Page 83 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

MADDOX

S omething’s not quite ringing true.

Not with Avery. She’s telling the truth; I can see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. Yet I can’t help thinking that something’s off in this story. When we thought Avery had disappeared in Dublin, I’d called in a couple of favors to track her down and find out her home address.

Avery had lived with her parents. Even after I found out she was married, I hadn’t been able to stop myself from walking past her house. Just one time, and then I realized I couldn’t do this to myself. I had to leave London.

But I remember Jeremy and Maisie Welch’s house in Chelsea. It was not the house of two people that were destitute.

We pull up for lunch at a roadside diner. Avery looks surprised when she sees where we’ve stopped. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for the diner types.”

“I love traveling around the world,” I reply, “But I do miss a good burger. It’s the one thing I get homesick about. You thought we’d be eating somewhere fancier?”

“I don’t know what I thought.”

I put my finger on her chin, tipping her face up. “I work for a living. I like being busy. The money’s nice, don’t get me wrong. Unlike my peers, I don’t have to stress about where the next assignment is coming from. But I’m not part of the idle rich, and I loathe pretentious restaurants.”

“You’re right,” she says ruefully. “I did have you typecast. Sorry.”

She’s not dangerous because I’m crazily attracted to her. I am; that goes without saying. She’s not dangerous because she’s smart. She’s dangerous because of moments like this. She could have lied, but she didn’t, and I respect her for it.

She’s dangerous because I genuinely like her. Though I have every reason not to.

“I thought we’d eat outside.” She’s still wearing the buttplug. Her stride is a little stilted because of it, and her steps are smaller, but she thinks she’s getting accustomed to its weight. I’m about to change the rules on her. “They have picnic benches in the back. Shall we?”

“Sure.”

I lead the way to the back patio. The moment Avery sits on the hard, unforgiving wooden bench, the plug settles deeper inside her, and her eyes go round. “Oh. Oh wow.”

Kai chuckles. “Is that a good wow?”

“It’s so deep.”

“Not as deep as my cock will be tonight,” I whisper into her ear, sitting next to Avery. “You want that, don’t you, sweetheart?”

She clenches her eyes shut, and a shiver runs through her body. Her nipples, under her thin shirt, are rock hard. I want to suck them into my mouth, hear her moan as I play with her breasts, her pussy.

Fuck. I’m supposed to be teasing Avery and keeping her simmering with desire until we get to the club. Instead, I’m fighting my desire to bend her over this table and slam into her.

“Yes,” she groans.

A waitress comes over with three menus. “I’ll have the burger and fries,” I tell her without even looking at it.

“Same for me,” Avery replies. “Kai?”

I laugh. “Kai is much more conscientious with his health than me. I think he eats a burger once a year.”

“I challenge you to be a cardiovascular surgeon, operate on clogged arteries, and still eat fries,” he retorts. “I’ll have a grilled chicken salad, please.”

He’s talking about being a surgeon? That’s progress. Last week, he bit my head off when I asked him about going back to work.

“Do you know what I think?” Kai says once the waitress has gone to place our orders. “I think Avery’s been a very good girl today, and she deserves a reward.”

“I like rewards,” Avery says warily.

“And I already know you can keep quiet when you have to,” Kai adds with a wicked grin.

“You know where this is going, don’t you?

” I lean close to her, breathing in her scent, my lips grazing her earlobe.

It’s a little late for lunch, and there’s only one other table occupied.

An older couple sits a few feet from us, engrossed in their conversation, paying no attention to us.

Just as well. “You’re going to keep very quiet, and I’m going to make you come. ”

She inhales sharply, but her eyes glitter with heat. She’s not ready to do anything about it yet, but our girl is really turned on by exhibitionism. “Okay.”

“Keep your legs spread for me, sweetheart.”

Her whisper is soft and compliant, and it sets my cock aching for her.

I move closer to her, so close that I can feel every breath she takes. Reaching under the table, I tug the hem of her dress up to mid-thigh. Kai’s shifts his position so he’s blocking Avery from view.

I can feel the heat from her pussy. I run my fingertips through her folds, and she hisses as I reach her clit. The sound is barely audible, but I test my theory. “Remember to be quiet,” I tell her. “Unless you want an audience.”

A fresh surge of wetness greets that remark. I groan under my breath, and Kai chuckles softly. “Avery, you are going to be the death of us.”

“You’re so keyed up, aren’t you?” I murmur.

“It wouldn’t be fair to leave you hanging.

” I push a finger into her pussy, and her muscles clench around me.

She’s so responsive. I sink another finger into her.

The angle is awkward, and I can’t thrust into her.

I grind the heel of my palm against her clit, and she bites her lower lip to keep from crying out, at the same time trying to close her legs.

“Bad girl.” My voice is low and stern. Somebody inside the diner has put some money into the jukebox.

The air fills with the sound of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven.

The couple on the patio look disgusted at the song selection.

They get to their feet and leave, the man tossing some money as he walks out.

“All alone now.” Not quite. The waitress still hasn’t brought us our food. She’s going to be out any minute now, and I want Avery flushed and satiated before our burgers show up.

God, she’s tight. Her pussy stretches around my fingers, and she whimpers, sweet and soft, like a precious little kitten. I increase the pressure on her clitoris, and she breaks, biting her lip and shaking as she comes.

Just in time. The waitress opens the door to the back patio just as I pull my fingers free. Avery adjusts her skirt discreetly, and I hold her gaze in mine as I lick her juices off my fingers.

Fuck. I can’t wait for tonight.

We get to the club shortly after four and check in. Henri, Xavier’s super-capable concierge, has put us in rooms right next to each other. “I didn’t expect to get my own room,” Avery remarks, looking puzzled.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. I feel like a dick about my ‘I own you for fourteen weeks’ proclamation. “I wasn’t sure if you would need some space.”

Her expression softens. “I don’t,” she says, brushing a kiss across my lips. “But it’s a nice thought. So, what do we do until the club opens?”

“I’m going to take a nap,” Kai announces. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. Avery, you want to cuddle next to me?”

She chuckles. “If we cuddle,” she says wryly, “you won’t get much of a nap. If it’s okay with the two of you, I’d like to take a shower and explore the grounds. Maddox, what about you?”

That sense of unease comes rushing back. “I need to make some phone calls,” I reply. “Why don’t I do that, and then catch up with you downstairs?”

“Okay.”

The one thing that Avery didn’t bring up today was the reason she needed five hundred thousand dollars.

I’m not going to ask her. God knows I’ve fucked up enough by setting up that stupid deal. Especially now that it turns out that her ex-husband had basically bought her, it makes me feel even more like a complete, total, asswipe.

I trust Avery. I really do. But I don’t trust anyone else. Not her parents, and most certainly not Victor Lowell.

I need information.

The moment I’m alone in my room, I dial Brody Payne’s number. Brody and his best friend Adrian run a top-flight security company. If there’s anyone that will be able to find what I need, it’s Brody.

Brody picks up on the second ring. “Maddox, good to hear from you. What part of the world are you calling from?”

“DC,” I say dryly. “Well, I’m at Club M right now, so I guess the correct answer would be Maryland.”

“You’re in DC?” He sounds surprised. “Huh. Is this a social call or do you need something?”

“The latter. Do you guys have any people in England who can do some low-key investigating for me?”

“London or somewhere else?”

“London.”

“Then yes, we do,” he replies. “What do you need?”

“A complete dossier on Jeremy and Maisie Welch. They own a home in Chelsea. One daughter, Avery Welch, who lives in the States. Is that enough for you to find them?”

“Yup. Why are you investigating your girlfriend’s parents?”

Should have guessed he’d know. “It’s a long story.”

“Give me the Cliff Notes version,” he says.

“They made Avery marry someone ten years ago by telling her they were broke and in debt to the mob. I’ve seen the house in Chelsea, and I’m skeptical. I would like to believe that they weren’t lying to her.”

“But you still want me to check it out. Got it. Going back ten years is going to be a slight challenge. Give me a week, and I’ll get you what you need.”

“Thanks, Brody. I appreciate it.”

Avery’s obviously devoted to her parents. Even if Brody finds something that I can use, I’m not really sure if I would. Her marriage with Victor Lowell is in the past. What use is there opening old wounds?

Still, for her sake, I desperately hope I’m wrong in my suspicions. From personal experience, I know how bitter it is when your own flesh and blood turns against you.