by Force, Marie
“I assume this means you’re going to marry my daughter,” Dad says in his sternest Dad voice.
“Dad! Stop. This is the new millennium. We don’t have to be married to have a baby.”
“Now wait just a minute—”
“Max,” Jasper says, “I fully intend to marry your daughter, and I’d love to have your blessing.”
He does? He would? This is news to me. Not bad news, but news just the same.
“But before I get down on one knee, I have a few things to take care of so I’m free to be what she needs.”
“This business with your family,” Dad says, nodding.
“Yes.” Jasper’s sexy mouth is set in a grim expression that I hope to never see again after we get this situation sorted out. I want to see him laughing and smiling and happy and hopeful about the future the way he was before we went to London.
“We were so surprised to hear about your lineage,” Mom says. “A future duke, of all things!”
“He’s a marquess,” I interject, earning a scowl from my beloved.
“Very impressive,” Dad says.
“I’m sure it must seem impressive, but it’s been mostly oppressive to me. I’m not well suited for the role that was predetermined for me before I was born. If I were being asked to tend to only the title and the holdings that come with it, I could handle that. But taking on Kingsley Enterprises, too?” He shakes his head. “It’s just not for me.”
“Surely something can be worked out with your father.”
Of course my dad would think that. He’s never been anything other than completely supportive of whatever his four children wished to do with their lives. He has no ability to understand any other sort of father.
“I wish that were the case,” Jasper says, “but it’s always been all or nothing with him. No gray area whatsoever. In fact,” he says, glancing at me, “my father has resorted to blackmail to try to get me to march to his beat.”
My parents are shocked speechless by this news.
“We’re dealing with it on a number of fronts,” Jasper assures them. “Flynn had the brilliant idea for me to do an interview with Carolyn Justice about what’s happening to try to cut my father off at the knees.” He puts his arm around me. “Ellie and I are doing the interview tonight, and we wanted you to know what’s going on before we go public.”
“He’s blackmailing his own son?” Dad asks, stupefied.
“I’m afraid so.”
“And whatever it is he’s holding over you—”
“Would be embarrassing to me and others I care very much about.”
“Dear God,” Mom says for all of us. “This is an outrage!”
“Welcome to my world,” Jasper says ruefully.
“I’m almost ashamed to admit that at times I’ve envied Henry Kingsley for his daring approach to life and business and adventure,” Dad says. “But after hearing all this, any admiration I might’ve had has been replaced with revulsion.” He places a hand on Jasper’s shoulder. “You were an honorary member of the Godfrey family long before I knew you love my daughter, and of course you have our blessing to ask her to marry you. You’ll always be one of us, Jasper. You fight that son of a bitch with everything you’ve got, you hear me?”
While I blink back tears, Jasper nods. “I appreciate your support, Max,” he says gruffly. “It means the world.”
Mom goes up on tiptoes to kiss Jasper’s cheek. “We love you, and I’m thrilled to know that you and that yummy accent will be available to read The Night Before Christmas to us every year from now on.”
Jasper barks out a laugh. “It would be my honor, Stella.”
Mom turns to me, smiling widely, and hugs me tight. “Someone has been keeping secrets from her mama.”
“I was going to tell you soon. I promise.”
“How do I go to Vegas six months a year when there may be a new baby coming?”
“That was one reason why I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to influence your decision.”
“Why in the world would you do something foolish like that? Max, this is the sign I’ve been waiting for.”
“She has been waiting for a sign,” Dad confirms.
“It’s not the time for Vegas. There’ll be time for that when the grandkids are awful teenagers and we need a break from them.”
We share a laugh and more hugs before they leave me alone with Jasper. He puts his arms around me and gathers me into his embrace. I breathe in the intoxicating scent of his cologne as we take comfort from each other.
“That went well, don’t you think, darling?”
“It went very well. They already loved you as our friend and Flynn’s business partner.”
“It’s quite something else when a man is telling his lady’s parents that he intends to marry their daughter.”
“About that…”
His laughter makes me smile. “Did I catch you by surprise?”
“You could say that.”
“How can you be surprised that I want it all with you, Estelle Godfrey Junior?”
I playfully scowl at him. “Don’t call me that.”
“How about just Junior, then?”
“How about just Ellie?”
“How about love of my life, mother of my children, every beat of my heart?”
“Jasper,” I whisper, “is this really happening? Do you really feel those things for me?”
“I love you desperately, Ellie. I suspect that I have for quite some time, long before I knew what it was like to hold you and kiss you and make love to you. And now that I’ve held you in my arms, I can’t imagine a time that I’ll ever want anything other than more of you.”
I raise my hands to his face and draw him into a kiss that’s all about the overwhelming love I feel for this man, who’s risking everything to be with me. Unlike every man who came before him, I haven’t a single doubt about his sincerity. This one is as real as it gets, and I know that my heart will be safe in his hands and my life with him will be filled with love and family and friends and excitement.
He withdraws slowly from the kiss, but keeps his lips close to mine. “I feel guilty for talking about the future before I’ve taken care of the present. If I ever had to disappoint you—”
I cover his lips with my fingers. “The only way you could disappoint me is if you stopped loving me.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“No matter where you are, I’ll be there with you, whether it’s here or in London or Cornwall or whatever. I’m with you, mate.”
His eyes dance with love and amusement as he looks down at me. “Spoken by a Los Angeles-born-and-bred woman who’s never been to Cornwall.”
“Spoken by the woman who loves you no matter where in the world you are.”
“Thank you, darling,” he whispers, his lips brushing against my neck and setting off a reaction I feel everywhere. “Do you suppose we’d be missed if we take a few more minutes alone?”
“I’m sure we’ll be missed and razzed upon our return, but I’m willing to put up with that if you are.”
“I’m very, very willing.” He grabs hold of my hand and tugs me along behind him into the bathroom that adjoins Kristian’s office, kicking the door closed behind us and locking it.
Oh my…
My emotions are all over the place—soaring highs, crushing lows and everything in between. The overwhelming support of my partners and Ellie’s parents has cemented my resolve to fight my father with every tool in our considerable arsenal. Flynn’s idea to do the interview, to steal my father’s thunder, is brilliant.
If there’s anything Henry hates more than negative publicity, I don’t know what it is. Well, he probably hates me most of all right about now, but I can live with that if it means freeing myself from the shackles he’s had me in my whole life.
But with my lovely Ellie in my arms, the last thing I want to think about is my father, his threats or those bloody shackles. I’d much prefer to think of sh
ackles of a different kind, the sort in which Ellie is bound to my bed and submitting to me. Since that’s not possible right now, I turn her to face the mirror and hold her from behind, running my hands over her sexy body while watching her reactions play out on her expressive face.
I cup her breasts and drag my thumbs over her nipples, watching as her mouth falls open and her eyes widen with desire. I fucking love her sweet face and how it gives away every thought and emotion she experiences. She hides nothing from me, which only makes me love her more than I already do. Lifting her top up and over her head, I fixate on the sight of her breasts contained by the sheer, sexy bra that leaves very little to my fertile imagination.
I release the front clasp and slide the straps down her arms, leaving her bare from the waist up. Her nipples tighten before my eyes, making J.T. so hard he could pound nails.
“Put your hands on the vanity and lean forward.”
As she follows my command, she meets my gaze in the mirror, and the slight hint of apprehension I see in her eyes only makes me harder. She knows I would never, ever hurt her, but she’s uncertain about what’s about to happen. Judging from the glow in her cheeks and the tight buds of her nipples, the apprehension is feeding her arousal.
I drop to my knees behind her and run my hands up the backs of her legs, raising her skirt up and over her bottom. Ah, God, look at that sweet arse with the thong disappearing between her supple cheeks. I could die right now and I’d go happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I touch my lips to cheeks that are still pink from the spanking on the plane and revel in her gasp.
“Does it hurt?” I ask her.
“No. Just very sensitive.”
“I like very sensitive.” I drag my finger from the waistband of her thong down into the valley between her cheeks, pressing lightly against her back door. “How about here? Does it hurt?”
“It aches, but in a good way.”
I groan at the husky tone in her voice. “So that’s something we’ll do again?”
“Mmm, maybe not every day, but once in a while.”
“I can live with that.” I can live with anything as long as I get to live with her. My fingers continue their journey to the front of her, which is hot and wet and swollen. I press against her clit through silk panties that are soaked from her desire. “How about here?”
“Also aching in a good way,” she says breathlessly.
Suddenly ravenous for a taste of her, I roughly remove the strings she calls panties and bury my face between her legs. I spread her arse cheeks and leave no part of her unexplored with my tongue. She goes crazy, bucking up against me and crying out every time my tongue circles around her clit.
“Oh God,” she says, “I need to come. Please, Jasper…”
Because torturing her is so fun, I don’t give in. Not yet. By the time I’m ready to burst myself, her legs are trembling madly and sweat is rolling down her back. I love how real and raw it is with her. I never have a single doubt that she’s as into me as I am with her.
It’s time to give her what she wants so I can have what I want—my cock, balls-deep in her. I press the flat of my tongue against her clit and drive two fingers into her from behind. Letting my tongue vibrate against her throbbing flesh, I tell her to come.
She explodes, screaming so loud I wonder if they’ll hear her up on the roof. Hopefully, the kids are making too much of a racket, and hopefully, no one chose that moment to come looking for us. I bring her down softly, gently, calming her until she sags against the vanity, her legs still shaking violently.
“Jesus, Jasper,” she says, gasping for air.
Smiling at her in the mirror, I grab a towel off the counter and wipe my face, tossing it aside in my haste to free J.T., to drive deep into her, to start her climbing all over again.
I reach around to fill my hands with her breasts, pinching her nipples between my fingers. Her inner muscles clamp down upon my cock, and I have to bite my lip—hard—to keep from coming too soon. God, it’s never been like this before. I’ve never had to fight so hard to maintain control with any other woman.
Later we’ll have time to spend hours in bed, but right now we’re on a schedule. That’s the only reason I give in to the powerful need to let go, to join with her in another combustible moment of unity. Our eyes meet in the mirror in the second before we hit the peak simultaneously. I’ve never felt closer or more in tune with another human being than I do with her right here and now.
I keep my arms wrapped around her and my face pressed to her back while her muscles continue to contract around my cock. Christ have mercy… I’m never going to survive her. What I’d consider “vanilla” sex with anyone else is almost too hot to handle with her. I love that it’s as exciting to bend her over a bathroom vanity as it is to tie her to a bed. It doesn’t matter what we do or how we do it, as long as we do it together.
“They’ll be relentless,” she says after a long period of silence.
“I’m not finding the will to care.”
“Me either, but now I’ve got a heck of a job to do to put myself back together for TV.”
“You could go out there starkers and be the most beautiful woman she’s ever had on that show.”
“Starkers?”
“Naked.”
“That’s not happening.” She nudges me with her elbow. “Let me up, you sex-crazed beast.”
I stand upright and zip my pants. “Ouch. That hurts my feelings.”
“No, it doesn’t. You can’t fool me.”
With her hair disheveled and her face flushed from two orgasms, she turns to face me. I’ve never seen anything more stunning than she is after we make love. I caress her face with my thumb.
“Is there a dictionary I can get my hands on?” she asks.
“Pardon?”
“Of all these British terms you toss around. I need a translator.”
“I’ll be your translator.” I kiss her nose and then her lips. “How about we borrow Kris’s shower and make ourselves presentable for this interview?”
“I need my bag to be presentable.”
I kiss her again. “I’ll go find it. Be right back.” At the door, I look back to see her shimmying out of her skirt, and I have to remind myself that I was supposed to be doing something. Now that I’m allowed to touch her any time I want, that’s all I want to do.
I leave the bathroom and cut through Kris’s office to the hallway that leads to the foyer where Gordon left our bags. I’m on my way back with both bags when Flynn waylays me in the hallway. He stares at me but doesn’t say anything, which puts me on edge.
“Everything all right, mate?”
“You tell me. You talked to my parents?”
“We did. They were very supportive.” I pause and try to interpret his unreadable expression. “Flynn, I’m sorry if my relationship with Ellie has upset you—”
“It’s not that. I actually think you two will be great together.”
“Then what is it?”
“The rest of it. Did you think we would tell anyone?”
I exhale a long sigh when I realize his feelings are hurt by the secrets I kept from him and the others. “It wasn’t that.”
“Then what? I want to understand how I could work side by side with you for all this time and not know the first thing about who you really are.”
“That’s not true.” The words come out far more sharply than I intended. “The Jasper you know is exactly who I really am. The man I’ve been here, with all of you, is the only person I’ve ever wanted to be. I’m sorry if you’re hurt by the secrets I kept, but I kept them out of self-preservation, not because I didn’t want you to know. It was never that.”
“Fair enough.” He looks up at me, and asks, “Does she know? About me? And the club…”
“No. I’d never tell her that. It’s not my place, and I doubt she’d want that info anyway.”
“You… You’re being careful with her, right?”
“I love her, Fl
ynn. I’ll always be careful with her.”
That seems to satisfy him. “Good enough, I suppose.”
“I need to get ready for Carolyn.”
He moves to step aside to let me pass. “You’ll take care of her, right?”
I know he’s not talking about Carolyn. “Always.”
With a curt nod, he turns and walks away, leaving me to feel like I’ve just passed a huge test I wasn’t expecting to take right then, but I suppose that conversation was inevitable from the moment I set my sights on his sister. When I open the door to join Ellie in the bathroom, I’m greeted with a cloud of steam.
I shed my clothes and step in to join her, wrapping an arm around her waist and propping my chin on her shoulder.
“I wondered if you were coming back.”
“Flynn found me.”
“Oh jeez. I hope he didn’t say anything ridiculous.”
“Not at all. We had a good chat.”
“You’d tell me if he was an arse, as you would say, wouldn’t you?”
“I’d take great pleasure in telling you that, but he wasn’t.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is better than okay, and once we get this interview out of the way, I’ll feel a thousand times better.”
“Then let’s get it out of the way.”
Chapter 23
Carolyn Justice is lovely and gracious and down to earth. After a few minutes in her presence, I see why Flynn chose her for the one interview he did when Natalie’s painful past was made public. She puts Ellie and me at ease by first speaking to us off camera about what we’d like to say and what we won’t talk about. Not surprisingly, she has a lot of questions about how a British aristocrat became one of Hollywood’s most successful cinematographers.
I realize as I tell her the quick version of my story that it’s a huge relief not to have to keep it secret anymore. My father did me a favor by spilling the beans, not that I’ll ever let him know that.
And then it’s show time. Ellie and I are seated next to each other with cameras pointed at us, and I discover how much I prefer being on the other side of the cameras. Being interviewed doesn’t come naturally to me, not like it does to Flynn, Marlowe and Hayden.
