Page 43 of The Question of Us
Was I? Since Mads was deadly serious, I avoided a pat answer. I took my time, doing what Davis always reminded me to do. I tried to let myself feel. It didn’t take as long as I’d expected.
“Yes.” I cupped his cheek with my right hand. “I am very much okay. Thoroughly fucked and not a sliver of guilt in sight. I think Davis would approve. You?”
There was no mistaking the relief in Mads’ smile when he nodded. “Yeah, me too. Not bad for a couple of old guys, huh?”
I scowled. “Old-er, arsehole.”
He chuckled, then surveyed the mess we’d made of the bed and grimaced. “We better do something about this.” He wriggled off the mattress and headed for the bathroom, leaving me sprawled and messy on the cover. We really should’ve grabbed a towel.
When he returned a few minutes later, he carried a wet facecloth and a towel. But rather than hand them to me, he told me to roll over.
“Whoa there, tiger.” I held up a finger. “I’m quite capable?—”
“Just shut up and roll, will you?” he snapped. “Why does everything have to be a battle? I am going to clean you up and you better get used to it. He who tops, mops. Them’s the rules.”
I choked on a laugh as I rolled over. “He who tops, mops? Where the fuck did that come from?”
“Who knows?” He set about cleaning me with a gentle touch. “I don’t make the rules. Well, not that one, anyway. I simply enforce them. Remember that when it’s your turn to top.” When he was done with my arse, Mads rolled me back and cleaned the rest. “Lift up so I can rinse this cover in the bath.”
I groaned and did as I was told. “I thoughtwewere going to have a bath?”
“Tomorrow,” he answered absently. “You wore me out.” Then he disappeared into the bathroom and I heard water running. A few minutes later, he returned and I lifted the sheet for him to crawl in front of me. I spooned him from behind with one leg wrapped over his to keep him close. I pressed kisses along the nape of his neck and smiled when he hummed withpleasure. “I have to hand it to you, that was a pretty good fuck, overall. Full marks for effort.”
Mads snorted, then answered sleepily, “Is that right?Good, huh? You think you can do better?”
“That remains to be seen.” I wriggled my dick against his crease. “Game on, gorgeous. Game on.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Madigan
“Wow.That’s some serious money right there.” Nick stared at the two-storey, red-brick, Georgian-style house that sat at the end of a long sweeping white-chip driveway flanked either side by a row of impressive beech trees. The trees looked a little parched from the relentless heat, their leaves already beginning to yellow, but they still made for a majestic entrance.
“You’re not kidding,” Gazza added, leaning across the back seat to get a better view.
We’d debated taking both cars to lessen the chance of Gazza being seen with us but decided against it in favour of sticking together in case anything happened. Scoping out Marty’s property was the first thing on our agenda that morning, but not wanting to attract attention, we’d forgone parking anywhere close in favour of making a few drive-bys. But since Nick was the one driving, Gazza and I got a much better look than he did.
“Take some photos,” I told Gazza a little sharper than I’d intended, my gaze intent on the man driving. Nick had carefully avoided the subject of his feelings regarding coming face to face with the men possibly responsible for Davis’s death. Every timeI tried, he shut me down, saying he was fine about it.Arsehole.His time would come.
“Another loop,” I snapped... again. “And let’s swap places so you have a better view.”
Nick shot me a questioning glance but didn’t argue. He drove to the next junction, hung a U-turn, and pulled over long enough for us to swap seats. The second his seat belt was secure, his warm hand landed on my leg.
I gave him a sideways look that askedWhat?
He smiled, but there was concern mixed in with the warmth and I distinctly heard his voice in my head asking if I was okay. I blinked at the silent exchange, wondering when the fuck that sneaky shit had started?
“You okay?” he asked gently.
I nodded. “Fine. You?”
He frowned. “Fine.”
“Well, that’s good then, right? We’re all fine.”
Nick continued to frown but he didn’t push. He really didn’t deserve my pissy attitude, but we’d had no time to rekindle a conversation about the previous night’s... activities, and okay, I was spiralling a little.
We’d woken to his alarm at eight, tangled in each other’s arms, the sound detonating in my brain and shattering my nerves. The bloodstock auction was set to begin at ten and it was a twenty-minute drive. We’d showered, joined Gazza for breakfast, got our disguises in place and helped Gazza with his, and then left almost immediately to take a look at Marty’s property before driving to the sale.
