by Jill Shannon
“I’ve had a couple of months to soak in the news.” he handed Cameron a business card. “When you’re ready to talk, give me a call.”
Cameron stuffed the card in his jacket pocket, extending his hand. “Welcome to the family,” He jerked him into a bear hug. “I always wanted a big brother,” he teased with a big smile on his face.
“We’ll be in touch.” Xavier turned and smiled at Dimitri. “Maybe we can do lunch sometime and talk business. You seem to have an excellent mind for it, and I’m always looking for new adventures.” He handed Dimitri his card, sliding his fingers along Dimitri’s palm. Then he turned and left the dining room. Emmett however lingered behind.
Cameron gave his friend a questioning look, and then turned to his grandmother. “How are you getting back to your apartment? Is Monty coming to get you?”
Simultaneously, Harley and Emmett spoke up, “I can drive you back.” Both men were looking at each other.
Cameron spoke up, “I’ll leave you to deal with your own love life, and I’m going to go start enjoying mine.” With that said, he gathered Sadie and escorted her from the room.
“Who do you think she’ll choose?” Sadie asked as he led her down the hallway to their cabin.
“I’m not sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say they are both in trouble.” Cameron swung Sadie up into his arms. “We have this cabin for a few more hours, and I intend to make good use of them.” The door slammed behind them.
Epilogue
Madison stood holding the maid of honor dress she had agreed to wear for Sadie and Cameron’s wedding. She couldn’t believe how fast the time had passed; it seemed like yesterday they had announced their engagement.
Isabella came into the dressing room carrying a similar looking dress, as they were both her maids of honor. However, Sadie didn’t want them in the same dress, so they were here, trying to decide.
“I kind of like the one you’re holding,” Isabella said.
“Here you try it on.” Madison handed her the dress. “Can you believe the wedding is a month away?” she shouted when Isabella closed the dressing room door.
“I know; they say time goes faster as you get older.” Isabella came out with the dress on, laughing.
“Wow, that really looks good on you, it’s a good color too.” Madison turned her towards the mirror.
“It does look nice, if I do say so.” Isabella turned to the left the right, then all the way around, to see the back. “They’ll have to hem it a little, but if you don’t mind I’d like this one?”
Madison looked over her shoulder in the mirror. “I think you should wear it; it really does look better on you.” The gown was a satin sapphire blue, thick sash halter dress, leaving her shoulders exposed. It was gathered in the waist to one side, held by a silver clasp designed like angel wings. The bottom flowed to the floor, with a small train in the back.
The dress hugged her curves in all the right places. “Sadie said to just buy what we liked, and Matthew from costume design will do any alterations we need. Cameron set up an account for us for anything we need.”
“Shoes included?” Isabella asked with glee in her eyes.
“Yes, even shoes!” Madison confirmed.
“Do you think Cameron’s brother will be at the wedding?” Isabella shouted from the dressing room.
Madison hoped he wouldn’t, but wasn’t too confident he wasn’t coming. “I don’t know. Sadie hasn’t said whether or not he sent back the response card they sent with his invitation.” Every day Madison prayed he wouldn’t be there.
She and Dimitri had been together since the launch of the Onyx, but with the launch of the Sapphire a month away, she hadn’t seen much of him and when she did, he just dragged himself into bed.
She was starting to think he was losing interest with her, they hardly played anymore, and when he wasn’t working, he was catching up with his friends. She had been feeling very neglected lately, and with her past relationship with Xavier hanging in the balance, it was better if she didn’t see him.
Isabella came out of the dressing room again. “Hey where’d you go, I was asking you if Dimitri has hinted about a collaring ceremony for you and him on this ship?”
Madison stared blankly at her. “Hey, what’s the matter?” Isabella went to her holding both her hands.
“I don’t know, it’s just that he’s been so distant lately. I think instead of a collaring ceremony, he’s going to end our contract.” A silent tear slid down her cheek.
Isabella wiped it away. “Madison, he’s just really busy. Caleb comes home and does the same thing I’m sure.”
“Okay, does Caleb fall asleep when you’re talking to him in bed?”
“Well, we don’t talk much in bed, but when we have, no, he’s stayed awake,” Isabella hesitated. “But I’m sure all that will change after the launch.”
“You know if it wasn’t for the wedding being planned for the ship, I would not go.” Madison sounded so sad.
“You have to go. You can’t let his work get in the way. You’ll have his total attention when we’re underway.”
“Well, of course I’m going, I wouldn’t miss Sadie’s wedding. I just think I might book my own cabin with Melanie. Nothing like being prepared, besides it’s either do that or bunk with you, and I don’t think Caleb would be on board with that.”
“I think you’re seeing something that’s not there, but you do what you have to.”
They left the store, bags full to the brim with what they would need for the wedding. Madison dropped Isabella at her apartment then headed home feeling a little better after talking to her.
When she got there she carried her bags in and threw them on the couch. She called for Dimitri, but got not answer. She headed to the answering machine and pressed play.
The first message was from the dress shop, reminding her that they could do the alterations on the dress. Delete. The next message was from her sister telling her that her father was in town. “Big Deal,” Madison muttered under her breath. Delete
The last message had her holding her breath, it was from Xavier. “You refused to talk to me on the ship, and now you’ve blocked my number from your cell phone. We need to talk eventually. I’ve missed you, Amber, please call me.”
She stood and stared blankly at the answering machine. Then she thought, “What if Dimitri heard this message, and left?” She headed to the bedroom to look for his stuff. Thankfully it was all still there. She raced back into the other room to erase the messages.
Madison was in the process of pushing delete when Dimitri walked in the apartment. “Who called?” he questioned as she pressed the delete button.
“Just some newspaper looking for an interview.”
“Why did you delete it, we can use all the publicity we can get, and if it’s free, that’s the best kind.” He smiled, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Oh, sorry I thought Melanie had set up all your interviews for the launch?”
“She did, but the more the merrier.” He put his stuff down on the couch and headed back towards her, scooping her up in his arms. “We are just about a month away from the launch, I don’t remember being this nervous with the last one.”
“Maybe because last time, Cameron took some of the edge off by helping. Remember, he did all the ground work so he wouldn’t run into Sadie.”
“Oh, yeah that’s right. I did forget that. He has helped, but not as much like the last time. He’s too preoccupied with his bride-to-be.”
“Can you blame him? It’s exciting getting married, so I’m told.”
“Well, they can keep it, I’m just fine being a Master to my sub. Don’t you agree?” Dimitri questioned placing her on the ground.
“I guess so,” Madison’s response was close to a whisper.
“No, rings and collars for us, we know who we are, Right?”
With every question Dimitri asked, Madison retreated a little more within herself. “Yes, you are correct, Master.” She
reached for her bag and keys.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to meet Isabella to go over wedding stuff, I’ll be home late so don’t wait up. I’m sure you’re tired.” She stood were she was as he bent to kiss her goodbye.
“Say hello for me.” Then turning on his heel, he waved over his shoulder as he walked down the hall to the bathroom.
***
Madison sat in her car, her phone in her hand looking at the Sapphire. It really was a beautiful ship, similar to the Onyx, but the colors were all in blues and grays.
She looked at the phone in her hand. If she didn’t call him, he could call the apartment and leave another message, and she couldn’t have that. She dialed Xavier’s number.
“Hello, beautiful, I knew I’d be hearing from you. Still haven’t said anything to Dimitri about me have you?”
“No, and I plan on keeping it that way. You have to stop this, there is nothing between us, and there never will be.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Amber. I would have never let you go if I had known what was happening. Where are you? I will meet you.”
Madison knew he wasn’t going to go away until he saw that she had moved on, and she was with Dimitri. “Fine, I’m at the docks by the Sapphire, and, Xavier, it’s Madison now.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes, don’t go anywhere.” Then the phone went dead.
Madison looked around the area. Usually it was busy with activity, but it was a Sunday and everyone but security had the day off. That reminded her, “Stay away from any cameras.”
Xavier pulled up next to Madison’s car, and joined her in it. “You look the same, yet different. I mean, your hair is longer, and a different color, but there’s a maturity in your face that wasn’t there when we were together. It suits you.”
“Xavier, we can’t do this. We weren’t right then, and I can’t imagine us being good now. Why can’t you just let me go?” As much as the words were coming out of her mouth, he knew there was no conviction behind them.
“Because deep down you know I’m right. We had a few bumps in our relationship, but nothing we couldn’t have worked through. You just disappeared.” There was a pleading look in his clear blue eyes.
Madison started to panic; she didn’t know how to answer him. There were things in her past, no one knew about and Madison wanted to keep it that way. Hearing the plea in his request pulled at her heart, though. The timbre of his voice vibrated through her, making her wet. She needed to concentrate or she’d be in deep shit. She couldn’t hurt Dimitri.
She shook those thoughts off. “Things have been hectic with the launch of the new boat, then the planning for the wedding. No one has had time for anything,” she lied with a straight face.
“There is always time for the person you love,” Xavier said as he brushed some hair from her face cradling her cheek in his palm.
She leaned into the warmth of his hand. Remembering a time when she craved his touch all over her body.
“You still remember my touch; I can feel it.” He captured her lips, coaxing them open he deepened the kiss.
She responded just like he knew she would, she was everything he had hoped to find in his perfect mate, but she had disappeared from his life in the blink of an eye, and he planned on getting her back, no matter what it took.
***
Dimitri had waited for Madison to leave the garage before he climbed into his black Mercedes SLK550. Then he followed her to the dock.
He watched as an Audi R8 Spyder pulled up. He saw Xavier Legend get out, then climb into the passenger seat of Madison’s car. His anger was growing with every lie he caught her in. He had heard Xavier’s message but had left it to see what Madison or Amber would do with it. Amber that was the name Ryan had called her.
From where he sat he couldn’t see what was happening in her car; her tinted windows didn’t help either. He sat there for almost thirty minutes before the passenger door opened and Xavier got out.
Dimitri liked Xavier; Cameron had introduced them on the launch of the Onyx and he had ended up going to lunch with them. The conversation had covered a wide range of topics, and then it hit on the up coming launch, and with that, the wedding.
“Dimitri is going to be my best man, but Sadie has asked both Madison and Isabella to be her maid of honors, so I guess I need two best men, you up for the job?”
“To walk down the aisle with Madison, hell yeah!” The words were out of Xavier’s mouth before he could stop them. “Sorry, dude, but she’s hot,” he said quickly to cover his admission.
“I get it; don’t think I don’t know what I have,” Dimitri countered. He looked at Xavier as if seeing him for the first time. He had a military cut hair style, a chiseled jaw, with thick brown eye brows that covered crystal blue eyes, his olive skin gave him a Mediterranean look.
His shoulders were wide, his arms bulged with muscles, and around both his biceps he had tattoos wrapping around them. He imagined he had a six-pack under his shirt. His gaze had traveled further and caught a look at the bulge in his pants, and raised his eyes to catch Xavier looking at him as well.
Dimitri had never been attracted to men before, but there was something about Cameron’s brother that affected him. Dimitri hid his growing erection not knowing how to deal with the feelings he was having. He had had a similar feeling when they had met on the cruise. He had excused himself from lunch and had not seen Xavier since.
Now, as he watched him adjust the bulge in his pants before closing the car door and getting back into his own, he wasn’t sure if he was mad at Madison for meeting Xavier behind his back, or for Xavier having the same affect on him.
Dimitri knew there was something missing from his relationship with Madison. Things had changed after Xavier came into their life, but now sitting in the car an idea was forming and he figured it could be a win, win for everybody. He just wasn’t sure if he could really follow through on it. Sharing Madison would take a lot of getting used to, but if that’s what it took to keep her he would.
Dimitri watched until both cars had left before he started his car and headed towards Cameron’s penthouse. He knew if anyone could convince him this was right, it would be Cameron.
The End
Look for Madison, Dimitri and Xavier’s story in “Madison’s Memories—Midnight Oasis—Book Two.”
Jill Shannon
Jill Shannon lives in a small town on Long Island with the love of her life and a very large dog. They've been together since high school where by the way, he received better grades on the stories she wrote for his classes. She has two professional daughters (one is an RN and the other is a Doctor of Psychology), a son-in-law, two very active granddaughters, and a beautiful grandson.
Jill has been reading romance novels since she was thirteen. The drama, suspense, and of course the love scenes all drew her in. Staying up till three in the morning just because she couldn't put the book down. Over the years Jill has expanded her genres of reading material. From historical, to paranormal, to sci-fi, and now BDSM, her dream was to write her own romance novel. She never thought it would happen with her busy life. However, Jill wanted to be able to do the same thing for others that her authors have done for her. For just a small time during your day, she would like you to be a part of the fantasy she creates.
You can email Jill at: [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @JillCShannon
Or find her on Facebook
Don't miss these exciting titles by Jill Shannon and Blushing Books!
Midnight Oasis Series:
Onyx - Book One
Available December 2016
Sapphire - Book Two
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