Chapter 29
29
Exhaustion plagued Celeste that evening. Perhaps that was what hanging out with a princess would do. But as tired as her body was, her mind was still keyed up and thinking of all the things they’d need to prepare for in the next few days.
After the meeting with Astrid, Celeste had asked Magnus to walk her to the museum. Once inside, Celeste walked the entire building from the basement to the third floor. It had been a long time since she had covered the length of a museum and she’d forgotten how tedious it could be while moving around recreational visitors.
Of course, she stopped at Freya’s jewel display and took a closer look at the pieces from all angles. The case itself was situated against the Treasury Room’s wall, standing about a foot taller than Celeste. Half of the display was a solid black pedestal while the other half was a glass encasing with the locking mechanism on its backside. She could see it touching the wall through the glass, which meant that the entire case could be moved. She tapped the clear surface with her fingertip and heard the unfortunate sound of acrylic. Not actual glass, but a much more durable plexiglass. Annoying material for smash and grabs.
Each piece had its own metal stand, with the tiara standing the tallest. Both earrings sat slightly lower on either side of the star of the show, the necklace. The bright white LED light from the top of the pedestal made every diamond and the single blue sapphire glitter beautifully. Eventually, she moved away from the display and pretended to be interested in a collection of nineteenth-century thimbles. By the time she and Magnus finished their walk-through, Celeste now had a full map of the museum stored in her mind. She clocked each key-card door, the number of motion sensors in each gallery and the number of volunteer guides and security guards.
Upon returning to the Gamla Stan town house, she and Magnus filled the team in on what they learned. Lawrence, Beatrice and Santiago set out to work immediately after they realized their time constraints. Celeste tried to hang with them as long as she could, but her constant yawning made Magnus quietly demand that she get herself some rest. He had that look in his eyes that amused and aroused her. Again, it was the strange little dance they did: she was all big dick energy in the field, and he’d bring his big dick to the bedroom after a challenging day.
She had no idea if he’d join her in her bedroom, but she took a shower and got ready for bed all the same. The Stockholm safe house was a downgrade from the one in Tallinn, but it had enough space for them to work without climbing over one another, and the water pressure was fantastic. That’s all she needed. The bed that she might share with Magnus was a full-size IKEA model with a firm mattress, which is where she sat after exiting the small bathroom, towel still wrapped around her chest.
As she applied lotion to her legs, her mind went back to Magnus sitting at the kitchen table planning with the crew. He’d occasionally rake his fingers through his blond hair as he examined the city map. He’d ask Santiago questions about the layout, and if he remembered the streets well enough. She even remembered when he’d shoved his sleeves to his elbows so he could examine the museum floor plans.
He’d looked so handsome at that moment.
Celeste vigorously rubbed lotion on her legs and wondered what he was thinking about when he’d caught her staring at him. His blue eyes narrowed on her for a second, nostrils flaring slightly as he blushed. A shiver ran through her body as he held her gaze and bit his bottom lip. Beatrice excitedly explained the closed-circuit security system of Nationalmuseum, but Magnus kept his eyes on her as she spoke. That was when he leaned down and whispered, out of earshot of their colleagues, “Get upstairs and rest. You look a little punch-drunk and horny.”
Her face burned as she looked up at him. “Excuse me?” she whispered back.
He grinned and leaned even closer to her ear. “I know you heard me the first time, CeCe. If you’re a good girl, I’ll come up and tuck you into bed.”
She sent herself upstairs and took care of her own mental health for a moment. Getting a long shower seemed to help relax her mind and put her thoughts in order. But by the time she began applying lotion, Magnus jumped back into her brain. Celeste would rather have him here rubbing her down. She squirted more lotion into her palm and worked her way up her thigh. Her mind wandered and imagined his hands instead of her own.
When she brushed a hand near her mound, she pressed her lips together and breathed through her nose. Goddamn, she hated when he was right. She was horny as hell. But dammit, she would at least be moisturized. She rubbed briskly at her hips and tummy, skipped her breasts and worked lotion down her arms instead.
Celeste glanced at the bedroom door.
Maybe she had a little time before Magnus excused himself from the group. She could get herself off quickly before they both settled down for the night. After all, their reconciliation was precarious. There was no guarantee that they’d truly fall back into bed with one another. He might come to her, he might not. But if she handled herself, she could sleep soundly instead of being distracted by Magnus.
Celeste clutched her towel to her chest as she ran to her luggage. She kept a small lipstick vibrator in her carry-on that had been helpful on many work trips. On her way back to bed, she peeked out her door. The lights were still on downstairs, and she still heard him conversing with Bea and Santiago.
With her phone and vibrator in hand, she returned to bed and turned off the nightstand light. She settled into the darkness and slowly unwrapped her towel. Her self-pleasure routine usually lasted longer, with an exhaustive scroll of adult videos before she was ready to touch herself. Instead of that, Celeste found her favorite ASMR guy who excelled at dirty talk. She put both earbuds in and pressed Play.
“I know what you came here for...” said the deep-voiced stranger. “You want me to make you wet.”
Celeste was already having a hard time staying focused. This ASMR guy was talented, but he didn’t compare to the real thing whispering to her while his fingers slid down her belly. Hot breath against her neck as he nuzzled the spot behind her ear. And besides, Magnus was a champ at dirty talk. She was already used to the deep rumble of his voice as he settled in between her thighs.
“But first, you’ll have to be a good girl and beg me.”
Celeste closed her eyes and pressed the quiet vibrator to her clitoris and waited for something to happen. She was wet and frustrated, but she wasn’t going to come without a little encouragement. While the man talked in her ear, she began imagining Magnus’s body. The way his muscles flexed as he drove into her, how the cords of his forearms stood out while his fists were planted on either side of her head.
The images danced in her mind as Celeste slid her vibrator up and down. The memory of Magnus was enough for her to get close to her goal. She was barely listening to the ASMR guy now. As her fingers skated across the tips of her breasts, her breathing slowed down and she could finally relax.
She was so relaxed that she didn’t hear Magnus enter the room.
Above the gentle buzz of her vibrator and the wicked voice of her ASMR guy, she didn’t notice him until he bumped against the bed. Her eyes flew open as she slammed her thighs shut and ripped her earbuds away. “Jesus fucking Christ!” she gasped.
He was a dark silhouette standing at the foot of the bed. “I swear I’m not trying to make this a habit,” he said with humor in his voice.
Celeste quickly wrapped her towel around her chest and felt relieved that he couldn’t see how red her face was. “No, I think you really love sneaking up on me,” she said.
“You don’t have to stop,” he said, walking around the bed.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she watched him sit down and felt the bed dip under his weight. “What?” she whispered.
“I don’t want to interrupt you,” he said as he took off his shoes. “You looked like you were getting somewhere.”
“I didn’t think you were going to come,” Celeste said in a rush before cringing in the darkness.
Magnus settled against the pillows on his side of the bed and chuckled darkly. “Don’t ever doubt my ability to come...to you.”
The same shiver she felt at the kitchen table shot through her belly as she clutched her towel tightly. “You’re not obligated to,” she began, nervously licking her lips. “Besides, we’re on a job right now and we probably don’t need the added distraction.”
“I don’t know why you’re suddenly coy now, like we’ve never had sex while working,” he said, shifting in bed. In the darkness, she could faintly see his blond hair flop over his brow. “I remember a certain Philly trip where we got into some mischief.”
Her grip on the towel relaxed. He was right. Their job in Philly hadn’t even been an outlier. She didn’t know why she threw that flimsy excuse out there. “I guess,” she said in a weak voice.
“It was a lovely trip.” His voice dipped to a lower octave that curled her toes tighter than her ASMR guy. “And something like that is bound to happen again if you’re interested.”
“I just thought we should be professional,” she breathed.
“We’ve already done the ole Ball and Chain,” he teased. “We can just pretend to be married if you like.”
Celeste scoffed at the suggestion.
“If my wife would like to continue touching herself, she’s more than welcome,” he continued. “She should know that her husband is here if needed.”
Her breath came out in a jerky gasp. Magnus and his mouth were going to get them into trouble. Maybe he didn’t mind being distracted, but she needed to focus on the prize. “I think I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll never get to sleep without it,” he said, shifting again. He was on his back now, his hands tucked behind his head. “Trust me. If I had an itch right before going to sleep, I wouldn’t get a wink before scratching it.”
Celeste sighed. She hated it when he was right.
“How can I help?”
It was silly for her to pretend that she didn’t want him. He was offering to help her, and now she wanted to be prim about her desires. Surely she was too grown for that. “I sometimes listen to this audio recording of a man talking.”
“Mmm. What’s he saying?”
She frowned in the darkness. “It’s silly.”
“Tell me.”
“He tells me when and where I can touch myself.”
Magnus went quiet.
In the stillness of her bedroom, she wondered if she had spoken too candidly. He may have clammed up on her, but his body was speaking to her in other, more subtle, ways. His socked foot, the one closest to her, ran along the duvet. She could hear him take a deep breath before exhaling. “I can hear him breathing in my ear while he directs me,” she continued.
“Can you?” His foot slid back to join the other one. She heard the bed creak as he adjusted himself. “What does he sound like?”
“I usually like his voice,” Celeste whispered. “He has a deep...register. But I think you might be deeper.”
“Mmm.”
At one time, she had gotten pretty good at figuring out his grunts. This one made note of his curiosity and begged her to continue. So she did. “To be honest...husband, I’ve gotten used to your voice. I was trying to imagine it before you walked in.”
“Mmm.”
Satisfied grunt.
“Maybe I could take over for him,” he suggested in a husky voice. “Just for tonight?”
They lay side by side, a foot of space separated them, but his words stroked her skin, sending goose bumps down her arms. He shocked her no end with those scintillating words. “I’d like that,” she said through a shaky breath.
“Undo your towel.”
Celeste wasted no time to think. The cool air kissed her breasts and tightened her nipples.
“Who would you like me to be?” he asked.
She couldn’t believe that he needed to ask such a question. Celeste didn’t want anyone but him. “Just yourself, please.”
“So polite,” he murmured. The unmistakable sound of a belt clatter filled the room.
Celeste’s chest rose and fell in anticipation as she heard his zipper follow. Whenever he made note of her politeness, it meant that he was gearing up to be filthy. She expected the response like one of Pavlov’s dogs. “Go on, husband.”
“You were wet for me downstairs, weren’t you?”
She inhaled sharply. “What makes you think that?”
“I could see it in your eyes,” he murmured. “I can tell you need...something when your eyes get dark and out of focus. It wasn’t just exhaustion.”
She didn’t answer.
“A dark blush starts at your chest, Celeste. It goes up your neck and hits your cheeks. And before I know it, your pupils dilate. It’s always been that way.”
“Has it?” she whispered.
“You touched the tip of your tongue to the corner of your lips when you stood up and left us. Like you were asking me to follow you.”
The rumble of his voice vibrated through her body, reminding her to take up her small toy and put it to work. Celeste felt around the bed until she found the lipstick and flicked it on.
“When you came back here, you took a shower. Why didn’t you touch yourself then?”
She clutched the vibrator in her left hand and thought. “I just wanted to get clean.”
“So you could get dirty later?”
Her grin widened. “Maybe.”
“You can’t touch your clit yet,” he said. She could almost hear him smiling as he dictated. “No, my dear wife. You must wait.”
She didn’t mind the wait.
“You didn’t think about touching yourself in the shower...” He tsked before he chuckled. “Not even while your body was slippery and sudsy? Your hands didn’t run along the curve of your hips? Your fingers didn’t pinch your nipples for some kind of relief? Weren’t you aching, my love?”
She had been aching.
“I know what I would have done,” he continued. “I know what I have done. I was in a shower with you years ago and I didn’t miss the opportunity to touch you every place I could. My hands palmed your ass as I slid into you.”
Celeste fought the impulse to moan as she listened. She didn’t want to miss one word of what he would have done—what he had done—to her wet body. “I waited,” she whispered as she ran the vibrator along her breasts. When she touched the tip to her stiff nipple, she inhaled again and pressed her lips closed. Her eyes fell shut against the darkness and listened to his voice intently.
“You waited,” he said with a sigh. “Even after you dried off. But you’re still in your towel, wife. Did you decide you needed a release while moisturizing? While you slid your hands up your thighs?”
Her exhale sounded like a moan, and she didn’t care. They were doing this. And the added touch of calling her wife seemed to rev her engine even harder. “I wanted to touch myself,” she confirmed. “While I was moisturizing.”
“I thought so,” he said. “You can move the vibrator a bit lower if you squeeze your breasts for me.”
She did, and spread her legs, awaiting further instructions. The tension and worry in her body unfurled like a warm jelly, flooding her body and sending calm in its wake.
“You thought you could hurry up and get yourself off before I got up here, didn’t you? You didn’t anticipate that I was the only arousal you needed. That’s why I came in here to find you frustrated and desperate for release, isn’t it?”
She nodded, not knowing if he could see her.
“You can go lower.”
Celeste ran the vibrator across her belly until it settled on top of her mound. She drew a shaky breath as she rubbed her thigh with her other hand. “What would you have done, husband?”
“What I’ve done before, wife. I’m sure you imagined it while you touched yourself. Me licking you while you shook and thrashed above me... You love it when I use my tongue. Is it your favorite?”
“Yes,” she moaned.
“But my hands do well in a pinch,” he conceded. “I made you squirm in the kitchen, in Tallinn, right? But then again, it’s probably my dick that truly makes you fall asleep.”
“Please...”
“So polite,” he sighed. The bed shifted under his weight. Even with her eyes closed, she knew that he had gripped himself in his fist and was stroking himself. “Lower.”
Celeste drew her knees up and pushed the toy to its destination. The sensation almost brought her to tears, setting every nerve ending in her body on fire.
“You’ll get yourself off for now, darling. But you’ll want me to get you to sleep. You’ll want me to fill you deep and hard until you come.”
She did.
Every softly spoken taunt he issued was true.
“Because one is never enough for you,” he said through gritted teeth. The rhythmic sound of flesh smacking flesh came from his side of the bed, and it kept pace with her breathing, her own stroking. The toy slipped along the wet folds of her pussy as she struggled to hear more of his words. “You always need one more prize, Celeste. Do you want me to give it to you? Do you want me to keep stoking that fire inside of you?”
“Yes,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut, reaching for it.
“Inside of you is where I belong, Celeste. I don’t need much more than that and I don’t know if I’ll ever get my fill of you.”
Those were the words.
Strangely, that was the confession that sent Celeste over the edge and into oblivion. Her hips rose from the bed as she came, and a tidal wave of pleasure swept through her body. In the darkness, it was just him. She and Magnus floated in a vacuum of darkness and no sound. And instead of scaring her, it gave Celeste hope. All he needed was her. She hadn’t heard such a declaration in years and wanted to hold on to it with both hands.
Celeste gave a shuddered breath before she could speak. “I want you.” Good God, she wanted him in every way, in every position and damn near every night.
She didn’t have to ask him twice, because Magnus loomed before her, at the ready. “But do you need me, wife?”
He hovered above her with both hands on either side of her head. He caged her in the old familiar way that made her feel safe. His erection pressed against her belly, reminding her that the next adventure was just around the bend. Magnus was right; she couldn’t help but reach for the next available prize. But God help her, she couldn’t possibly admit that she needed him. “Please fuck me,” she whispered instead.
He exhaled against her cheek. “So fucking polite,” he murmured.