Chapter 10 #2
“No, I’m not particularly. A cigar on the rare occasion is perfectly fine though.” Matt confirmed genially.
“Why don’t you go take a walk? Have a smoke if you so choose. Just keep your mobile handy, I’ll call you.”
“Matt,” I said, even as Dan was already disembarking the vehicle.
Only when the driver’s door slammed close did Matt turn his attention back to me.
“So,” he murmured, closing the distance between us.
“You sent him out on the road.” I was trying for reproach but my damned voice was still breathy.
“That’s not-”
His index finger silenced me.
“I’m all for equality between the sexes, poppet,”
Matt’s free hand resumed its travels under my dress.
“Me too.” I squeaked against his finger when his hand hit jackpot.
God.
Hands, his hands won, well, hands down .
“But, and I’m deadly serious now,” he warned.
“When I ask you to do something, I expect you to do it.”
“Bossy.” I muttered and jerked back.
“You’re still so bossy.”
His tongue traced his lower lip.
“Determined, poppet, not bossy. Now take your knickers off.”
In an ideal world I would’ve snorted in disbelief, made a cutting remark, told him he couldn’t order me around like that.
In reality, our reality, I hastily wriggled out my panties and flung them at his head.
“Good wife,” he said with a smirk.
“Now lift this leg up here,”
I did and that smirk was wiped off his face completely.
Replaced by something raw, visceral, and altogether enough to trigger the precursor to a mini-explosion inside me.
Matt, being the only one to ever see my come face, besides God and the Angels…
oh crap.
I needed to go to Church.
Matt knew every expression, every minute detail, every sound that signified my growing desire.
“Not yet, poppet.” he whispered throatily while undoing the button of his jacket then making short work of his belt.
This was good.
He was going to shag me into oblivion.
The determination on his face was a dead giveaway to his intent.
I needed this to take the edge off before the anniversary party.
I really needed this.
“Deeper?” he asked breathlessly, God only knows how long after.
If all the windows were fogged up I couldn’t tell, the tint on the front side windows and windscreen were just this shy of being illegal in the UK.
“Yes!” I cried out, burying my face into the heaven that was his neck.
His strokes became forceful, went much deeper and I grunted from the impact yet welcomed it.
My body was made for him.
Then we were both moaning in unison, grasping tightly at each other in the backseat of his car like horny teenagers as the wave of shared pleasure crashed over us, leaving us adrift in an ocean of satisfaction.
When things began to make sense again, I chuckled lightly as I ran my hand through Matt’s tousled hair.
He raised his head from where it rested across my chest and gave me a thoroughly male grin, smug as shit.
It was there.
I felt it.
The inexplicable ease between us, the comfort that had been there since the first night we met…
it was back.
“Hello, stranger,” I whispered.
“Hello.” he replied huskily.
“I’ve missed you.”
“I know, poppet. I’ve missed you too.”
We fell silent, peering at each other.
I was glad Dan had parked close to a streetlight, hadn’t been before, but I was glad now.
It allowed me the opportunity to gaze upon the beauty that was my husband.
“You should’ve told me marriage wasn’t all flowers and bliss.” I joked.
Underneath my words there was an edge of truth, a sharp edge.
The corners of Matt’s mouth dipped for a second before he gave me a real smile, the one I would die for.
“Why do you think it took me so long to get married?” he teased.
“Shit.” I wriggled below him then grabbed his wrist.
“What time is it?”
Matt grunted as he raised his sweat-slicked body off mine and glanced at his watch.
“Bloody hell. We’re late.”
“Fashionably late?” I asked, struggling to get out from under him.
“No,” Matt said grimly as he handed over my panties.
“Just late. Where’s your dress? I need to call Dan immediately.”
Getting dressed in the backseat of a car was awkward, especially with a six feet plus Adonis taking up space.
I giggled.
I really should get that checked out.
Giggling…
hmph.
“What?” Matt asked, tugging up his pants.
“I just remembered that day on the Mall, when you helped me ditch that copper. I got changed in the back of your Rolls.”
“Mmm,” Matt was shaking the creases out his shirt.
“Then I took you back to mine and here we are. Ouch.”
“Sorry.” My heel, the one I still had on, accidently jabbed Matt’s thigh as I tried to pull on my dress.
“Your mom is going to kill us.”
“Me? No. You on the other hand,” His words trailed off and he winked at my heated growl.
“I’m calling Dan now, poppet, so please finish getting dressed. George said he fancies you and I would hate to fire the chap for openly coveting what’s mine.”
I rolled my eyes.
Best to hurry up.
Portia Bradley gave me the willies.
Huh.
Why did I have to land a crappy mother-in-law?
“My hair-do is ruined, thanks to you.” I groused out loud then grinned when Matt extricated a bobby pin from one of my wild curls hanging down my shoulder.
“Shall I help you put it back up?” He wrapped his finger around the curl, a whimsical look in his eyes as he played with my hair.
“Yeah, right. As if you can handle black hair.” I playfully smacked his hand away.
“And how many times do I have to tell you stop messing with my hair? You’ll give me split ends.”
He leaned over to bury his face in the unruly mess atop my head and inhaled deeply.
“Every bit of you smells like flowers. My little wild flower.”
“Mum, you look absolutely beautiful,” Matt kissed his mother’s cheek while my lips warred with my mind.
Keep smiling, just keep smiling, I told myself.
“Apologies for our late arrival, we had some unexpected car issues.” Matt continued smoothly, moving over to shake his dad’s hand before getting a fatherly hug.
The lie just rolled off his lips with ease.
Hmm.
I should monitor that ability of his.
“Happy Anniversary, Mr and Mrs Bradley.” I greeted demurely, pushing all thoughts of white lies to the back of my mind.
“Madison, please,” William leaned forward to give me a chaste peck on the cheek.
“Mr and Mrs Bradley is so formal. We’re family now.”
The corners of Portia’s eyes scrunched up at William’s forced joviality.
I maintained my smile and turned to my mother-in-law, preparing myself for the required air kiss.
“Matthew, darling,” Craftily she manoeuvred herself closer to Matt.
“What on earth is that smudge on your face? And why is your hair so unkempt?”
My air kiss approval was denied.
I glanced at said smudge then blushed furiously under my dark skin as Portia delicately tried to dab at her son’s jawline.
Matt jerked away.
Berry plum fun, the shade of my lip gloss.
William looked at my mouth then at the smudge, a knowing gleam built in his eyes even as a silk handkerchief materialised in Portia’s hand.
Wow.
What else did she have in that cute clutch of hers?
I licked my thumb absentmindedly and wiped the smudge away, all under the appalled gaze of my mother-in-law.
I wondered how she’d react to me calling her mums-in-war.
“Ah, probably lipstick, Mum.” Matt stated dryly.
“Gloss,” I corrected when I noticed another smudge right above his collar and promptly attacked that one too with my thumb.
“It’s lip gloss.”
“Car issues indeed.” Portia huffed with an uncomfortable expression on her icy features.
Hmm, I could understand.
Matt was her baby boy, it must freak her out thinking of him doing the nasty.
Matt arched an eyebrow at his frowning mother, a mischievous quirk to his lips as he drawled softly, “Mum, I’m a married man. No need for such disapproval. Madi and I were wedded before God, so spontaneous shagging is sanctified and completely allowed-”
“Matt, behave.” I hissed, wanting the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
Portia reached up to smooth back a lock of Matt’s hair and he jerked away again.
Ha.
Score one for me.
Matt didn’t mind me tidying up his appearance, spit-thumb and all.
“Mum, please.” He turned to his father and grinned.
“Forty plus years of marriage.”
“Yes, marriage is hard work, my boy.” William advised with a rueful smirk as he observed his wife.
“But worth it, isn’t that right, dear?”
Portia regarded him coldly for a nanosecond before her features morphed into a mask of such serene beauty, I could only stare at her.
Damn.
She had skills.
Did no one just see that?
Obviously not.
Matt and his father joked a bit more before Portia mentioned the twins eagerly awaiting my arrival.
That was my cue to escape from the weirdness of Matt’s parents, and it was weird.
I got the impression they weren’t very fond of each other.
Fuck.
I hoped Matt and I didn’t end up like them.
The Ballroom was filled with hordes of people I didn’t know.
Maybe I shouldn’t have left Matt chatting with his parents, but I wasn’t going to cling to his side like a limpet.
I could do this.
I was Madison DuMont-Bradley, and although my hair was a mass of wild curls instead of my sophisticated up-do, I could hold my own.
Shit.
Why was that lady staring at me?
Why was that whole group staring at me?
I didn’t have come on my face…
I checked before leaving the car.
Nervously patting my hair, I moved through the guests, smiling politely as I searched for the twins.
How much did this shindig cost?
I mean Claridge’s was a pricey hotel and I dreaded to think of what the meal Matt and I missed by our impromptu sexing cost.
“Madi!” An excited voice came from my left.
I spun around to see Natty, wait Nikki, one of the girls pushing her way towards me.
“Hey,” I said right before I got swallowed into a warm hug.
“You look great, Natty.”
She chuckled at the uncertainty of my voice.
“Are you sure it’s me, Aunt Madi?”
I narrowed my eyes at the ‘Aunt’ title and she laughed some more while linking her arm through mine.
“What took you so long? We’ve been bored to tears. There were speeches. I swear this family is insane. You have to see the pictures from our ski trip. Did Uncle Matt get you that necklace? I want it. Oh, Mum’s planning a weekend in the Cotswolds, you must come although it’ll be cold. Honestly, I think she’s trying to drive me mad. Last night she kept going on and on about Uni and my grades. I had a right mind to tell her sod off.”
I winced at the non-stop chatter in my ear, it was definitely Natty.
She waved and smiled at people as we walked.
Then I stiffened, we both stiffened when a sharp, “I’m certain you’re not planning on walking past me without saying hello, Madison.” Came from behind us.
Natty and I turned in unison.
The transformation of Natty was immediate.
Gone was the chattering girl, replaced by a demure sweet smiling vision who dropped my arm and went over to the seated man’s side.
“Hi Grumps.” I greeted, going over to do the required air kiss.
This time it was allowed.
“You’re late,” he grumbled while his grey eyes pinned me where I stood.
“Where’s Matthew? You missed the meal. Why were you late?”
‘Because we had to bump pelvises’ , I wondered what would happen if I actually said that out loud.
“Car issues.” I murmured even as he dismissed my answer with a quick wave of hand.
“I want you to meet a close friend of mine,” Grumps gestured to the elderly bespectacled lady sat next to him.
“This is Lady Viola Eastmund.”
Oooh.
A Lady.
Should I curtsy?
I stuck my hand out which she gripped tightly.
Damn.
These old Brits had a helluva strong grip.
“You’re not as black as I expected,” she said bluntly before turning her face back towards Grumps.
“Your description of her was inaccurate, William. Shame on you. I thought she looked like those Africans.”
Natty had a hand up over her mouth.
Grumps was frowning at Lady Viola.
And me?
Well, let’s just say my brain was still trying to process her words.
“Where are you originally from?” she queried.
I yanked my hand away.
“England.”
Daintily she folded her aged hands atop the table.
“I meant your family, dear.”
“My father was American but my mother and I were both born here, I’m English.” The sharpness of my tone didn’t faze this crazy broad.
“But if you want a brief family history, my maternal grandparents were from the Caribbean while my paternal grandparents were American. Would you like me to go further?” I felt the heat on my skin, slowly rising off me.
A quick glance confirmed there was no steam, huh, I thought there would be.
“That explains it.” she mused while nodding at Grumps.
“Explains what?” My voice was low and hard.
Natty looked on with astonishment, but also guilty eagerness.
Huh, I knew she was expecting me to do something unusual.
“Well, your features, of course.” Lady Viola stated blandly.
“There has obviously been some mixing of genes in your family’s past, something I’m sure you’re thankful for.”
She didn’t.
Oh hell no, she didn’t just say that.
Grumps scrutinized my face, remaining silent as I organized my thoughts.
Screaming ‘bitch, I’ll lay you out’ would be frowned upon.
Portia and William might have me escorted out for creating a scene.
Plus she looked as if death was breathing down her shoulders.
Puffing out my chest proudly, I channelled Matt’s arrogance, his frigid superiority that always rubbed me the wrong way.
“Let me assure you, Lady Eastmund, I am as black as God intended me to be and my features that you’re referring to are quite common amongst my people,” An image of me putting one hand on my chest with the other held high flashed before my eyes.
Stay on point , DuMont!
“Yes, we have varying shades of skin tone and features, but that doesn’t make us any less black. Were you expecting me to sport tribal wear with my boobs out?” I was building steam now, ready to put this woman in her place, when she inclined her head at Grumps with a puckering of her lips.
Was that a smile?
“You were right, William. She is quite a Terrier.”
The hell?
I was a dog now?
My mouth opened, oh, I was going to say something bad.
“You’ve handled yourself magnificently, dear,” she said with that small pucker of lips.
“One should always remain calm when dealing with unpleasantness.” What?
Calm?
Did she not see the fire in my eyes?
I was ready to get dirty.
Verbally speaking, of course.
“I was most surprised when William told me of young Matthew’s marriage.” she chuckled.
“Most surprised indeed. We all thought he would remain a bachelor forever. You must come for tea at my home,” Lady Viola looked at Grumps again.
“William, you’ll see to it, yes? I want to know this woman who has captured your grandson. Oh, that reminds me, I have someone in mind for Adam. She’s delightful and quite suitable. He’s been allowed too much leeway for far too long.”
Grumps made a sound of agreement.
Dismissed.
I had been dismissed by Lady Viola.
Natty’s cheeks were flushed and she was practically quivering with the urge to say something.
My ire hadn’t yet dissipated.
What just happened?
These people were going to drive me insane.
I was always on guard for any racial jabs; always meticulously assessing each comment, each look, for traces of hidden bigotry.
Damn it.
I missed the days when those things were firmly at the back of my mind.
Bloody swirling.
I was going to write a book!
Warn people somehow.
“Run along now.” Grumps patted Natty’s arm and arched his eyebrows at me.
I glared at him as Natty grabbed me and started tugging me away.
Crazy ass geriatrics.
And I needed to warn Adam.
It seemed his single days were numbered.
“Don’t sulk, Madi.” Natty advised soothingly.
“Lady Vi is-”
“A crazy ass.” I supplied through clenched teeth.
“What was that about?”
“She’s eccentric, Madi, and she doesn’t care about offending people. In fact, I don’t think she sees it as such. Haven’t you noticed how they all say what they want without regards for others?”
“You do know an eccentric is just a crazy person who has shitloads of money.” I clarified.
“If you act a fool and you’re poor, you’re crazy; got money and all of a sudden you’re eccentric. Crazy ass woman.”
Natty giggled, then spotted her twin and almost tore my arm off the way she hustled me forward.
“Yes, well, Nikki is going to die when she finds out.” her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Rumours have it she murdered her first husband and the second died of causes unknown. I wish I could join you for tea. I bet it would be a riot. Oh, I should warn Uncle Adam he’s about to be placed on the cattle market.”
I stored away the titbit about the black widow Lady Viola and grinned at Natty.
How sweet.
She had her uncle’s back.
My pocket buzzed but before I could get to my cell, we were next to Nikki and I was subjected to a whirlwind of drama about school, parents, boys, money and did I mention boys?
When there was a lull in the conversation, I took the chance to get my cell.
- Married?
Ah, my wee lass!
When?
I chuckled under my breath.
Dougie McGregor.
The emoji at the end of his text was a shocked face with four X’s.
- Yes.
Married.
It’s the end result of an engagement and two months ago .
I put a smiley face and two X’s.
- Where are ye?
Can we meet?
His response was fast.
- Claridges’s.
Anniversary party for the in-laws and where have you been if you’re only finding out I’m hitched now?
It was in the gossip papers and the internet .
- Seychelles.
Left mid-Jan when the snow came.
I cannae believe this.
Married!
Can we meet?
- Lunch?
- Tomorrow?
He added another two X’s.
I chewed my lower lip.
If Matt went into work I could meet up with Dougie, but if he didn’t…
- Next week?
Then a strange feeling of guilt assailed me, so I quickly added:
I’m sure Matt and I can arrange something .
God!
Was that stupid?
We were friends, nothing more.
What if he thought I had become one of these women who lost their identity the moment they said ‘I do’.
“Who are you texting, Madi?” Natty, nosy Natty, leaned over my shoulder.
“Nonya.” I replied.
“Pardon?” both girls spoke together, voices pitched as one.
“None ya business.” I said and elbowed her away.
“Go socialize with people. Go on.”
They exchanged a look before rolling their eyes at me.
Even that was identical.
I shooed them away and returned to my texting.
There was no response to my last text.
Shit.
I knew it was stupid.
Then came:
- Sounds good.
Are ye having fun?
He had put two kisses.
- Kinda.
I’m the only black person here .
I got a picture message after that one.
Dougie’s beaming face with his fingers against his temple in lieu of a real gun and eyes crossed.
I burst out laughing, earning myself a few looks.
Dougie was funny, and totally comfortable when it came to things like these.
Unlike my hubby, who was currently making his way towards me!
I typed in Lol and pressed send.
Matt got waylaid by a group of people so the coast was clear for now.
Again that niggling guilt made an appearance.
We were just friends.
- Shall I tell ye some jokes then?
- No.
Where are you?
Why were you in the Seychelles?
- Nightclub.
Central London.
Took a wee vacation.
Is Bradley treating ye right?
- Will you be drunk texting me later?
Don’t.
I added a mad face with two kisses.
- Aye lass.
Will send ye pictures of me bum!
I laughed out loud again.
- Will post them online if you do.
Silly Scot .
Then I slipped my cell into the pocket of my dress.
Matt was on his way over.
“Poppet, why are you hiding away back here?” He bent down to kiss the tip of my nose.
“Bella’s been asking after you.”
My pocket buzzed.
“I didn’t know she was here. Your nieces kept me busy. They can talk for all of England. Matt, you wouldn’t believe what Lady Eastmund said to me.” I tugged on his lapels and whispered.
“Natty said she’s a,” I glanced around quickly before muttering the word in his ear.
Matt pulled away with a reproachful look.
“Ridiculous. There’s no proof of that.”
“She wants us over for tea , Matt. What if that’s a euphemism for something nasty?” My pocket buzzed some more.
“And she said I wasn’t black enough. She needs her vision testing.”
Matt frowned.
“She said that?”
“Mhmm.” I gave him wide eyes.
“Yes, well, she is a tad eccentric. Ignore her.”
“Called me a Terrier too,” I added, then wondered if tattling to Matt would cause problems down the line.
He was quite protective when it came to me.
“Let’s go mingle, poppet. People have been asking to meet you.” he changed the subject smoothly and slipped an arm around my waist as he led me forward.
My pocket buzzed again.
Matt glanced down.
“You’re vibrating. Who were you texting before?”
Ok. Would it be wrong to lie?
Matt wasn’t keen on my friendship with Dougie.