“Forgive my slow-wittedness,” he said. “I was under the impression that you had no particular fondness for the lady.”
“I don’t,” she said candidly. “But she is important to your campaign, and I know how much winning the seat means to you. I will support you, James, in every way I can. Even if it means making amends with her. I will add a personal note of apology to the invitation.”
While humble pie was not Evie’s favorite dish, she would force it down, for his sake.
“You are too good to me, love.”
He brushed his lips over her forehead, nose, and mouth. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled at the corners, his mien so tender that her heart sang.
“While you are in a charitable mood,” he said, “I have a favor to ask.”
She looped her arms around his neck. “What is it?”
“It concerns a certain comparison you have made.”
When she gave him a blank look, he prompted, “To Apollo?”
“Oh. Right.” She arched her brows. “What of it?”
“Could I persuade you to compare me to a less callow fellow?”
When she realized he was serious, her lips twitched. “He’s a deity, for blossom’s sake. The epitome of light, reason, and moral balance, not to mention masculine grace. Why, he’s perfection itself. Surely that should satisfy your vanity?”
“He’s as hairless as a cherub and looks as if he might be blown away by his own sneeze.” James was clearly disgruntled. “And Ethan is the one with the musical talent, not me. What the blazes would I do with a lyre?”
“Fine.” Laughing, she framed her husband’s hard, bristly jaw in her hands. “If it makes you happy, I shan’t compare you with a god.”
“I didn’t say that. Just not that god.”
“Do you have another in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
At his smug look, she rolled her eyes.
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”
“I shall give you a hint. He and I share a lot in common. He often sports a thunderbolt—and lo and behold, so do I.”
Her giggles melted into moans when James thrust his staff against her mound. Pleasure sizzled, lightning-hot, as he teased her sensitive bud with his hardness. He swiveled his hips, sliding against her until she was panting.
“What do you think? Aren’t I more like Zeus?”
“You just want to be king of the gods.”
His smile was slow and suggestive. “I would settle for being your king.”
Quick as a flash, he rolled her atop him. Even as she planted her palms on his chest for balance, he grasped her hip in one hand, lining up his cock with the other. In a single motion, he impaled her, thrusting up while pulling her down. She gasped at the decadent stretch. There was nothing but him: the way he filled her, the way she held him. Gazing down into his brilliant eyes, she felt...complete.
“Aren’t you a pretty sight sitting on my throne?” he murmured. “Ride me, Evie. Show me what a good queen you are.”
By all that blossoms.
And she did.
“You should have taken me with you.”
Seeing Harkness’s sulky features, Evie sighed. The return to Bottoms House had marked the end of her and James’s blissful interlude. The manor was a flurry of activity; with the ball only days away, every corridor hummed with preparations. Lord Dunsmuir arrived to whisk James away on some critical errand. Her husband barely had time to kiss her before he left. Once she was alone, she managed to dash off a note to Gigi about Lady Vernon’s invitation before her companion cornered her.
