“Think nothing of it,” Canning said. “You would do the same for us.”
“We also wanted to see how you were getting on with the Double Ar…with, ahem, your new abode.” Parkhurst cleared his throat, clearly remembering that a lady was present. “I must say you’ve done wonders with the place, old chap.”
“The credit goes to my housekeeper, Mrs. Wood,” Ethan said with pride.
“She seems lovely,” Gigi said brightly. “She’s young to be a housekeeper, isn’t she?”
He didn’t like the speculative glint in her eyes. While he didn’t mind if she and Xenia got to know one another, he needed to settle things with his lover first. To convince Xenia that she could trust him with whatever she was running from. In the meantime, he didn’t want his madcap sister scaring her off.
“James found her,” he said noncommittally. “She came with excellent references.”
“Speaking of James, could we invite him and Evie over for supper?” Gigi asked hopefully. “I haven’t seen Evie in ages and miss her dreadfully.”
“Get settled first.” Ethan shook his head. “Then we can talk about supper parties.”
“And this is why you are myfavoritebrother!”
With a happy squeal, Gigi threw her arms around him. He stilled. Gigi had always been affectionate, yet in recent years he’d pushed her away, along with everyone else. He realized now that he missed their closeness. He returned her hug before letting her go.
Turning to his friends, he said, “You are both welcome to stay. The manor isn’t fully restored but?—”
“We would enjoy the country air.” Parkhurst came over, slapped him on the back.
Canning smiled slowly. “It will be like old times.”
“Without the drinking contests,” Ethan said with feeling. “One tumbledown manor is all I can manage.”
ChapterTwenty
“Ilove you, my dearest rose. But are you certain you want this?”
She gazed into her lover’s eyes, the pure blue of heaven, and knew she had found her place of belonging. She’d been running for so long, and now she was finally safe.
“Yes, I want you. Take away my fear. Show me how love is meant to be.”
“Then I will love you. I will always love you…”
Xenia stirred. She kept her eyes closed, wanting to linger in the voluptuous passion of her dream, the safety of her lover’s arms and his sweet promises of love.
“Christ, pet. You get wet for me even in your sleep.”
Her eyes flew open. It took her a moment to register that she was in her bed, lying on her side...and Ethan was there. He lay behind her, nestling her against his hard form. She twisted to look at him, and his eyes glinted, reflecting the moonlight coming through the dormer window.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered. “I thought you were entertaining your friends.”
According to Brunswick, whenever Ethan got together with his old cronies, they stayed up all night carousing. Xenia hadn’t expected to see Ethan tonight.
“I missed you,” he said.
His simple words sent a thrill through her. Or perhaps it was his hand, which was doing wicked things between her thighs. Her nightgown was bunched at her waist, and when he caressed the slick crease of her pussy, a moan scraped from her throat. He covered her mouth with his own, swallowing the sound, and she tasted fine whisky mingled with his own delicious flavor.
“Shh,” he murmured. “We’ll have to be quiet. The walls are thin, and we can’t wake the others.”
She couldn’t believe that he’d come to her in the servants’ wing. The risk of discovery added to her dreamy excitement, especially when he uttered a command in a low, guttural voice.
“Take off your nightgown, and show me what’s mine.”
Shivering, she sat up and did as he asked. The moonlight turned to molten silver in his eyes.
