The Felix Factor: Sometimes love finds you, page 19
Oh, her man was going to be ready for her again very soon.
And by the warmth gliding between her legs, she was going to be more than ready for round two.
But first, she had questions for him.
“We never had a chance to talk. I want to know what happened today.”
He stroked her hair, running wet around her face, and kissed her lips, her eyelids.
“It was wonderful. The last half hour particularly.”
She clucked her tongue. “I meant the part when you met Julie.”
“That was wonderful too—and confronting, I guess. I—I haven’t really processed it yet.”
“Hardly surprising. Tell me about it—at least the bits you’ve processed.”
So, as he took the flannel from her and stroked it over her breasts, her belly and between her legs, Felix recounted the day’s events: his first moments with Julie, the Cotswold cottage with its beautiful garden, the story of his birth and his dad’s death, at which she’d cried, and finally, as the water ran cool, he told her about Eloise.
“A step-sister. Oh Felix. This is so sad and so beautiful.”
Only when she shivered did he turn off the taps. “Enough about me. Let’s get you warm.”
They got out and he wrapped her in a big fleecy towel and dried her, then himself.
She sighed. “You have so much to process and… you got home to such a mess.”
“The most important thing is you’re safe. I just wish I’d been able to hold onto the bastard until the police got here.”
“He could have killed you, Felix.”
“Nah, I’ve got too much muscle.”
He stroked her face, kissed her again. “And what happened after, Paige, making love to you has been the most beautiful gift.”
Paige felt tears fill her eyes again, and he stroked them away from her lashes with a fingertip.
She looked at his swollen eye, spreading like an egg now to his forehead. “I haven’t hurt you more? Your face—”
“You’ve healed me.”
“Oh Felix,” she gulped out. “This, us. It feels like magic.” And then her lips quirked and, stroking her hand over his pecs, she asked, “Would you do something else for me, my darling Shrek? Something I’ve imagined you doing?”
“Your wish is my command, Princess Fiona.”
“Would you carry me to the bedroom?”
Some five minutes later Paige announced that she’d found a pack of condoms in the back of her pantie drawer. Felix couldn’t help a grin hijacking his face as she jumped onto the bed next to him.
She peered at his swollen eye again. “Maybe we should stop,” she said, not sounding like she meant it for a second. “What if you have concussion?”
“I don’t care.”
“But more sex might make it worse.”
“Now I care even less.” His grin spread as he settled onto his back and gently tugged her close. And then he winced. Shit-eating grins and black eyes definitely did not mix. He let out a low expletive.
Her pretty mouth turned down. “See what I mean?” But her hand moved down his body, sweeping over his chest and abs. “You are so different with your clothes off,” she mused. “You undergo this complete personality change.”
He gave her an alarmed look and, as if reading his thoughts, she added quickly, “Not in a bad way. It’s beautiful. Like you turn into this—”
“Do not say a fucking bear.”
“I was thinking more like a wild man, having his wicked way with me in his cave.”
“Only with full permission.”
“Granted. And I guess I can be a pretty wild woman too.” Her eyes danced as suddenly she threw a leg over him and dipped her head so her dark hair fell around them.
She bent lower and traced his lips with hers, then kissed around the line of his beard and down his neck. “I thought this would be prickly but it’s really soft—especially when it’s between my legs.”
He hardened at the memory. “I wouldn’t want to give you a stubble rash anywhere.”
“Not here?” Her dark eyes held his as she took his hand and placed it on one breast.
He sighed and stroked her nipple, which peaked at his touch. “No.”
“Or here?” She put his hand on her belly.
“Nope.”
“Or here?” Now she tucked his hand between her thighs, took his thumb and placed it on her clit.
“Not there especially,” he said thickly, circling it until she bit her lip and her cheeks flushed.
“Okay, time for the condom,” she gasped.
Felix practically salivated watching her reel it down his length.
“I feel like a little kid in a candy store,” she whispered in his ear. “I want all of you at once.”
And then he felt her guiding him towards her entrance. “Tell me if this hurts your head, won’t you?”
“Not er, focused on—my head right now. Not that head anyway.”
At which Paige let out a gurgle of delight.
That fact that half an hour ago he’d come spectacularly didn’t seem to make a bit of difference. He was like a guy half his age, Felix realised, his libido flying.
He let out a blissful groan as her internal muscles tightened around his length. And then he was gripping her hips and she was grinding that hard little bud into the root of his cock and he was close to being that wild man she’d imagined him to be as he grunted out words of lustful appreciation.
“I need you to fuck me hard, Felix. Don’t be gentle.”
“You make the rhythm, you’re on top, beautiful girl.”
She pushed down on him, rotating her hips, frowning a little as she bit her lower lip.
He searched her face. “What do you need, Paige? Tell me.”
“Could you touch me, too?” she asked, a little shy suddenly. “I don’t usually ask.”
“You don’t ask? Then what happens?”
“I don’t come.”
“Oh fuck, baby, that’s crazy.” He slowed his pace, frowning. Pushed a tendril of hair off her forehead.
“I didn’t—trust. Before. But with you it’s completely different… I trust you, Felix. From the first time you came here, I knew I could trust you.”
He had to check. “But you came when I went down on you, right?”
“With that magic tongue on me? Oh god yeah, but penetrative, you know… that’s rare for me.”
He propped on his elbows, stroked her cheek. “Listen to me, you always tell me what you need. And that makes it better for me too.”
“It does?”
“Paige, baby, how could you doubt that?”
She gave a little mewl of pleasure as he placed two fingers on her clit and rotated, slow and gentle. “Like that?”
“A little firmer. “
“Like this?”
“Oh, yeah, just like that!” He watched her reactions closely, gauging her quickening breath, the way her lovely tits bounced. At her direction he dove deeper, harder, all the while his fingers worked her clit until they were slick with her juices.
Somehow Felix held on—thank Christ that blow job earlier had clipped his libido just enough to focus on her pleasure, as with little cries of appreciation Paige climbed her orgasm to its peak.
And when she came, he held her as she tumbled and begged him, “Come with me.”
And with one final thrust that lifted his head off the bed, his palms splayed around her hips and her name spilling from his lips, Felix did.
As Paige fell back on the pillows in a post-orgasmic haze, tears formed in her eyes. Joyful tears. She groped for Felix’s hand beside her, and he threaded his fingers through hers and squeezed. And all those cliches, about the earth moving, the sky falling in, about an orgasm being like a little death.
Yeah, they were all true.
She couldn’t help smiling as she came up with a description of her own.
This big, beautiful man who’d been her saint these past few weeks?
Well—she’d just found out he could fuck like a sinner.
Chapter 23
There was a note next to the bed, pinned under a small vase of forget-me-nots.
A glass. And two Paracetamol.
Take these. And then come and find me. Cleaning up the tiramisu.
PS. You are AMAZING. xxx
If Felix had thought he’d imagined his passionate night with Paige, that note confirmed it had been real.
And if he’d been inclined to forget his tussle with Trent, his pounding head was intent on reminding him that was real, too.
He went to his own room, found his tracky pants and a T-shirt and padded down the stairs.
He could hear music.
Yep, Taylor Swift, and there was Paige, dancing as she mopped the floor.
“Hey, Paige.” She immediately dropped the mop and ran to him, hugged him. He kissed the top of her head, but she held out her pursed lips for more.
“Morning breath,” he muttered.
She placed her hand between them and cupped him. “And morning glory. I don’t care about your breath, it’s sweeter than tiramisu. Now kiss me.”
After they’d kissed, Felix said, “I’ll finish this off.”
“You will do no such thing with that shiner.” She drew back and observed him. “Oh dear. It’s very purple, does it hurt?”
“It’s tight. Better for the painkillers and kisses, though.”
She went and made him a coffee. “Toast? Cereal?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. I just want to look at you—one-eyed.”
“Scrubbing away, you mean.” She tossed back her hair and he watched it glint in the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Paige shook her head, looking at the streaks of cream and chocolate on the tiles. “To think I went out to buy the ingredients. Such a waste.”
“You went shopping? Paige, you never said.”
“I think we may have had other priorities last night. Talking wasn’t one of them. But yes, I did. I went to the Italian deli on Hampstead High Street. As I came back, I reckon Trent was following me in a car. The silver one he drove off in last night.” She paused to pick up some glass pieces and put them in the bin. “What do you think will happen now?”
“I guess we wait to hear from the police.”
A shadow fell over her features. “Let’s talk about something else, this is making me feel anxious. Tell me what your plans are with Julie now, will you introduce her to your parents?”
“I haven’t had time to think that through fully. But yes, I have to call up Mum and Dad today. They’ll be wondering what happened.”
She propped the mop against the bench. “Have you got photos from yesterday? I’d love to see—if you don’t mind showing me.”
How could he mind? “I’ve got an album. Julie made it and Eloise decorated it.”
He went and found his rucksack where he’d discarded it in the hallway last night. Then they sat in the garden, their heads close together as he flipped the album open.
When her gaze alighted on the photo of Jamie straddling his motorbike, she gasped.
“Oh my god, it’s you Felix.”
“It’s uncanny, how much we look alike, eh?”
“I can’t believe it. Nice bike, too.”
Sudden emotion constricted his throat. “He was riding this beast the day he was killed.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Sorry, I should have thought of that. It’s just so sad, Felix.”
“It is. But then, you know, if it hadn’t happened…” He swallowed. God, he wasn’t wishing his dad dead, not at all.
As if reading his mind, she added, “We would never have met.”
He shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe we would have.”
“How? You wouldn’t have been adopted if your dad had lived, would you?”
“Maybe I would. They were so young, and as Julie said to me, maybe it wouldn’t have lasted.”
“But even so, it still wouldn’t have been the same. Different people would have adopted you.” She stroked the picture. “Thank you, Jamie. For Felix.”
He felt tears pricking his eyes, and a constriction in his heart that rendered him silent.
“What are you thinking about, big guy?” She traced her fingers over his hand.
Felix glanced at her, and the beauty of her glowing features took his breath away all over again.
“I’m thinking how different you are from any woman I’ve dated before.”
She played with his fingers. “Have there been many?”
“Just a handful. Only one serious.”
“What happened to the serious one?”
“We wanted different things. I wasn’t as committed as she was.”
She gave an airy laugh. “I didn’t take you for a commitment-shy kind of guy.”
“I’m not. I just hadn’t met the right woman.”
She kept studying their joined hands. “I hope you do. Meet her.”
He tried to find words, tried to explain why he couldn’t answer that—not because he didn’t want it to be her, but because he wanted it too much. “Here’s the thing.” He bit his lip. “Girls as beautiful as you, Paige, don’t usually look at guys like me.”
“I didn’t,” she teased.
“I know.”
“Until I did. And now I can’t stop looking at you.”
He shook his head, unable to hide a chuffed grin.
There was so much more he should say, so much more the sensible version of Felix would say. The sensible side of him would question whether her crush was just because she’d met him at a bad time in her life. And then he reminded himself of his decision on the train trip back to Paddington, to be fully open to experiencing this with Paige, whatever the outcome. And goddamn it, if it all ended tomorrow, then he was adult enough to accept that.
But then she leaned into him and sandwiched his cheeks in her soft palms. “I’d rather use this language to tell you how I feel.” And as she kissed his lips passionately, that primal fire curled deep inside him and he was prepared at this moment to bury sensible, adult Felix forever.
He pulled her against him and opened to her kiss, to the sweet language of their bodies.
And then the doorbell trilled and Paige turned rigid in his arms.
Her eyes widened as she pulled away from his embrace. “Oh god, what if it’s Trent again?”
“Then I guess I’ll get another black eye,” Felix responded calmly. “I’ll answer, you stay here.”
When he opened the door, there were two men in dark suits standing on the step.
One of them held up an ID badge.
“CID. From Scotland Yard. We’re here to speak to Paige Winterton.”
“Yes.” She came forward, out of the shadows and stood next to Felix. “I’m Paige Winterton.”
“May we come in, Miss Winterton? We need to talk to you about Trent Delcano.”
Chapter 24
“Unfortunately, he’d left your flat by the time the squad cars got there,” explained the older of the two detectives. Both of them were now standing in the kitchen, taking up the space.
“Did he leave my keys behind?”
“Unfortunately not, ma’am.”
Paige nibbled on her thumb. “So he’s still out there somewhere.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“What could Trent Delcano have left in your flat?” the first detective asked. “That he would have been prepared to get violent over?”
“He didn’t say what.” Paige hugged her arms around herself, steadied her breath, knowing that Felix was standing right next to her, silently supporting her. “Am I a suspect?”
“No, ma’am, you are not,” said the second detective, and her eyes flew to him. His voice struck a chord of fear through her, icy and visceral.
He was softly spoken for such a thick-set guy, probably in his mid-forties, with a scar puckering his left cheek from the corner of his mouth almost to his ear. She’d never met him before in her life, but something… something about him was strangely familiar.
She blinked the frisson of fear away. The almond in her brain was clearly sensing a threat where there was none. “Did he ever intimate he might be hiding something?” the first detective asked.
“No. Nothing.” Her hand flew to her mouth “Oh god, do you mean, like bad stuff in my flat?”
“No, not in your flat,” Scarface said. Again, a draught of cold ran through her body. “We believe he may have been looking for some keys he’d left there for safe keeping.”
“His house keys?”
“No, we don’t believe so. We suspect keys to a storage unit.”
Paige frowned. “Why would he need a storage unit? Trent had tons of space at his house.”
“You don’t store illegal substances in your home if you have any sense, ma’am.”
Her eyes widened. “Substantial amounts of illegal substances,” he added in that quiet, modulated voice.
“Oh.”
“We are onto the case, ma’am. Closing in. But we need permission to search your flat.”
Paige hugged herself so tight now her breathing nearly cut off. Unable to hold it in, she eyed the detective with the scar. “Have I met you before?”
“No, ma’am.” But his grey eyes held hers, steely, measured.
Paige looked away, gulped down the fear. “He did occasionally leave clothes at my place, w-when he’d stayed over, I guess there could have been keys there too.” She glanced at Felix. His face was impassive—as impassive as it could be with a swollen purple eye.
“We could issue a search warrant, but if you sign the paperwork it will be quicker,” the first detective explained. “Time is of the essence, as I’m sure you’ll understand, ma’am.”
Paige nodded. She had nothing to hide. She signed the paperwork they handed to her.
“Is there anything else you need from me?” she asked.
“That will be all for today, thank you for your time.” The men turned and headed towards the door. Paige and Felix followed.
