“They would’ve caught on anyway at the wet stain on my skirt,” she informed him. “Besides, who needs a cravat? Tommy doesn’t usually wear one.”
“My sister is a girl. Sometimes.”
“Is she? I’d take her sartorial sense over Brummell’s, any day.”
“Does this mean you’re going to burn all of my cravats?”
“Does that mean I’m allowed to enter your bedchamber?”
“I’ll carry you there right now if you want.”
“Your trousers would fall around your ankles. You’re missing a few buttons.”
“I’ll go nude. You ought to do the same. Let’s get you out of that stained dress and toss the whole thing into the fire.”
“Wait a minute… I begin to suspect this ploy is not designed to get me up to your bedchamber after all. Once we’re both naked, we’ll be stuck in this private room with its overabundance of basil and conspicuously accommodating sofa.”
“Oh, is there a sofa behind me? I’d completely forgotten. Show it to me. Perhaps I’ll lie down for a nap.”
“Mm-hm.”
“You should lie down with me.” His dark gaze seared her. “Do you know what would be even better than reading a book in one sitting?”
“Tell me.”
“Reading a book in one sitting whilst I kneel before you to pleasure you.”
Her mouth went dry. “Do you think I could concentrate on a single word?”
“Let’s try it and find out,” he suggested sweetly.
She narrowed her eyes. “You think I’ll last about five minutes before I climb on top of your cock again.”
He gasped. “That would be a shocking twist. I had you pegged for three minutes at the most.”
“Words, words. How about some action?” She slid from his lap and tugged him to his feet. “Be a gentleman, and help a lady remove her dress.”
He reached for her. “With pleasure.”
34
Six days later, Viv—this time accompanied by Quentin!—strolled down a walking path, on their way to the Wynchester residence. Jacob had told them both that they were welcome to spend as many nights there as they pleased, but Viv had insisted her moonstruck cousin not take advantage of the Wynchesters’ hospitality.
And maybe she wanted a chance to think, in private, away from the absolutely perfect book-filled basil jungle and the many temptations of Jacob’s embrace.
Not that the distance had helped. There were only ever five thoughts in her head.
1: Gratitude that Quentin was home safe
2: How much Viv missed and wanted to be with Jacob
3: She also missed participating in the Wynchesters’ missions, blast it all
4: Excitement about her script’s impending stage debut one week hence
5: Longing for Jacob to receive the recognition he deserved
To this latter point, she’d vowed not to push him again. He’d learned to give her the time and space she needed, and she could do no less for him.
