Chapter 20
Rafael
After we disembark from the chopper and have been ferried back to our car, I toss Lazlo the keys so he can drive the BMW back to the estate.
The rear lights of the car that brought us fade into the distance.
Not my car, I remind myself as I slither into the back seat.
Sir B’s car. Everything is on loan at the moment, even Georgia.
I have to get back on better terms with her or I’ll lose her.
And I’m thinking more of Lazlo than of the frat reclaiming her.
The man is sweet on her and I can’t blame him.
Or her. It was my idea. He is kind of adorable, and how fast did he get her to see his human side after dicking her down with that monster cock of his?
Georgia slides in the other side then the front door slams.
“Seat belts on, kids?” Lazlo leans back and checks us. “Get that on, Mister.”
I yawn, for the second time since exiting the chopper. “Are you babying me?”
“I am. And you too, missie.”
Georgia mock salutes him and buckles in.
I fumble the connection. It finally clicks together when Georgia lines it up with the slot. “I am so fried my eyes are ready to dribble out of my sockets.” I wave at them both. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Then she pulls the borrowed coat in at the neck and hides her bare breasts.
“Do you want to get into the dress before we get moving?” I suggest.
“There’s not much space in here for wriggling about, and I’m not doing it outside in the breeze. I’ll survive.”
“Off we go then.” Lazlo relaxes back into his seat and starts the engine.
He turns onto the main estate road. Before we’ve gone a hundred yards, my eyes are trying to close, so I pull Georgia over. Why not.
“My turn.” I note the glow I feel when she leans in.
Thinking on what to do from now on, I study Lazlo. He’s an easy man to like. And he gets things done, knows the estate and Sir Benjamin. He’ll be useful. He’s also wormed into Georgia’s affections faster than I could ever have thought possible.
The car rocks and tries to get my brain to turn off. I should get this sorted.
“You know,” I mumble at him. “Where are you sleeping from now on?”
There’s no answer for a while then he says, “I appreciate the offer but it’s more like where are you two sleeping? I’ve a bigger bed in my rooms. Super king size. Are we good for sharing that?” He glances back.
That. He means the bed not Georgia, I finally realize. “Absolutely good.”
She adjusts her head on my shoulder, and I close my eyes for a minute.
I’m asleep when the car pulls up, but the lack of motion, then Georgia moving off me, has woken me.
We’re inside the house before I’m really alert. I’ve lost my touch at staying awake longer than normal. Lax of me. Or I’m just getting older. Fuck that.
Lazlo’s been giving or getting instructions from someone at the door, perhaps about parking the car for the man jogs off down the front stairs.
As Lazlo returns to us, I swipe my hand over my head, stretch, and take the bag from Georgia—it’s the one with her clothes and what-not. She’s still wearing that coat—no wonder, since she’s mostly naked underneath it.
“Lead the way.” I tell Lazlo.
“Not yet, Bear with me. Sir Ben has a late visitor in the library. A man called Mitchell Hull. Georgia’s met him.”
He starts toward the library door and we follow. I grab Georgia’s hand.
“Oh. Him. He was odd.” She wrinkles her cute nose.
“Definitely.” He turns and makes a shush motion over his mouth with his finger then adds quietly, “He’s an inquisitive man.”
“He means a nosy neighbor,” Georgia whispers to me as we approach the door to the library.
“I’ll not be long,” Lazlo says before he walks in. The exchange is audible through the half-closed door. “Evening Mr. Hull. I just came to say goodnight. Do you need anything done before I go upstairs, Sir Benjamin?”
“No. You go off to bed. Mr. Hull was just leaving…” That sounds like a hint. “…as I have a trip into London tomorrow and need to get up early with Alden. I have to arrange the funeral for Joseph, Mr. Hull.”
“I see. My condolences again, Sir Ben. I will say goodnight. Thank you for considering my offer for the mansion. Shall I see myself out?”
“No,” Lazlo says. “Stephens will be here in a second or two. Goodnight, gentlemen. Safe travels tomorrow, sir.”
“I’m only going a few miles but thank you.”
Lazlo exits and beckons. The two of us fall in behind him. From the stiffness of his expression something happened in there that I missed.
“Your rooms are upstairs too?” We’re aiming for the stairway.
“Yes. You can get anything you need and bring it to mine.” He exhales. “Damn though, that man has some cheek.”
The stairway is broad, so we go up the stairs side by side with Georgia in the middle and my hand on her hip.
“What has he done?” she asks.
“He’s trying to buy the other house. The mansion. It’s not happening. Thank god. Sir Benjamin won’t sell. Asshole. I shouldn’t be saying this…” Mid-stairway, he changes topic. “Enough said. You can use my bathroom, both of you. Bath or shower.”
“Thanks.” I blink away the bleariness in my eyes as we reach the door to my room. “We’ll grab our stuff from here. A shower will do me.”
He eyes Georgia. “Do you mind if I share a bath with her?”
“Fuck, no.” I shake my head and rethink that. “Okay. Redo on that. Tomorrow, we can all share one?”
“I don’t get a say?” she asks.
“Nope.”
Lazlo grins as he swings open our door and lets her go in past him, but she stalls halfway.
“You boys are going to fight over me?”
“Boys?” I frown at her and smack her rear. “Get in there. Luckily, I’m half dead or I would do something.”
“So we aren’t arm wrestling for her? Pity. I’d win.” Lazlo leans his arm on the door frame above his head and eyes her ass. “Tomorrow is good. I also have a big bathtub that’s more like a sauna. Things can be done in there.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Nasty sex things?”
She turns to eye us, gaze loaded with suspicion.
He scratches his chin. “Nasty sex things? Never thought of doing those but I’m willing to try.”
“You two.” She puts her hands on her hips. “I should sleep in here.”
“No, you won’t.”
Lazlo’s phone dings. He pulls it out and looks at an SMS.
“Try it and see what happens,” I tell her then look at him. “Important?”
He shakes his head and taps something out, tucks away the phone. “I can’t say. So you’re okay with her in the middle of the bed?”
She’s getting all the clothes she was given, has found the bag I brought back from London and is putting everything inside. We don’t have much. “What do you think?”
“I think this could be fun, but I’m inclined to slow down a little. Tonight was full on crazy…” He looks at me. “Maybe not for you but—”
I only shrug. “Slow is good. I can fuck slow.”
He laughs and slaps my shoulder. It’s like being hit by a bull but I grin and stand my ground.