“Just tell me.”
“Lady Elizabeth, you dolt. Who else have I been courting for the past month?”
Chapter 17
Elizabeth shifted and moved closer to the opening to listen. The desk was so thick that it muffled some of what was being said. She pushed between Robert’s legs and waited. He spread his legs for her automatically so that she could sit more comfortably.
“Did you ask Elizabeth yet?” Robert asked and she swore that she could feel the tension in his body.
James chuckled. “No, I’ve asked her father and he approved. All that’s left is to ask the lady herself.”
“Do you love her?” Robert asked. He had to know.
James laughed harder at that. “No! Can you imagine? I don’t even love my mistress!”
Robert had to stop himself from wincing. She was digging her nails into his legs. He reached down and gently pushed her hands off his legs quickly, hoping that James hadn’t noticed the movement.
“If she says yes, are you going to quit your mistress?” Robert asked, more for her sake than his.
James chuckled. “Very funny. Give up Andrea? You’re crazy. I had to wait out three other men to get her. No, I’ll keep her on the side.”
“What about Elizabeth?” Robert asked. Elizabeth was wondering that as well. Not that she was going through with it. She wasn’t. James was like a brother to her now. It would simply be too disturbing to marry him.
He shrugged. “I’ll get her with an heir and spare, of course. I don’t mind having her warm my bed when the mood strikes. You have to admit that she is quite beautiful.”
“Not really,” Robert muttered. “Ow!”
“Are you all right?” James asked.
Robert put his finger in his mouth. “Paper cut,” he muttered. His knee was throbbing. Damn, she was a strong little thing.
“I hate those,” James said with distaste.
“So do I,” Robert said acidly.
“I still don’t understand why you would settle on her,” Robert said. He needed James to bury himself in front of Elizabeth. It would save him a lot of legwork later. He was not going to simply sit around and allow James to marry his minx.
Oh, she was going to maim the man. He actually had the audacity to talk about her like this? James, she didn’t care about, but for Robert to act like she was nothing irritated her. She looked around the small space. Damn it, there was nothing she could do to him here. Well, not true, she did have the knife, but that was a bit much. She looked back at him and smiled. There was something that she could do to make him lose that pompous attitude that he was using at her expense.
Every muscle in his body froze. “What are you doing?” Robert demanded tightly, admittedly terrified of the minx hiding beneath the desk.
James looked back from the small sideboard. “Getting a drink. Do you want one?”
“Please!” Robert said more to Elizabeth than to James. She had his pants undone and his manhood pulled out. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and sent a silent prayer to God, vowing to turn his life around for good if she didn’t use his knife to unman him. His eyes flew open when she stroked him.
“Are you all right?” James asked as he placed a glass of whiskey in front of him.
“Very good, thank you.” He picked the glass up and gulped it. Nothing in life could have prepared him for this turn of events. He had to keep James in here talking otherwise his minx might stop and he definitely did not want her to stop.
“I-I don’t understand. If you find Elizabeth beautiful, why do you need Andrea?” Had it always been this difficult to talk?
He couldn’t remember.
James laughed knowingly. “I guess you wouldn’t know since you live like a monk up at that estate of yours. I’ll explain with four little words, she uses her mouth.” He winked and sat back.
“Really? I’ve never had that done.” Until now. His hands gripped the desk as Elizabeth decided the idea had merit enough to test it out. Her hot, wet mouth closed over the tip of his erection. If he died at this moment, Robert could honestly say that he’d lived a happy and fulfilling life.
Elizabeth would never have thought to do this if James hadn’t mentioned it. It was easier than using her hand, which she still used since it was helpful. She decided to make this into a game and see how far she could take him into her mouth to drive him crazy. This should teach him. She hoped he was embarrassing himself. Unfortunately, it was also stirring up that same need that had left her desperate for him that night in the orangery. Robert’s hand came down and gently cupped her cheek, urging her to continue.
