CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
MATHIAS
I decide to call it a night once Allie starts feeling better. The rest of the guys can keep up appearances without me. Especially when staying isn’t worth Allie’s discomfort.
“Let’s go back to the hotel. Justin is waiting downstairs in the car,” I say, guiding Allie out of the room toward the coat check, despite her protests.
“I’m sorry for cutting things short. You don’t have to leave with me.”
“I’m not abandoning you. Not when you’re so vulnerable. You should know me better than that by now.”
Her arms slide through the coat sleeves as I hold it for her before pressing the elevator button. The moment the silver doors close for our descent to the ground floor, she rests her head on my shoulder and sighs.
“I do. I just hate being a burden.”
“You're not a burden,” I growl, though it's useless to argue when she's so fragile.
Numbered buttons light up for each level we pass until a bell rings and we exit. Justin—a Blackthorn soldier doubling as our driver—waits with our car outside then slips into the driver's seat for the trip to L’Hotel de Marc.
Allie snuggles into my side without another word. City lights flash across her sober features as we journey from Paris La Défense to the 8th arrondissement, both of us contemplating the evening in silence.
Something else is bothering her.
Something she's keeping from me.
And there's no room in our relationship for secrets.
Once we reach our bedroom at the hotel, Allie kicks off her heels and grabs an oversized tee before heading to the bathroom for privacy.
My phone buzzes with a text from Dmitri apprising me of ongoing conversations at the party, but that can wait. There are more important details to discover here in this room.
From my woman.
I toss the device aside, and it skips across the bedspread as the bathroom door swings wide to reveal Allie makeup free in a plain sleep shirt. I'm guessing she removed her contacts, too, since she's got this adorable squint going on. The only adornment left from tonight’s festivities is the necklace I gave her mere hours ago after a day of shopping.
“Are you sure you’re feeling better?” I ask, needing to reassure myself that she’s well enough to consent to this next part.
“Yeah, between the pill and you, it’s like it never happened. Thank god.” She hangs the silky gown she was wearing in the closet and smooths a hand down the shimmering fabric.
I shrug off my jacket and undo the first few buttons of my shirt before sitting on the edge of the bed. Resting my forearms on my knees, I allow myself to dive into a different headspace. One prepared to properly care for my woman’s needs—even the unconscious ones she’s only vaguely aware of.
“Good,” I murmur, low and possessive. “Crawl for me.”
“What?” Allie jolts in surprise. Her blue eyes flash with interest before questions cloud her instinctive response. “Why?”
“Because I asked you to, and you love obeying me. Like a good girl should.”
She doesn't argue with my assessment, instead, her knees bend slowly until she's kneeling on the carpet and her fingertips flex against the thick fabric, a shuddering sigh filling the air.
A man less attuned to Allie's every breath might have missed the soft relief of her exhale.
But not me.
Some men might punish her for voicing a question. See it as a brat's way of asserting control. But I know my little Angel.
She needs solid boundaries. Concrete points to understand the mysteries of the world around her. That’s why she stayed stuck in terrible situations for so long. She knew what to expect from them.
In a way, they were safe.
The brain is a complex organ with a vast number of pathways, and Allie's unique mind requires the reassurance I can give. Once she has it, she submits beautifully. Willingly.
My sweet, innocent girl.
I'll never take her trust for granted.
When Allie is close enough, I insert a finger through the dangling heart hidden between her breasts. The gifted necklace is made of delicate gold chain links with two heart outlines at the ends. Worn normally, the hearts loop together, allowing one to drop lower into a woman’s cleavage.
But the best part is when they come into play, like now, as I gently pull on one heart, forcing its twin to slide higher on the chain until the necklace becomes a choker around Allie’s neck.
Tugging her closer, I pat the inside of my thigh in encouragement, and she complies by lowering her cheek to the hard muscle.
“I didn’t say anything earlier, but you were worried about something before the overwhelm of the party. What’s bothering you, ma cherie ? Tell me what it is, so I can fix it.”
She’s been reserved all evening. At the party, I chalked it up to being surrounded by strangers, but even on the flight yesterday, Allie was huddled within herself. Refusing to rest.
Her lashes flutter closed as she licks her lips. “You already know my feelings about tomorrow. This isn’t about that,” she begins. Then stops. Her nose scrunches like she's fighting an internal war. “If I start taking care of myself again, does that mean you'll stop? Like if I miraculously get one hundred percent healthy?” The soft question sends a crack through my stone cold heart.
“No, sweetheart. That’s what we're working towards. To you feeling healthy enough emotionally and mentally to handle independent tasks while understanding that your care doesn't rely entirely on you. I want you at one hundred percent because you're a damn force to be reckoned with,” I remind her. “I'm here, and I will ensure you're taken care of even when you can't. You’ve proven for a long time how capable you are. Our relationship isn’t meant to discredit that. I'm not caring for you because you're too weak to do it yourself. I’m doing it because I want to. Plain and simple. Because I need to.”
A sigh of relief warms my leg and causes my cock to jump at the brief heat. Her pretty mouth is so close, but as much as I’d love having her plump lips wrapped around my dick, now isn’t the time.
This is about her needs.
What’s best for my Allie Angel will always be priority.
“After tomorrow, we’re heading to my chateau in Nice.” My hand tenderly strokes her loose curls, massaging her scalp as I relay the upcoming plan. I’ll confront Louis Petit in the morning then be on the road for a relaxing vacation with my girl by the afternoon.
If everything goes smoothly.
“Why? I figured we’d immediately head home to start work on Luca’s father.”
An amused chuckle rumbles in my chest. My little revenge seeker. She fits in so well with me and the rest of the Blackchapel Bastards.
“Because we both need a break,” I say. “Though you’ve been away from Bailey and your family, you’ve been surrounded by the tension at the manor as we worked to build a case against my father. That ends tomorrow. We’ll relax for a few weeks, enjoy the peace of the chateau, before flying back to Boston to deal with Enzo D’Amora.”
Allie nuzzles deeper into my thigh and hums in agreement. Contentment sweeps across her cheeks as I continue my gentle stroking, lulling her into a peaceful headspace.
“Sounds perfect,” she murmurs.
Yes, it will be.
Time passes slowly in our secluded bubble. Marked by the rhythmic sweep of the Eiffel Tower's beacon across the walls and windows.
Eventually, her head lifts from my lap, and she slides her palm up my leg, slowly reaching for the clasp of my trousers.
Covering her smaller hand with mine, I shake my head. “You don’t have to do that, baby.”
“Please… I want to.”
How can I deny her?
I let go, and Allie carefully slips the button loose and pulls down the zipper before wrestling my cock free. Cherry lips circle the tip and gently suck, her head returning to its place on my thigh as she begins a leisurely rhythm.
Caressing her hair, I shudder at the sight of her tender submission. She’s so beautiful—whether it’s in a haute couture gown for the party or nothing but a tee like now—my woman is gorgeous from the inside out.
She gives and gives, never expecting anything in return, but I plan on granting her every desire.
Always.