And as her heartrate came down and her body stopped twitching with pleasure, she did just that.
Chapter 5
Everett stood in the filtered sunshine of the morning, watching as Marcus spoke to the boy at the inn about their horses. Marcus sent Everett a side glance, patted the boy’s shoulder and then joined him outside the stable.
“I’ve asked for a horse to ride alongside for the return trip back into Town,” he said.
Everett arched a brow. “I see. Does that mean you don’t wish to ride in the carriage with Naomi after last night’s…acts?”
Marcus shifted, but his gaze didn’t leave Everett’s. That was something, for often these kinds of conversations about giving in to passion inspired Marcus to pull away, to Everett’s endless frustration.
“I didn’t plan to make love to her last night,” Marcus said after he’d glanced around to ensure they weren’t being eavesdropped upon. “She was shaking, and once I touched her…”
“Yes, I understand,” Everett said. “Watching you two was…well, it’s been a long time since we shared a woman for more than just a night.”
Now Marcus’s gaze did flit away and he cleared his throat. “It didn’t end well last time, did it?”
“Naomi is different,” Everett pressed. “She looked at me across the room as you slid your cock inside of her. And she came.” His cock grew hard just thinking about it. “She’s different.”
Marcus shook his head, but didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Everett knew he was uncomfortable with this topic. With the sharing? Not at all. When he was in the midst of passion, no one dedicated himself to pleasure as much as Marcus. But after? He was always pulling away from what he wanted most.
Everett stepped closer. Stepped into Marcus’s space, almost touching his chest with his own. He tilted his head until Marcus was forced to meet his eyes.
“I want this,” Everett said softly. “And I do not ask for much.”
Marcus’s eyes came shut and he nodded. “I know.”
Everett was ready to ask him which part he knew about, but before he could, Naomi stepped from the inn and looked around for them. Both of them stared, as it was impossible not to. She wore the same gown as yesterday, but she took Everett’s breath away. Especially now that he’d seen her in far less. In nothing at all. With his friend buried inside her body as she moaned out pleasure.
Now that was all he could see.
She blushed as she started toward them across the wide expanse of drive and lawn. Marcus caught his arm. “You ride with her in the carriage,” he said softly, his tone laced with almost desperation. “See if she’s…open.”
Everett’s lips parted as he turned toward Marcus and stared. “Truly?”
“Yes. She’s magnificent, Everett.”
Marcus released him and moved toward Naomi with a friendly smile. Everett nodded. “I hope I find out,” he muttered before he joined the pair beside the carriage.
Naomi sat in the carriage, staring across at Everett, who was seated on the bench opposite hers. He had been quiet since they departed the inn a half hour before, glancing over some papers he had withdrawn from his pocket.
Like Marcus, he had not brought up the previous night. Hadn’t acted any differently. Naomi wasn’t certain what to think of it. The experience with Marcus while Everett was watching and pleasuring himself with his hand was one of the most powerful of her life. Did it mean so little to them?
Did it matter? She’d known them for all of twenty-four hours. What had happened was an anomaly. Perhaps it was best to forget it.
None of which she could make herself believe.
“Do you think ill of me?” she burst out, and immediately wished she could take it back.
His gaze came up slowly, blue depths the color of the sea on a cloudless day. He snagged her with that stare and put away his papers before he said, “And why would I do that?”
She swallowed. Well, she’d started the topic, she might as well just get it out. Finish it. “Last night,” she said, and felt her cheeks burn. “So soon after my husband’s death. Doing…doing what I did with Marcus. With—with you.”
He leaned forward in the small space and draped his elbows over his knees. Now he was very close, indeed. She could see the flecks of darker blue in the light of his eyes. Smell the hint of mint and coffee on his warm breath. God, but she wanted him to kiss her, as she’d known he wanted to do last night.
What was wrong with her?
“Did you love him?” he asked.
