Chapter 10.3
Matt was trying his best to pay close attention to what Ryan Turner was saying to him, but it was bloody hard to concentrate at the moment. Bloody Louisa and her wandering hand. If she touched his cock again he’d explode, in more ways than one. It didn’t help that Madi kept squinting at their side of the table, as if she somehow sensed his sexual torment. Matt sorely regretted coming to dinner tonight, and he vowed to make it up to his poppet. The twins were the only ones actively conversing with her, but that was to be expected. Madi was the closest to them age-wise and, without her make-up, she could easily pass for someone in their late teens. He’d caught her sending friendly looks up the table where his parents sat. He had yet to see them return one and, every time they ignored her smiles, her lovely brown eyes would reflect a touch of sad rejection. It infuriated him and pained him at the same moment. How could anyone not instantly be charmed by her infectious laughter and vivacious personality? How could anyone not fall completely in love with her sweet nature? Matt rubbed a hand across his mouth, hiding an amused smirk. Yes, she was sweet, but there was a feisty streak in her. The way she had spoken to his grandfather was shocking, and deserved. Matt felt growing pride at the way she was handling tonight. That pride turned to annoyance as her attempts to converse with Julia Rogarth and her husband were rebuked.
“What do you think, Madi?” Matt asked, trying to draw her into the conversation he was having with Ryan.
She bit her lower lip, then glanced at Ryan before saying, “I believe the general public feels worried, and rightly so, about the thought of the EU having a say in British law. It doesn’t help that both the conservative and labour parties have over the years caused a lot of resentment within communities about the issue of immigration. In people’s minds, the EU is another foreign body trying to muscle in on the British way of life and, in any instance where a person feels threatened, they are forced to react.”
“Exactly,” Ryan agreed, with a nod of his greying head. “We are a member of the EU and that brings many benefits, but we must be careful on the issue of our sovereignty. In recent polling, the public is more or less split down the middle on the issue of the UK leaving the EU.”
“If the Prime Minister is successful in renegotiating treaty changes before the proposed referendum in 2016—”
“Twenty-seventeen, poppet,” Matt corrected, and she grinned at him with a little shake of her curls.
“Thank you, Matt,” she said, then resumed talking to Ryan. “If the Prime Minister wins the next election and is able to renegotiate positive treaty changes for the UK ahead of his 2017 proposed referendum, then I believe the public would be less opposed to leaving the EU.”
“Who do you support? A conservative government or one run by labour?” Louisa drawled, addressing Madi for the first time that night. Matt looked at his ex, a clear warning on his face for her to behave.
Madi gave her a tight smile. “I support whichever government puts the needs of the public above their own ulterior motives. I was raised in a democratic household, and we hold true to the belief that the needs of the many should always outweigh the needs of the one. Some political parties are more focused on retaining a country’s wealth for a few, instead of working towards an even distribution of resources and wealth for the general population.”
Louisa let out an amused chuckle and Matt stiffened, not just because he could hear the derision in her laugh, but also due to her hand finding its way to his semi-hard cock. Unwilling to draw attention to her movements, he gritted his teeth and took a sip from his wine glass. As soon as Madi looked away, he would deal with the hand that was slowly caressing him through his pants.
“I can see you’re an idealist,” Louisa mused. “Things don’t function that way in the real world. There will always be haves and haves-not. Ask Matt.” She twisted her head to smile at him, a devilish glint appearing in her eyes as she squeezed him under the table and his traitorous body responded. She continued to speak to Madi. “Like everyone else around this table, our families have worked hard to amass our fortunes. Why should those with wealth then have to carry the brunt of the general population’s inability to care for themselves? Why should we be penalized through unfair taxation on our personal and corporate wealth? The fault does not rest with us that most people are too lazy or reluctant to get the necessary education to take advantage of the opportunities that are out there.”
Matt tried not to respond to her determined strokes, but bloody hell, he was male and there was a hand on his cock. What was he to do? His poppet was staring at Louisa, then her gaze slid down Louisa’s bare arm which disappeared under the table. Matt felt pure alarm thunder through him as Madi’s doe eyes finally rested on his face. He had never seen such a look from her before.
Bollocks. She couldn’t possibly know what was happening under the tablecloth. Matt took in a ragged breath and twisted in his chair. Louisa didn’t let up on her grip.
“Has everyone here forgotten the cardinal rule?” Natty suddenly burst out sharply. “There are two topics one shouldn’t discuss at social gatherings: religion and politics. I’m so bored of this.”
Matt forgot about the hand on his cock as his niece stood up abruptly. All eyes were upon her and she looked like she wanted to cry. Matt saw her hand clenched tightly around her mobile. It was shaking.
“Natalia,” Hannah called from where she sat. “Sit down.”
Natty’s face twisted in anger, while Nikki tugged on her arm. Matt wondered what had gotten into her. Hannah had made a passing comment earlier about Natty’s behaviour, but this outburst of hers was unacceptable. Madi also reached out, a flash of concern on her face as she touched Natty’s hand lightly.
“May I be excused?” Natty asked in a tight voice. Matt was sure she was about to cry and he felt great relief that he didn’t have to deal with whatever teenaged angst she was experiencing. Thank God he wasn’t a father yet. On the heels of that thought came another, one that shocked him. What would Madi look like pregnant? With his child growing inside her?
Bloody hell. Had he lost his goddamned mind? Yes, he loved her, but they had only been in a relationship for a few months. Although his father felt strongly that Matt should have married and had children by now, Matt felt absolutely no compulsion to do so. Plus, Madi was young in his eyes, not to mention the unavoidable race issue. He didn’t want to get married, far less impregnate anyone. These ridiculous thoughts were only due to him being around his family again, knowing and thoroughly resenting the expectations they had of him.
Yet, here he was, staring at her with increasing curiosity, as he pictured her slender frame rounded out in front. Beautiful. She would be more beautiful than she was now. And their baby would be gorgeous—
“Fuck me,” Matt muttered softly.
“I will,” Louisa whispered in his ear, rubbing her hand over him and bringing him back to blessed reality. Everyone else was busy focusing on Natalia’s outburst and Matt took the opportunity to yank Louisa’s hand off his person.
“Stop it,” he grated out coldly, before turning away from her pouting lips.
Hannah and Stuart were sending murderous looks at their daughter, while the other guests murmured amongst themselves. Matt’s father tilted his head at Grumps, who nodded once.
“You may be excused, Natalia,” William, Jr, announced.
Natty pushed her chair back and fled the dining room, with her twin sister immediately getting up to race after her. An uncomfortable atmosphere descended and Matt saw the chance to escape. He stood up, clearing his throat loudly and motioned to Madi.
“Madi and I will be heading out, too. We both have a busy day tomorrow, and I need to get her home.”
A chorus of insincere requests for them to stay assailed his ears as Matt waited for Madi to stand up. She did so quickly, dumping the napkin from her lap on top of the table. Her eyes scanned everyone as she flashed her perfect white teeth in a half-hearted smile.
“It was a lovely dinner. Thank you for inviting me,” she said politely, before hurrying over to his side. He took her hand in his and inclined his head at his grandfather, who raised his hand in an acknowledged goodbye. Matt walked down the length of the table to where his parents sat, with Madi in tow. He bent forward to kiss his mother on the cheek and clapped his free hand on his father’s back.
“I’ll be calling you. Soon,” he advised casually. They hadn’t made any attempts to engage Madi in conversation. They had practically ignored her all night long. They were taking the piss and, although he’d expected this sort of behaviour from them, it annoyed him immensely.
“Thanks for inviting me to dinner and sorry we can’t stay,” Madi repeated to his parents.
“Don’t worry,” Matt said, sneakily watching for his parents’ reaction. “We’ll have my parents around for dinner next week, Madi. Give you three a chance to get to know each other properly.”
Their expressions made Matt laugh on the inside, including Madi’s. She looked as appalled as his mother. Matt tightened his hand around hers.
“Mum, Dad.”
“Goodnight, Matthew. Drive safe, darling, and call us tomorrow,” his mother said.
“Goodnight, son. Remember we need to go over those contracts. I want you and Adam in the office at six on Monday.”
Madi smiled at them, but Matt could see the silent plea on her face. She wanted to go; he did, too. He led her out the dining room and her shoulders relaxed as she sighed in relief.
“Well?” he said as they walked hand in hand down the numerous hallways.
“Well what?” she shot back. “I hope Natty is all right.”
Matt huffed slightly. He wanted to know her thoughts on meeting his strange family. “I’m sure she’ll be fine, poppet. How do you feel about my family now that you’ve met them? I told you everyone would be polite. No one made any inference to your race, either. So? Tell me.”
The front doors loomed and Matt hurried her along.
“Matt, what about my wet clothes? And my shoes?”
“I’ll have them sent over to mine tomorrow. Stop avoiding my question and tell me what you think about my family,” he demanded as they got to the front door. Matt opened it and she slipped past him, eager it seemed to be gone from here.
“Answer a question first, then I’ll tell you,” she negotiated.
Matt arched an eyebrow at her before nodding. He pulled his keys out his jacket pocket and pressed the fob to unlock the car.
Madi folded her arms as he opened the door for her. Matt was suddenly wary. He definitely didn’t like the look on his poppet’s face, or the dangerous gleam shining from her brown eyes.
“What the fuck was going on underneath the table, Matthew?”
Bollocks…