Chapter 6 #2
He drew his attention away from my lips and waved a dismissive hand through the air.
“My wife says the strangest things, Rachel. Don’t worry about it.” Then he stopped and squeezed my hip, a pleased smile tickled the edges of his mouth as he murmured softly, “My wife. I have a wife.”
Matt turned me into his arms and all I heard before my lips got ravished was a very meek, “I’ll go make those calls at once, Mr Bradley.” from Rachel as she clicked clacked away in her heels.
“We’re married.” Was that pure excitement in his voice?
I nodded.
“Yep, we got hitched. You’re my ball and chain, my old man,”
He tapped my butt lightly at the old man comment then stroked my cheek right before he pulled me flush up against his body.
“Forget the memorial. I’m taking you home. Bloody hell, poppet! We’re married!”
The New Year had taken a good turn.
Matt stared at her.
His gaze took in every single detail of her delectable body as she rolled into the space he’d just vacated.
She moaned and sunk her face further into his pillow, her tiny snores even more muted now.
His wife.
He sauntered to the edge of the bed, wanting to run his fingers over her smooth dark skin but denying himself the pleasure.
She needed her rest.
He traced his lips with the tip of his tongue, revelling in the taste of her that still lingered there.
Her scent clung to him, urging him to lay down beside her so he could immerse himself in its fragrance right from the source.
The glint of sunlight playing over his hand brought the wedding band to his attention and he held his left hand up.
Such a small thing, this ring, yet it meant so much to them both.
His wife.
His fingers were now aching to touch her, begging to be released from their prison and allowed free roam across her sleeping form, but he resisted.
Instead he quietly pulled a chair up and took a seat, content to let his gaze caress the sensuous lines of her body.
Even as she slept, a sense of grace hovered around her.
An arm flung there, a twist of her delicate shoulder, a sweeping movement of shapely legs.
Matt smiled to himself, even in sleep she danced.
His beautiful ballerina.
His poppet.
His wife.
Things had progressed even faster than he hoped.
In under a year they had met, fallen in love and were now married.
Of course, he never doubted they would reach this stage once he’d made his mind up, he always got what he wanted.
And God save him, but he wanted her more than anything.
Now she belonged to him.
Matt’s thoughts wandered to the dinner with his family.
Shocked was not a strong enough word to describe their reactions when he broke the news Madi was now his wife.
The twins were ecstatic, teasingly bestowing on her the title of Aunt while promising to come over for girls’ night once they’d returned from their planned ski trip.
Matt remained undecided about that, for as much as he loved his nieces, they were hard work.
Adam had choked on his glass of wine, spluttering out his congratulations while trying to mask his disbelief behind a wide smile.
Hannah and Stuart had immediately begun to extol the benefits of marriage, their words had an empty ring in Matt’s ears.
Grumps, the old coot, had peered at them both and asked if Madi was pregnant.
She hadn’t appreciated the question, stating that children were not on the cards.
Her negative response regarding children had caused a smidgen of worry for Matt but he would talk to her about the issue at a later date.
And his parents had said nothing.
Matt hadn’t cared for their disapproving silence, but they were entitled to their opinions, as long as they did not voice them in the presence of his wife.
His wife.
She was now his wife.
Before he could stop himself, he brushed his fingertips over her shoulder, and once he touched her it was impossible to stop.
Matt crawled into bed alongside her.
His body instantly responded when she turned on her back, giving him an uninterrupted view of her naked splendour.
He should let her sleep.
After his family had left, later than Matt expected, they packed for their honeymoon and Matt had been forced to spend a few hours in his office downstairs.
When he exited the room, intent on taking his new wife to bed, George had informed him Madi had left.
Seeing as Dante was out of the country, she needed to leave the keys for the studio with Gerrard in case of an emergency.
It was in the small hours of the morning she returned, smiling sweetly and smothering him with kisses, right before she fell asleep curled up in his arms.
He felt somewhat cheated.
Of course, once they’d boarded his yacht yesterday they immediately made up for lost time, locking themselves in the opulent main bedroom with one thing on their minds.
Matt traced a finger down her nose, gently outlining the fullness of her lips before stroking her chin.
His hand ventured lower.
Then his mouth had to partake in the pleasure of touching her.
Butterfly kisses along her jaw, trailing over her neck, her shoulders, while his hand continued its lazy journey down her body.
“Mmm,” she murmured softly.
Matt smiled against her collar bone.
He kissed the rise of her left breast as his fingers skimmed the top of her right thigh.
Lightly rubbing her satiny skin he circled her nipple with his tongue and she moaned in her sleep again.
Taking that as a sign, he flicked her peaked flesh, once, twice, before closing his mouth over the hardened bud and sucking gently.
His fingers moved from the top of her thigh, slipping between her slightly parted legs.
The moist heat of her flesh caused a groan to rumble in his throat as he took more of her breast in his mouth.
“Matt,” she called drowsily, hand rising up to caress the back of his neck before sliding into his hair.
“Mm - what time is it, hon?”
He sucked her breast with more fervour while rubbing his fingers over, up, around, easing them into the slick entrance of her body.
“Insatiable,” she groaned, arching her back in pleasure.
“I’m married to a sex fiend.”
Matt settled himself between her slender legs, switching his attention to her other neglected breast while his fingers kept up their sensual assault on her tender flesh.
“Is it morning or afternoon?” she asked, raising her head to peer down at him.
Her other hand brushed across his shoulder, then her grip tightened as she gasped out loud when he pinched the throbbing bud of nerves between her legs.
Matt released her nipple from his mouth, grinning widely at her as he ignored her questions and asked one of his own.
“Shall I once again relinquish control to you?”
She returned his grin with a sleepy one of her own, but her brown eyes were taking on a decidedly steamy glint.
“Yes.”
Matt flipped them over so she sat astride him.
“I thoroughly enjoy your dominance,” he teased, gaze lingering on her breasts.
He raised up to latch his mouth on her pebbled nipple but she jerked away and grabbed his hands.
“Keep them here,” she ordered, placing them above his head.
Her voice was still husky with sleep and he found the sound of it alluring.
“And if you try to take over like before, I’ll bite you. Again.”
Matt chuckled low in his throat, glancing at the bite mark on his arm.
She had been voracious last night, driving him to the brink of insanity with her touch.
“Very well, poppet, but I’m not promising anything.” he warned.
Then he inhaled sharply as she wrapped one hand around his hardness, applying slight pressure while stroking up and down.
She scooted downwards, smiling impishly at him.
“Remember in the beginning when I wasn’t very good at this?” she asked, licking her lips while he lifted his hips upwards, enjoying the feel of her hand around him.
“You were so patient with me.”
The warm rush of air from her lips as she spoke had him jerking in her hand and the smile she gave him, that smile of hers would be his undoing.
“So very patient,” she murmured, her tongue skirted around the tip of his erection.
“Don’t tease.” Matt said through clenched teeth and he was gifted with another one of her seductive smiles.
She lowered her mouth over him and he let out a low hiss as she enveloped his hardness in the moist heat of her mouth.
Soon enough she had found a dreamy rhythm that elicited deep groans from him, a rhythm that had him swearing out loud in an attempt to hold off on his climax.
But she was making it so damned hard…
mmm.
“Christ!” Matt couldn’t bear it anymore.
He yanked her up his body, even as she protested, his eyes were heavy-lidded with desire as he grabbed his aching member and guided it into her.
“I’m supposed to be in control.” she breathed out, rocking her body on top of his as she accepted his length with a sigh of satisfaction.
“You’re still on top,” Matt growled, lifting his hips while she rode him back down into the mattress, her breasts bounced in the most enticing manner.
“I can’t help wanting to be inside you, poppet.”
She slipped a hand underneath his neck and tugged upwards.
Matt immediately manoeuvred himself in an upright position which allowed her to wrap her legs around him.
She pressed her mouth over his, biting and sucking his lips while increasing her pace.
Matt returned her fervent kiss, his hands roamed wildly over the skin of her back before he gripped her hair, pulling just hard enough to make her head tilt back.
Matt kissed the junction between her neck and shoulder then bit her gently.
“Again, Matt,” she begged.
“I’m so close.”
The sharp knock on the bedroom door had Matt looking over at it in disbelief.
Someone had lost their bloody mind.
“Please, Matt.”
He turned back to his wife and nipped her neck again as she shuddered in his arms, cooing in delight.
Her internal walls greedily clenched around him and he knew she was about to come.
With his hand still gripping her hair he turned her into his lips, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth as her body began to shake uncontrollably in release.
“Oh, Matt.” she cried out, drowning out the sound of another sharp knock.
Matt felt the tightening in his loins building in response to her spasms around his cock and he let out a guttural sound of pleasure as seconds later he spilled himself inside her warmth.
They fell back on top the mattress, both breathless and still feeling the after-effects of their mutual climaxes.
“I love you, knight.” Madi murmured, running her hands through his hair.
Before Matt could respond in kind, the knock on the door came a third time.
His eyes narrowed in anger and he slowly disentangled their limbs.
“One moment.”
He crawled off the bed but his legs felt like jelly so he gripped the chair for a few moments in order to steady himself, then he stalked completely naked to the door and yanked it open.
“Unless the bloody boat is sinking or we’re set upon by pirates, my wife and I are not to be disturbed. Understood?” he said coldly.
The female steward balked at his tone and nodded wordlessly, trying her best but failing miserably to keep her eyes from wandering.
Matt was about to slam the door in her face when she spoke up timidly.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, but the captain would like an urgent word with you, Mr Bradley.”
Matt arrogantly perused the woman, annoyance spreading over his face.
“Are we sinking?”
“No, sir, but-”
“Are pirates boarding?” he grated out.
“Of course not-”
He slammed the door in her face and turned towards the bed.
Madi laid on top the sheets, eyes half-closed and still panting softly.
Shagged senseless, that was the appearance she gave right now: hair wild, face slack with satisfaction, limbs limp and a tiny smile on her mouth.
“Hon, you do know that flashing your staff could be considered grounds for sexual harassment.” she uttered as he made his way back to the bed.
Matt rested besides her, his head perfectly in line with hers as he stared into her eyes.
“Are you happy, Madison?” he asked, peering intently at her, searching for the unspoken truth in the features of her face.
The sunlight coming through the windows danced across her smooth skin, giving it an intriguing glow.
He adored the rich shade of her skin, was completely entranced by the contrast of his own against hers.
She propped her elbow up and leaned her head in her hand as she replied.
“I am as happy as I’ve ever been. And you, Matt? Are you happy?”
He kept his eyes on her and nodded, thinking about how much his life had changed since meeting her.
“I never believed I could be this happy. From the moment we met,” he let out a shaky breath and cupped her cheek.
“I did not know love until I knew you, poppet. I was half a man and unaware of it until you came and made me whole. You are my life and I will do anything for you,” Matt rubbed his thumb across the softness of her cheek.
“I want you to know this, to understand that you will always come first, this I guarantee.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she lowered her lips to his, her hair fell into a dark curtain around them as they poured all the love they had for each other into that kiss.
“You’re a closet romantic.” she mused thoughtfully when they parted.
Matt raised an eyebrow over her assessment, feeling a bit vulnerable over his words but strangely content at having voiced them.
“I’ve been called many things, poppet, but romantic?”
She nodded.
“Yes, a hopeless one at that.”
He made a big show about taking offence, rolling his eyes and snorting under his breath; then he let out a self-deprecating laugh before saying, “Only with you, wife, only with you.”
“And that is how it should be,” she announced with a haughty tilt of head.
Matt laughed even louder and pulled her into his arms.
Life could not get any better.
He ran his hand over her hips and waggled his eyebrows in a lecherous manner.
“Again?” she asked, squirming slightly.
Matt nodded, throwing one leg over hers and pinning her down.
“We’ve not left this room since boarding, Matt.”
He inserted one leg between hers and made a noise of confirmation at the back of his throat.
“Ok, but we must eat afterwards. I’m starving.” she warned then flipped them over so once again she was on top.
“And no taking over this time.”
Matt bit his lower lip between his teeth, staring up at the beauty that was his wife and said the only thing he could.
“I’m not making any promises, poppet. Now, show me what you’ve got.”
She grinned at his challenge, and Matt’s heart tightened at the look on her face.
He wasn’t a religious man but there must be a God.
There had to be.
How else could he explain this heaven he had found?
“And the life jackets? Where are those? I’d like to have one for me and Matt. Maybe you could throw an inflatable life raft in also?”
Matt glanced up from the laptop at Madi’s questions posed to the captain.
He hid a smirk and resumed working, or tried to, his gaze was never long from her bikini clad form.
“What about those electric things?” she continued.
“You know that thing that gives off a small electrical charge in water to scare sharks. Do we have those on board? My husband wants us to take a swim later and I am not getting eaten by sharks on my honeymoon.”
Matt bit the insides of his cheek to stop his laughter.
Bloody hell.
She was an amusing little thing.
Hearing her refer to him as her husband made him feel ten feet tall, pride bubbled inside him as he leaned back in the chair and openly observed her.
He would get back to work in a minute.
“And are the necessary authorities aware of our location? Are we in constant contact with the Coast Guard?” Her questions came fast and furious.
Jeremy had no time to answer one before she asked another.
“And those jet skis in the garage…so unreal…anyway how much gas do they have? If the yacht goes down out here, can Matt and I get to land on them? How far away are we from the nearest land mass? I’d really like those life jackets.”
“Poppet,” Matt called firmly.
She spun around, sunglasses perched atop her nose with one hand on her hip and her hair in a messy ponytail.
He lowered his own shades and arched an eyebrow at her.
“Leave Jeremy alone and come here so I can rub some sunblock on you.”
She turned back to the captain and patted his arm lightly.
“Just put the life jackets where I can see them. Thanks.”
Matt smiled as she sauntered over and sat down next to him.
“Honestly, Madi. You’re acting as if we’re in a dinghy, not a 220ft luxury yacht. Stop worrying, I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
She slid her shades down her nose and peered at him from over the rims.
“I just hope you have a workable emergency plan on this beast, Matt. Do you know how many incidents there are out at sea?”
He shook his head and picked up the bottle of sunblock lotion.
“No. I don’t.”
“Neither do I,” she quipped, chewing her bottom lip.
“And I don’t want us to become a statistic.”
“Am I not your knight?” he teased as he squeezed some lotion into his hand before putting the bottle down.
“Well, yes,” she replied slowly.
Matt began to rub the lotion over her shoulders.
“Then cease your worrying. So moving on,” he said dryly.
“I need to discuss an important matter with you and as your husband I am laying down the law on this issue.”
Madi let out a bark of amusement and pulled her shades off completely.
“You did not just say that. I must be suffering from sunstroke because I know you didn’t just say that.”
He slid his hands down to her sides and tickled her, which led to kissing her.
“Hold up now,” She leaned away, reaching for the sunblock.
“Don’t try to distract me. Let’s hear it. What archaic husbandly law are you trying to pass? You do know marriage is a democracy not a fiefdom, right?”
Matt shrugged good-naturedly and snagged the lotion from her dainty hands so he could continue protecting her lovely skin from the sun’s rays.
“We’ve discussed it before,” He squirted some more lotion on his hands and proceeded to rub it over her right arm.
“Briefly, that is.”
Madi squinted at him, eyes pensive with uncertainty.
“I’m not going to like this, am I? It’s going to be something mmph-”
Matt stole another kiss, her lips always enticed him, but that wasn’t the only reason.
It was quite sneaky, knowing his kisses left her dazed and using that to his advantage.
He pulled away from her soft lips to quickly say, “I’ve hired a guard for you. He’s very good at his job and you won’t even notice him around.” Then he claimed her lips before she could respond.
Her mouth stilled against his and he increased the pressure until she finally softened into the kiss.
“This means a lot to you doesn’t it?” she asked quietly after breaking the kiss.
“Your safety is very important to me.” Matt replied with a serious look and mentally prepared himself for her complaints.
“Okay.” she said with a resigned sigh.
His eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
“Okay?”
“Will you worry if I don’t have one?”
“Yes.” he said at once.
“Without a doubt.”
“Would you have still hired one anyway if I had said no?”
“Yes.” Matt kept his eyes on hers.
“Well, okay then.” she said with a little smile.
“At least we’re discussing it now even though you’ve already hired him. When does he start?”
Matt weighed up his options.
He could lie, but the love shining from her eyes pricked his conscience.
He already kept many things from her and was loathed to add another, especially now they were married.
He pulled her closer, so she practically straddled him on the chair, and kissed her temple.
“Remember our first official date, poppet?”
“Mhmm, the black and white charity ball at the Tower. Your crazy ex ruined my dress and your crazy granddad called me a mercenary slut. Man, Grumps better watch it. I swear Matt, I won’t be held responsible for my actions if he starts something…but he can be sweet, in a weird sort of way.”
“You’re babbling,” Matt grinned, wanting to delay what he had to say but knowing it was best to simply confess.
“Remember when I gave you those diamonds?”
“Yes?” Madi’s eyes were narrowing and her mouth tightened into a suspicious pout.
“Good. I told you they were my way of saying sorry in advance,” he said as she shifted in his lap.
Her eyes were slits now, brown slits with a flash of temper.
He tightened his hold on her and continued, “A pre-emptive move on my part,”
“Right?” She wriggled some more and upon realizing he wasn’t letting go, she scowled fiercely at him.
Matt smiled, she was cute when she got mad.
“Well, I’m calling that marker in.”
Madi blinked slowly.
“What do you have to be sorry for, hon?”
“You’ve had a bodyguard since late Christmas evening.” he admitted, searching her face intently to gauge exactly how angry she would become.
He wondered whether he should also confess to knowing about the abhorrent emails she had been receiving, and what he had done to have them stopped.
Once his P.
I had found the man who had been sending them, it had only taken a few days to find something incriminating on the nutter and use it, anonymously of course, to ruin his life.
Now the bastard had no time to write hateful emails.
Perhaps it was best not to mention it.
Matt didn’t want his wife knowing how cruel he could actually be.
“But you were in Russia.” Madi exclaimed in surprise.
“How did-”
Matt snorted.
“Come now, poppet, if I need something doing, it gets done. So? How mad are you? This is probably going to be our first argument as a married couple and I would like to prepare myself for your wrath. Are you planning on punching me in the eye? You always punch me in the- hey!”
She smacked his arm lightly, fighting a grin.
“Stop making me out to be a violent person.” Then she shrugged before relaxing against his chest.
“I’m not mad, Matt, at least not very mad. I know how bossy you are and I know how much you like getting your own way.” She sighed before pressing a kiss to his neck.
“Just promise you’ll include me in these decisions from now on. I don’t want a life where you decide things without my input. Promise?”
Matt cupped her chin and tilted her head up for a deep kiss.
“I promise. Now we have a few hours before lunch is served, let’s go back to our room. I have, ahem, something I want to show you.”
Madi rolled her eyes, but there was an eagerness in her movements as she slipped off his lap and grabbed the laptop off the table, she held it out for him as he stood up and adjusted the bulge in his swimming trunks.
“You’ll probably want to do more work in bed once we’re finished.” she advised.
Matt felt a smidgen of guilt at her easy acceptance of him doing some work while they were on their honeymoon.
“Just a few more reports and I’m all yours, poppet.”
“Afterwards.” she warned as he took the laptop while she slid an arm around his waist.
“But of course,” he agreed, palming her arse and liking the feel of it in his hand.
“Oh and please don’t bother Jeremy anymore.”
They started heading towards the stairs that would lead them to the lower deck.
“I’ll leave him alone, Matt, once I get a life raft,” she scoffed.
“I am not going to end up as fish food.”
I was currently eye-sexing my tanned husband.
Sun-kissed, he and the sun had enjoyed a torrid affair right in front my gaze.
“Have you got everything, poppet?” Matt asked, casting his grey eyes over our bags.
I nodded and reached for my coat, pausing to stare at my left hand.
The wedding band was simple, outshined by the engagement ring resting flush against it.
But it meant so much more to me.
I was married.
“The car should be waiting for us,” he advised impatiently, shrugging into his coat.
I was not looking forward to the cold drab weather after our honeymoon in the sun.
“Shall we get something to eat on the way, or would you prefer to wait until we arrive home?” he asked.
I picked my coat up and put it on quickly as Matt walked over to the open door and called for one of the crew to get our bags.
“We can eat when we get home.” I mumbled.
Where was this anxiousness coming from?
Why did I not want to disembark the yacht?
When would the knot in my stomach go away?
“Madi,” Matt walked back to my side, gripping my chin and turning my face to his.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been frowning since we moored.”
A bright smile flashed on my face as I jerked my head away and swatted his hand lightly.
“Nothing’s wrong and I haven’t been frowning. This is my tired face.”