s my superpower,” Madison announces proudly.
When Dimitri scoffs loudly, she takes it as a challenge.
“It is! I’ll prove it. Okay, so, I know this guy is a Scorpio,” she jerks her thumb at me, “and I’ve already confirmed Nicole’s a Virgo.
Mac said something about being born in April, but there’s no way he’s an Aries, so I’m going with Taurus. ”
“April 30th,” Mac shrugs.
“Yup. Taurus. And Eleanor? Sweet, fair, charming, romantic, people-pleasing, hates confrontation… you’re a Libra.”
She grins and nods. “Yeah!”
“A lucky guess,” Dimitri dismisses.
“And the big guy… hmm…” she strokes her chin thoughtfully.
“I’m thinking he might be a Virgo too. Decisive, analytical, intense energy, honest and direct, has some trouble with expressing feelings?
” she says, glancing at Nicole, who rolls her lips inward instead of answering. “Yeah. Virgo. Final answer.”