London Bound (26 page)

“Add another finger, and ask me again,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Oh, God. Ohhh,” she breathed. “Please. I need to come. I need... Please let me come, Sir.”

“Do you know why you couldn’t come before?” He had to work to keep his voice even as the sounds of her fucking her hand washed over him. “You were just chasing a physical release, but that’s not what you really needed. What you needed, darling girl, was to remember. To get through all the doubts and bullshit floating around in your head. All of that was making you forget again.” He ignored the whispered pleas reaching him, and simply raised his voice slightly. “You’re mine. You belong to me. Completely. And you need to please me. You forgot that, too. Do you remember, now? How good pleasing me feels?”

“Nathan...”

“You pleased me today, love. Calling me, telling me what you wanted, following my instructions. You’ve been a very good girl. And something else to remember, Meg.” He paused a moment. “Good girls get rewarded.”

“Yes,” she hissed, and he pictured her back arching off the bed as she fucked her hand.

“Touch your clit now, and come for me.”

He nearly creamed his pants, untouched, as she sobbed through her release. He took several deep breaths, struggling to calm down, her now soft cries making it difficult as hell.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice drowsy and thick.

“Always my pleasure to take care of you, sweet girl. Now,” he sat up, wincing as his hardness was compressed, “it’s very late for you. You need to sleep.”

“Don’t want to hang up,” she slurred.

“I know. Me neither,” he confessed. “But you’re exhausted and have to work in a few hours, and I’ve a meeting. So, we’re going to hang up, but we’ll talk very soon. Promise.”

“‘kay.”

“Sleep well. You did so well tonight.” He smiled at the happy hum he got in response. “Goodnight, love.”

“G’night.”

Disconnecting the call, Nathan stood and shoved the mobile into his pocket. He grabbed his bag and left his office, hurrying downstairs and outside where he knew the car was already waiting. He snorted when he saw Jack standing beside the vehicle.

“I thought you were back to working the office?” While he’d specifically asked Jack to drive when he’d brought Meg to the airport—knowing the two would want to have a chance to say goodbye—Nathan knew for a fact Jack’s brother had returned from his honeymoon and was back to work.

“Overbooked today, so I volunteered to lug your arse around.”

Nathan shoved past his friend and opened the passenger door himself, climbing into the front seat. Jack grinned as he rounded the car and slid behind the wheel. As he pulled away, he shot Nathan a glance.

“You were late. Very unlike you.”

“Meg called,” he said simply, knowing Jack would understand the significance.

“Since you’re not curled up, crying your eyes out, I’m going to assume the two of you are going to find a way to make this work,” Jack teased.

Nathan snorted. “We are.”

“And the plans you’ve made?”

“In place,” he said. “I’m meeting with Lara and my mum tomorrow afternoon.”

Jack reached over and squeezed Nathan’s shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“I know. Doesn’t make it easy.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He shot Nathan a look. “It’s awfully late in the States now. Oh, fuck, you guys totally had phone sex, didn’t you? Look at that blush. You did! Good on you, mate!”

“One of us did,” Nathan corrected. “One of us had a meeting to rush to.”

“Oh, poor poppet,” Jack drawled. “You want I should pull over, and you can hop in back? Tug one off quick before we get there?”

“Fuck off,” Nathan muttered, lips twitching.

“That’s the idea.” Jack nodded.

“Shut up and drive.”

Jack’s laughter filling the air, Nathan settled back against the leather seat. For the first time since Meg had left, despite his half hard cock and Jack’s snickering, Nathan felt well and truly relaxed, content in the knowledge Meg was his.

A
ll hail the power of a good orgasm, Meg thought as she rolled out of bed, feeling relaxed and actually well rested, despite the fact she’d only slept four hours. Stretching her arms above her head, she padded into the en suite to shower and brush her teeth. After drying her hair and doing her makeup, she chose a skirt and blouse from the limited selection in her closet. Limited, because her suitcases still sat unpacked in the laundry room. Time to change that. Once dressed, she pulled the door open and walked to the stairs.

At the top, she called, “Em, if you’re wanting a ride this morning, get a move on. Leaving in about fifteen.”

Once she’d gotten an “Okay!” in response, she hurried down then made her way through the house to the laundry room just off the kitchen. She smiled as she smelled coffee in the air and saw the nearly full pot, remembering Aaron had an early class.

Humming softly, she emptied the first suitcase, separating the clothing into the hampers. When she crouched to unzip the second bag, she nearly fell back onto her ass as shock jolted through her. On top of the folded clothing rested a black jeweler’s box. Heart pounding, she lifted box and held it with both hands, thumbs brushing over the velvety lid.

When had Nathan slipped this in her bag? She’d left it on his dresser just before they’d left for the airport. While he’d given it to her, she hadn’t felt comfortable taking such an expensive gift when everything was ending. She straightened and leaned back against the washer, remembering how hard, how gut-wrenching, it’d been to take the necklace off. Removing the collar Nathan had put on her had felt so wrong. And he’d managed somehow to sneak it into her things.

Her fingers trembled as she raised the lid. She knew she wouldn’t put it back on—not yet, not until Nathan could do it himself or tell her to do it—but she needed to see it. But a small cream-colored card rested atop the silver chain. With a frown, she unfolded it and read Nathan’s scrawled message.

So you don’t forget.

Eyes stinging, she brought the card to her face and inhaled deeply, foolishly imagining she could smell his scent. A few tears fell, soaking into the thick paper, smearing the ink. She squeezed her eyes shut but couldn’t keep from crying.

Caro had said Nathan wanting her to call was a clue he didn’t want their relationship to end. Maybe it was, but this...this, right here, was more than that. Making sure she had the collar, wanting her to remember—and damn, if she didn’t hear his admonishing voice in her head—was a clear message to her. It wasn’t so she’d fondly look back on her vacation to London. It was a reminder that she was still his; that was the reality, even if she’d lost sight of that for a little while.

“Mom? What’s the matter?”

Meg gulped, eyes flying open, gaze landing on where Emily hovered in the doorway. Snapping the box shut, she set it and note on the washer behind her and, brushing at her wet cheeks, smiled.

“Nothing,” she said brightly. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’re crying,” Emily accused.

“Baby, I’m fine. I swear.” She straightened and approached her daughter. Emily eyed the items Meg left behind. “Em, come on. We’re going to be late.”

She managed to herd the young woman out to the car, detouring to fill travel mugs with coffee for both of them. Emily said nothing on the drive, but when they pulled up to the school, she twisted in her seat and pinned Meg with a worried look.

“Mom,” she started, voice and lips trembling, “please tell me what’s wrong.”

Meg reached over and touched her cheek. “Nothing’s wrong, I promise. I...I was... I miss Nathan,” she confessed, honestly. “I miss him, and you know me. I cry at the drop of a hat.”

Emily nodded, though worry still edged her expression. “Are you sure that’s all?”

“Of course. Now,” Meg glanced at the clock on the dash, “you need to get to class. I’ll see you when I get home from work. We’ll do Greek food tonight for dinner?”

That pulled a smile, a small one, and Emily nodded. She grabbed her backpack from the by her feet and climbed out. Before shutting the door, she said, “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, baby.”

The rest of the day was much like any other work day—fairly boring and routine. Though, clearly she had been out of sorts since Luke, Caro’s husband, commented about her finally being recovered from jet lag. She’d had lunch at her desk, catching up on things, after a text from Nathan saying he was having dinner with his mother and sisters killed her plans of calling him on her break. Though the text that followed—
What exactly do you wear to work, anyway? Are you all prim and proper at the office? I’d love to take that apart. Slowly. ;-)
—erased any uneasiness from the first.

She successfully avoided Caro’s attempts at interrogation, sharing just enough information to keep her satisfied but holding the specifics close...private. Hers.

After leaving work—picking up the promised Greek food on the way—Meg came home to Emily and Aaron deep in discussion at the kitchen table. A discussion that immediately stopped when she walked in.

“What’s going on?” she asked, lifting a brow as she set the takeout bags on the counter.

“Nothing, really. We were just talking this one’s,” Aaron jerked his head toward Emily, “next date with Tyler. It’s Friday, so you’ll get to meet him finally.”

Meg didn’t know how she felt about the fact he could lie to her face so easily. His sister, on the other hand, was not so smooth and looked so guilty it was almost laughable. Deciding to pick her battles, she forced a smile.

“Looking forward to that. Eat up. I’m just going to put some laundry going.”

She strode into the small room, heart skipping a beat at the sight of the box and card still sitting there. After starting a load, she went to her room to tuck the necklace and note into her top drawer.

Emily had likely been telling Aaron about this morning, she realized. While Meg appreciated the concern—she knew it was because they loved her—she didn’t need them worrying or her son being more protective than he already was. But, despite the fact she and Nathan had taken steps toward something more long term, Meg wasn’t quite ready to discuss that with her kids. Not until things were more solid.

She sighed and went back downstairs to join them. Her meal was already waiting at her place when she walked into the kitchen. Ignoring it, she sat and folded her hands in her lap, looking between her kids.

“I’m only going to say this once, so please listen,” she said quietly. “You need to quit worrying about me. That, actually, is my job. I’m your mother; I worry about you. Not the other way around. You need to focus on yourselves—school and friends and dates and all of that. Not your mom. Who is and will be just fine.”

A muscle on Aaron’s face twitched, but he didn’t say anything. Emily shook her head.

“We just want you to be happy.”

“I know, but guess what? I want the same for you two, and if I can see you happy, living your lives and not so worried about mine,
that
would make me happy. And if you can give that a shot, I’ll work on finding a bit of personal happiness myself. Deal?” she offered.

“I guess,” Emily muttered while Aaron just shrugged and turned his attention to eating the food in front of him.

“All right, then.” She took a bite of her gyro then, after swallowing, spoke again. “So, Em, do you know where Tyler is planning on taking you this time?”

Her daughter’s face pinkened as she started talking about her upcoming date. Aaron pretended to ignore them, but Meg felt his heavy gaze on her often. She pushed back her irritation. After all, she couldn’t expect drastic changes overnight. If that were the case, she wouldn’t freak out and obsess the way she did, and her life would be infinitely more stress-free. She supposed it was just something they’d just have to keep working on.

* * * * *

“I
hope you’re still coming over for supper tonight. Maddie would like to see you.”

Nathan stood and rounded his desk as his mother strode into his office. She smiled warmly and held her arms open. Returning the smile, he stepped into her embrace and squeezed her tight.

“I’ll be there. Though, I’m certainly not Maddie’s favorite person.”

“Is that why you haven’t stopped by, yet? You’re avoiding her?” she questioned as they parted.

Nadine Harris might have been small in stature, but she more than made up for that with strength and stubbornness and was, quite frankly, one of the most terrifying women Nathan knew. He thought that lovingly, of course, but being on the receiving end of one of her piercing stares made him feel like a schoolboy, again.

“Not avoiding,” he insisted, leaning against the edge of his desk as she sat in one of the leather chairs. “I’ve been busy working out some things. Besides, you’ve been home two days. I wanted you to have a chance to settle. How’s Maddie doing?”

“She’s doing well. Quite well, actually. Your aunt is spending the day with her. And, whether you’re avoiding or not, she’s not angry with you, anymore. Not for a while now.”

Nathan let out a heavy breath. “
Not
avoiding, Mum. But I’m glad she’s not upset, and I can’t wait to see her tonight.”

“So,” she drawled, crossing ankles and sitting back. “What have you been working out that has kept you so busy?”

“I’d like to wait until Lara is here, rather than go through it more than once.” He pushed to his feet and walked around to resume his seat.

“Does this have anything to do with the woman Lara’s told me so much about?”

“Fuck! Sorry,” he said quickly, cringing at her raised eyebrows. “I don’t know what Lara has been on about, but she doesn’t know anything beyond the bulls— Beyond the stupid assumptions she’s made.”

“Hmmm.”

Nadine tucked her short blonde hair behind her ears, thoughtful expression on her face. Before she could comment on what his sister had been saying, Lara, herself, rushed through the door. After closing it behind her, she dropped a kiss on their mother’s cheek then sat in the chair beside her.

“Sorry I’m late. Issue down in one of the labs. Oh, it’s fine.” She waved her hand as she caught her breath. “Just lost track of time.”