“Hey,” I said. “I’m coming.”
“Take your time,” said Lilly, acknowledging Blake. “We just thought we’d head over to the Lion for a few drinks.”
I nodded and looked over at Sheldon. “Are you going too?”
“Yeah. Of course.” He whispered, “With all those butch bad boys, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Sheldon’s cheekiness made me giggle, and boy, did I need some light relief. I kissed him. “Thanks.”
“For what, sweetie?”
“For making me laugh.”
He hugged me. “We’ll see you there.” He pointed at our local pub, a sticky-carpeted run-down place that was older than the estate. If the walls could talk, they’d reveal enough book-worthy material to fill crime shelves.
“Sure. Won’t be long.” I smiled. My spirit inflated. I had my friends and a history. Clean or dirty, it didn’t matter. I’d finally unshackled myself from shame.
Studying his cell, Blake remained a few steps away.
I joined him. “You were saying?”
“Can we do this somewhere else?” he asked, shifting his weight.
“No. It’s either here or nowhere. You need to get used to who I am. I am this.” I pointed to the gray concrete surrounds.
“You’re a sophisticated, creative, and beautiful woman.”
“That’s what you want me to be. But scratch the surface, and these people are the only people I’ve ever known. Except for Sheldon, that is.”
“Penelope, even if you remained here at the estate, I’d still love you.” He stopped at that word. I think he surprised himself because he looked down at his feet and took a breath.
Then he looked up again, and our eyes locked. Mine welled up with tears again. That artery of anguish hadn’t healed. A thick lump in my throat blocked any coherent response.
He showed me his cell and pressed a button. “Penelope, please listen to this.”
Muffled voices sounded. He placed the phone close to my ear. I listened as the two men discussed the photos. When Fox admitted to doctoring the image, Blake looked at me.
I removed the phone. “I believe you. I believed you before.”
“Then why push me away?”
Good question. “Because one minute, I’m a struggling artist trying to manage a drug-addicted mother, and the next, I’m living amongst posh people in a posh suburb and letting a billionaire with a mysterious past fuck my brains out.”
His brow wrinkled. “You make it sound sordid.”
“But it’s all about sex, isn’t it?”
He held out his hand. “Your friends are waiting. Let’s go and have a drink.”
“You want to go the Red Lion? No one speaks proper in there.”
“I’m not a snob, Penny. You forget, I’m from Yorkshire.” He spoke in a northern accent, and accustomed to his well-educated voice, I chuckled.
“Come on, then,” I said, allowing his hand to remain. It seared into mine. “You didn’t answer my question. But I can wait.” I wore a faint smile, and his eyes softened heartwarmingly.
45
* * *
BLAKE
“DO YOU COME TO this place very often?” I asked, stepping out of the dingy bar.
“Blake, don’t do that.”
“Do what?” I asked.
“Try to control me.”
I lifted my hands. “Hey, it was only a question.”
Noticing that Patrick had the car ready, I took Penelope’s hand, and we headed over.
Seeing her slide onto that leather seat was such a simple pleasure, but profound nevertheless. My spirit lifted, especially after she glanced up at me with a faint smile.
As we drove away from the bar, my breathing returned to normal. The lingering stink of the run-down bar was a cogent reminder of how wealth had weakened me, because the stench of poverty seemed more pungent than it used to be.
The ride back to Mayfair was quiet. Our bodies were close together, and my hand was in hers. If it weren’t for the ache between my legs, I would have described it as sweet, almost innocent. But as I glanced down at Penelope’s nipples tightening against her blouse, my longing for her was far from that.
When Patrick pulled up at the curb, I jumped out and opened the door for her.
“Are you hungry?” I asked as we stepped into the hallway. I thought of the French fries at the pub that I could barely look at, let alone eat.
Following me into the living room, she nodded with a gentle smile.
“Make yourself at home. I’ll be back in a minute.” I kissed her tenderly. The warm softness of her lips sent a bolt of desire through me. I wanted to devour them right there, with my cock buried deep inside of her, but delayed gratification was something I’d learned to master when young and alone.
After I returned from the kitchen, I found Penelope curled up on the sofa, asleep. She looked so beautiful and peaceful I didn’t have the heart to disturb her, so instead, I placed a blanket over her.
Just as the food arrived, Penelope woke. Sitting up and combing back her hair, she yawned. “Did I crash out?”
“You did. Only for an hour.”
“I haven’t slept much this week.” She rubbed her eyes.
“Neither have I.”
We shared a sympathetic smile.
“Come have something to eat, and then we can sleep,” I suggested.
“Sleep?”
I returned her grin. “Whatever you desire.”
After we’d eaten the delicious meal in comfortable silence, I asked, “What would you like to do now?”
“I’d love a shower,” she said, stretching.
“I’ll run it for you. I could use one myself.” I suddenly felt formal with her, as though we hadn’t been mindlessly fucking for months.
“From memory, it’s big enough for both of us.” Her arched eyebrow made me smile.
I headed into the bathroom and turned on the faucets. I removed my clothes, and my eyes remained on Penelope as she removed her black skirt and blouse.
I took her into my arms and walked her under the cascade of water. We held each other as pleasant warmth splashed over us. I squirted some body wash on my hand and massaged her back.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” she purred.
I slid my fingers along her indented waist to her peach-shaped ass and massaged it. Then I leaned in close, my body pressing onto hers, and kissed her neck. Her moans sent a bolt of hunger to my cock. I caressed her clit, which winced at my touch.
I turned her around, and our lips crushed together. Just kissing her electrified me. Her lips caressed mine as my tongue entered her deeply and urgently.
“I need to taste you.” I stared into her heavy-lidded eyes, which mimicked my own. I was so aroused I could hardly breathe, my heart pumping desire down to my engorged dick.
She widened her legs in response.
I got down on my knees and licked my way up her thigh, arriving at her inflamed clit. I twirled my tongue and sucked back her juices as if it were a delicious treat until she cried out and came all over my lips. I entered her with my finger, which made her tremble. She was so wet and ready to be fucked. I groaned.