CHAPTER 15
My bohemian outfit felt out of place as I rode the elevator to the executive floors at Matt’s place of work.
I rarely ever came here, in fact, this was only my second time at his office.
The two men riding with me kept eyeing the large hamper basket I had hoisted on one arm.
The etched F but I would challenge anyone to resist the allure of goodies in Fortnum but the green boxes had no text in them.
“Are those free slots?”
“No,” Matt said without further explanation.
He kissed my shoulder once and groaned softly.
“How much time did you say you had?”
I peeked at my watch.
“Maybe ten minutes now before I need to leave.”
“I’ll be quick then because I fully intend to shag you before you leave, poppet.”
I snorted out my disbelief, twisting my head to look at him.
Oh.
His expression held no traces of playfulness, he was serious.
“Matt,” I started and he kissed my shoulder again, ignoring my obvious unease.
“If I reschedule these meetings,” He clicked a few keys then rolled his index finger over the mouse pad.
“Move this to an earlier time,” He kissed my shoulder again, finishing it with a moist swipe of tongue across my now tingling skin.
“Nathan can handle these, you look lovely by the way, very summery.” Another light kiss.
“Perfect. Mondays at 2pm and Thursdays at 3:30 I’m all yours.”
The sceptical look I gave him caused the twin eyebrows of doom to lower.
It was all well and good putting it in his schedule, but I knew better than to believe this would come to pass.
“Ok, Matt,” I did the wifely thing and let my man have his victory over the dreaded daily work schedule.
Even though I was certain something would come up that would throw our now scheduled lunch dates off kilter.
Matt leaned forward, frowning a bit as he straightened the tray I’d previously moved.
“Have you been fiddling with this?”
I blinked slowly and affected an outraged demeanour.
He saw through it and shook his head at my act.
“I love that picture,” I murmured, pointing to the photo of us together.
It had been taken on the night of his parents’ anniversary party, but wasn’t one that we had posed for.
The photographer had obviously snapped us unawares.
In the picture Matt’s arms formed a protective circle around me as I peered up at him, an almost naughty expression on my face while he looked down at me with that killer smile of his on show.
It was a great picture.
“Do you remember what were we talking about?” I asked then shrieked as Matt abruptly raised us into a standing position in front his desk.
“Enough reminiscing, poppet,” His voice was husky as he started gathering up the folds of my long skirt.
“We’re on a tight schedule here.”
Fifteen minutes later we walked out his office.
My legs were still trembling, one of my ponytails was jacked up, and my damp panties were being held hostage in his trouser pocket.
“I’ll be home late tonight,” Matt murmured, hand gripping my waist tightly as we walked past Rachel’s desk.
I gave her a small wave, not quite sure if the glint in her eyes was caused by her overhearing my unladylike noises coming from Matt’s office five minutes earlier.
“Shall I wait up?” I turned my face into his shoulder, inhaling deeply as we approached the doors leading on to the hallway.
“No,” Matt opened the doors, saw the hallway was empty and pressed me against the wall.
“I love you,” He slanted his lips over mine, drinking in my moans as I clung to him.
“I think,” I began then groaned when he licked that sensitive spot behind my ear.
“We should do this more often.”
Matt kissed my neck, one of his hands copped a feel of boob before it slid around to squeeze my ass.
“Mmm, I love the way you think.” His voice was still rough with passion and reluctantly he stepped back.
“Come on, I’ll accompany you to your car.”
I fixed my pony-tail, adjusted my bag on one shoulder and slipped my hand in his.
“Make sure and eat. There’s plenty of food in the basket.”
He raised my hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly.
God.
I fucking loved this man.
The not-so-subtle silent reproach he’d subjected me to these past weeks was gone.
I remained in the dark as to what caused this change, but I refused to question it.
Ignorance was bliss in this situation.
I wasn’t a fool though, there was something preying on his mind; but I figured he’d tell me when he was ready.
The talk he’d said we would have after the final day of Ascot didn’t come to pass, instead Matt had once again resumed showering affection on me, and I basked in his devotion like a flower in the sun’s brilliant rays.
No, I wasn’t going to question the change in him; I was just so damned happy to have my knight back.
Walking hand in hand through the outer offices, the curious looks I expected failed to materialize.
Matt cast a clinical glance over the staff, they appeared to be going about their business.
He nodded to himself and escorted me to the elevator where I was the recipient of another make out session.
“Can I have my panties back?” The question I posed drew an incorrigible smile to his lips.
“Can?” he drawled while rubbing my back.
“ May I please have my panties back, Matt?”
“No, poppet.” His expression morphed into a professional mask as the doors slid open on one of the floors and three men came in.
“Matt,” The grey-haired man who should wear a bigger suit, that stomach of his was making a push for freedom, flashed a wide smile at my husband.
“Is your father in today?”
“No, Peter, he isn’t. Have you got those figures I asked you for?” Matt kept his hand on my lower back but his whole demeanour had changed.
“I’m waiting on-” Peter rushed to get his words out.
“Have the report on my desk before the close of business.” Matt said in a tone that brooked no argument.
An uncomfortable silence filled the elevator.
Matt was the only one unaffected by it.
When they exited on their chosen floor the dejected slump of Peter’s shoulders made me feel bad for the man.
“Matt,” I started as soon as the doors closed and we resumed our journey downwards.
“Why did you do that?”
“Do what?” His hand found its way under my t-shirt.
I ignored the delightful sensation his touch across my skin evoked and scrutinized his features.
“The way you spoke to that poor man,” My eyebrows furrowed.
“It wasn’t very nice at all.”
Matt tilted his head, returning my gaze with a wholly unrepentant one.
He honestly saw nothing wrong with what had just transpired.
His following words confirmed it.
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to be nice when it comes to business, poppet.”
I chewed my lower lip, remembering the meeting I’d eavesdropped on.
“I don’t understand, it’s different, the way you deal with your employees.”
Matt smiled.
“Different? You mean different from what you would do.” His smile changed, a slightly patronizing edge seemed to creep in.
“Sweetheart, when you’re in a position such as mine, people don’t expect you to be nice. Being nice counts for nothing when the quarterly balance sheets are under review. Being nice won’t keep our shareholders happy.”
“Hmm,” I didn’t want to say it, but the words spilled out my lips.
“I just hate this unpleasantness about you, I mean, you’re polite but so demanding, so-”
“Don’t say it.” he warned with a tightening of mouth, his grey eyes flashed dangerously.
I wasn’t dumb…
I silently mouthed the word after turning my face.
A sharp smack on my ass had me jumping away from him in shock.
“What the hell? I’m your wife, show me and my ass some respect.”
“Don’t call me bossy then,” he countered with one raised eyebrow as I rubbed my stinging bum cheek.
The lack of panties meant the connection was even more direct.
I opened my mouth to let him have it and the bastard winked at me.
It was obvious he owned every inch of my heart because I began to smile against my will.
“Love you,” I murmured as we arrived at the lobby and the doors opened once more.
“I know you do.” Matt said, slipping one hand over mine.
“I’ll try my best to be home before midnight.”
I grinned at him and squeezed his hand.
“So will I. Ah, have you spoken to your niece?”
“Which one?” Matt asked as he led me towards the rear exits of the lobby which would take us to the private parking area.
“Trouble or Terror?”
“You really shouldn’t call them that, Matt. You could be psychologically scarring them, causing some sub-conscious damage that makes them want to live up to those nicknames.”
Matt rolled his eyes.
“Did I ever tell you about the dolls and tea party fiasco they subjected me to when they were about four? Trust me, they deserve the monikers I’ve assigned them.”
“What did they do?” I queried, slowing down when my Cayenne came into view.
I wanted to draw out what little time I had left with him.
“The lemonade I felt obligated to drink, being the doting uncle back then, was piss, poppet.”
My mouth fell open, his words had stopped me in my tracks.
“Yes,” Matt confirmed with a faint grimace.
“My darling nieces thought as their urine was pale yellow it was close enough, never mind they could have simply asked their nanny to make the actual drink,” Matt shook his head.
“The little blighters.”
I couldn’t stop the chuckles so I covered my mouth with my hand, picturing two sweet blonde girls offering a younger Matt their version of lemonade.
“It wasn’t amusing then and that hasn’t changed with time. Stop laughing at me.” Matt groused.
My chuckles came harder.
“B-but didn’t you smell-”
“They put Hannah’s perfume in it, threw me off the bloody scent – stop laughing.”
I doubled over, making no attempt to hide how hilarious I found the whole thing.
“Oh God. I needed that,” I wheezed out.
Matt sent me a mock glare and I straightened up, stepping into the warmth of his body to steal a kiss.
“You’ll have to do better than that to soothe my ego, Mrs Bradley,” he drawled, wrapping his strong arms around me.
“DuMont-Bradley,” I reminded him.
“And may I please have my panties back?”
“No,” he replied firmly.
“Now why do you think I need to speak to?”
“Natty,” I supplied.
“One of her friends is doing some sort of art project at Uni, and she volunteered me as a subject, but she feels she needs your permission first. I told her it was fine but,” My words trailed off as I shrugged.
Matt sighed in exasperation.
“I honestly don’t know what goes through her head. She should be focused on her own studies, not running around doing favours for her flighty art friends. I don’t understand why Hannah and Stuart allow her to socialize with that group. Her grades have been slipping, Grumps mentioned it to me. She should be focused on her own work like Nikki is. Hmph. Wasting time with those bloody friends of hers.”
I blinked, surprised at the frustration clouding his features.
“She loves art, Matt, and she’s just trying to help her friend out. And what do you mean flighty art friends ? I have an MFA, in case you’ve forgotten. And Natty’s friend is getting an Art degree from Cambridge University, that’s impressive.”
“Humph,” Matt snorted as he released his hold on me in order for us to resume our walk to my car.
“Impressive it may be, but it’s highly unlikely to be a lucrative career.”
“Not everything is about money,” I shot back.
Jeez!
I was glad we wouldn’t be having kids.
Matt would probably have their lives planned out until death and heaven forbid they go against his wishes.
Yeah, we definitely weren’t having kids.
“No,” Matt ensured his tone was carefully neutral.
“But most things are in today’s society, poppet. It’s na?ve to believe anything else.”
It was my turn to snort now.
“Silly knight, if that was truly the case would we be married now? People generally look past these things in their quest for true happiness.” I bent my head, searching through my bag for my keys.
Gotcha.
When I raised my head in his direction, Matt’s gaze scoured my features intently.
“Your optimistic outlook on life sometimes makes me feel like a jaded old man.” he said with the barest hint of regret.
“That’s because you are old and jaded, beautiful but completely old and jaded.” I quipped, knowing what his response would be.
Sure enough he narrowed those striking grey orbs of his and let out a grunt before yanking me into his arms.
“And you’re begging for trouble,” Matt murmured as he pressed a kiss across my temple.
“Drive safe and call me when you get back to work.”
The locking mechanism of the Cayenne beeped as I pressed the key fob.
Matt opened the driver’s door, the perfect gentleman, and slanted his mouth over mine one last time before I got in my ride.
The window wound down and I stuck my head out, lips pouting.
Hey, one more kiss never hurt anyone.
“Buckle. Up.” he reminded me sternly then thoroughly sexed my lips with his own before pulling away.
His large hand rested on the door and the glint of his wedding band elicited a bubbly feeling deep within my soul.
He was mine.
“How busy are things at your studio?” Matt’s queried as I tugged the seatbelt across my body and fastened it.
“Non-stop at the moment. I’ve got to sort out the exams for my students, hell, I still need to have a discussion with their instructors to decide which students are ready for their vocational exams. I’m freaked about our upcoming debut at the Opera House, and we still need to begin figuring out the choreography for this year’s major production.” I rubbed my forehead with a grimace.
“Plus the camera crew are on my back, I’m supposed to have a one-on-one chat about stuff but I’ve been putting it off.”
Matt sighed in mutual support then said, “I’m due to travel to Egypt in a few days and was hoping perhaps you could accompany me. I dislike leaving you, poppet.”
It was a lovely idea, and he looked so earnest and cute but, “Wouldn’t you be busy when you’re there anyway, hon?”
“I’d make time to play tourist with you,” he countered with a sweet grin.
I turned the key in the ignition, enjoying the purr from the engine.
Not as electrifying as Matt’s Bugatti, but still enjoyable.
“Things are too manic for me to jet off to Egypt with you, and as much as I’d enjoy seeing the Pyramids, things are still a bit iffy over there. I don’t want to get shot.”
Matt simply shook his head at me.
I chewed my lips, thinking about it.
“Matt,”
“Mmm?” He seemed reluctant to step away from the idling vehicle.
I didn’t want to leave either.
“When I die, I don’t want you to cremate me, ok? I want a gravestone with maybe an angel, or perhaps a ballerina with wings, yeah. I want that.”
Matt blinked once.
“You are the craziest person I know. Why are you talking about this?”
I blew him a kiss and put the Cayenne in gear.
“Crazy, huh? Well, you married me. What does that say about you?”
“It proves crazy is an infectious disease which you’ve obviously passed on to me.” he stated dryly.
“And for the record, I’ll probably die before you. I am a decade older as you so like to remind me.”
Oh.
I wasn’t happy thinking about my knight dying, not now, not ever.
“Let’s make a deal to go together,” My bright idea was met with a sardonic twist of his sensuous lips.
“As I said,” he muttered before leaning through the open window to give me a final peck.
“Crazy.” Then he got serious.
“Listen, while I’m away, Bella will probably invite you along to a few social functions. Be nice and accompany her.”
I scrunched my face up.
Attend posh parties without him at my side?
Was he on crack?
Matt noted the reluctance on my expression.
“You have certain responsibilities, poppet. Do it for me.”
“Fine. I’ll go, but I’m not happy about it; and I’m definitely not happy about this last minute trip of yours. You’re always travelling.”
My mouth curled down in a pout and Matt chuckled before humorously mimicking me.
His pout was much sexier.
He gave me his trademark wink and said, “Love you,”
“Huh, sure you do. Bye.” I called after a deliberate eye roll as he finally moved away from the car.
He watched while I reversed then shook his head as I revved the engine.
With a final wave I screeched out the parking area, noting Matt’s disapproving wince at my driving skills in the rear view mirror.
Yeah, he accepted my brand of crazy, probably had a perverse love of it too.
Now I needed to figure out how to avoid Bella when my husband went on this upcoming business trip.
Socialize without him there?
Matt was the crazy one, not me.