“That you were right.” Her eyes gleamed. “We should fight—and make up—more often.”
Chapter Twenty
“Are you awake, sweetheart?”
Evie surfaced on a disorienting wave of pleasure. Blinking at the strange room, it took her a moment to recognize the inn where she and James had spent the night. She was lying on her side, and James was behind her. If the stiff rod wedged against her bottom was any indication, he’d been up for some time. He’d pulled her top leg over his hip, and his hand was busy between her thighs. She didn’t know how long he’d been at it, but she felt how wet she was. Her desire was simmering and nearing a boil.
His husky words heated her ear. “I have been thinking.”
“Is that the name for what you are doing?”
“Vixen.” He nipped her earlobe. “You know full well this is called frigging. After all, we did it to each other—and ourselves—throughout the night.”
She blushed at the reminder of their wickedness. They’d been insatiable for one another. While she’d never doubted James’s virility, his appetite had stunned her because he’d never been one for overindulgence. He was moderate in his drinking habits and rarely had a second helping at meals. Yet he’d spent himself numerous times in the past few hours—and made her come even more than that.
Thinking of his potency sent a fresh wave of heat through her. Although a part of her regretted her rash actions at Lady Vernon’s, she couldn’t regret the outcome. She and James had finally connected…in a way that felt both familiar and new. They’d navigated the pitfalls of misunderstanding and explored new territory—intimacy that was both physical and emotional.
“Moreover, I am capable of doing two things at once.” Amusement entered his voice. “I can think whilst petting your sweet pussy.”
She squirmed, inflamed by his words and his jutting hardness. In the past, he had occasionally said naughty things during moments of passion, but never as casually as this. Come to think of it, the way he was touching her, in that lazy yet proprietary manner, was new too. She had the sudden insight that this was the reward for honesty. James was lowering his guard and showing her more of his true self.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“That I like waking up next to you.”
When he nuzzled her neck, she sighed.
“Especially when there is nothing between us.”
Even as he brushed his lips against her shoulder, her heart stumbled. Their incendiary passion had allowed her to forget, for a few precious hours, the terrible thing she’d done. Yet her sin could never be erased—would always be there between them. For an instant, she contemplated confessing everything to him…
“What’s the matter, sunflower?”
His endearment heated her eyes, made her tremble with yearning.
If only I could be that bright and beautiful. If only I could seek the light rather than hide in darkness. If only I weren’t so…so afraid.
“Nothing.” The word abraded her throat. “Nothing is the matter.”
James turned her onto her back so swiftly that her breath whooshed from her lungs. She was pinned by him, body and gaze.
“I felt you stiffen,” he insisted. “Tell me what went through your head just now.”
She couldn’t bear to see the suspicion clouding his vibrant eyes.
“I was just thinking…” She searched for an innocuous excuse. “About Lady Vernon.”
It wasn’t a total lie. Her thoughts had wandered in that direction. Admittedly, some of them had been petty in nature, but she’d also worried about the damage she might have done to James’s career.
He furrowed his brow. “I thought we settled this last night. Upon my honor, there is nothing going on between?—”
“I trust you.”
While she didn’t trust Morgana Vernon, she did have faith in her husband. And she wanted to support his dreams the way he’d always supported hers.
“I was thinking…” She drew a breath. “I could ask Gigi to invite Lady Vernon to the ball.”
Surprising James was no easy feat, but his stupefied expression indicated that she’d managed it.
