Elliot stared at him, their gazes holding, a thousand jealousies and desires pulsing between them just like Merry’s body had so recently. Finally, Elliot moved toward him and lifted a hand to press against his chest. Peter felt the weight of every finger through the linen shirt he’d slung back on when he left the bed.
“Do,” was all he said as he moved his gaze from Peter’s face down to where his hand touched him. Then he pulled away and opened the door to fetch Merry.
Leaving Peter’s mind spinning and a thousand plans for what to do next swirling in his mind.
* * *
Elliot
Merritt was asleep, just as Peter had claimed she would be as Elliot walked into the room. Just as well. He needed a moment to make his hands stop shaking before he went to her.
His body burned with jealousy after Peter’s simply recounting of a past that had colored Elliot’s entire existence with Merry. That would color his future with her forever. Jealousy that Peter could so easily say that he loved her. And jealousy because he feared Merritt still felt the same.
But mixed with that jealousy, that resentment, that fear was something else. Something that froze him as much as the first emotion.
Desire.
Oh yes, there was desire for Peter Reid. He could admit that to himself, even if he never dared to do so to anyone else. Even if he’d been denying this part of himself all his life, because of the late marquess’s thoughts on what Elliot should be.
“Except that he is long dead now,” Elliot murmured to himself as his gaze moved to Merritt. She was tangled in the covers, one long leg draped sensually over them. He’d told her over and over today that he’d brought Peter here to give her a chance to experience what she desired. What she’d lost.
But that wasn’t entirely the reason, was it? Elliot knew, deep down in his soul, that he’d picked Peter becausehewanted the playwright. Because there was a spark that flashed between them any time they were in a room together. Because when Peter looked at him, all he could picture was the other man’s mouth closing around his length while he shook with pleasure.
Was this his chance too?
“Peter?” Merritt murmured, lifting her head.
The desire extinguished at that name. She was looking for her first love, not the man she had married. Because Elliot had opened a Pandora’s Box that he likely couldn’t close.
He moved to her. “No, my lady. It’s me.”
She smiled up at him, lifting her arms to wrap them around his neck and draw her to him. His mouth found hers and they kissed, she with lazy, sleepy desire, he with a more driven hunger. He was half-hard again by the time he parted from her, staring into her lovely face and trying to memorize every line of it.
“Ready for your bath?” he asked as he tucked his arms beneath her legs and lifted her. She rested her head against his shoulder, her hand sliding up his bare chest as her naked curves molded to him.
“Mmmm-hmmmm,” she sighed.
They entered the dressing room and he set her on her feet. He stole one last kiss, letting his hands trace the length of her sides as she shivered and whispered his name against his lips. Then he extended a hand and helped her balance as she stepped into the luxurious tub that was obviously made for two.
“Going to join me?” she asked, more awake now as she scooted to the back of the big tub and opened her legs to create space. And seduction. There was no denying the glint of seduction in her blue-green stare.
“Maybe in a moment,” he said, handing over soap and a cloth. He sat down in a chair next to the tub and leaned forward, resting his arms on the edge and his head on his arms so he could just…watch her.
He’d always loved watching her in the water, whether it was a tub or a lake or the sea. Her naked curves gliding through the waves put him to mind of some glorious water nymph. Or a mermaid from seafaring tales. She would sing him to his death, perhaps.
But what a way to go.
She washed herself slowly, making an obvious show for him as she soaped her breasts, her arms, down below the body to her stomach and between her legs as the water became foggy and he could no longer spy on her. She lifted a wet hand to his cheek, letting droplets follow the line of it as she smiled up at him.
“Please join me, Egerton,” she murmured.
He arched a brow. “You don’t want Peter to join you? He’ll be up in a moment.”
A little shadow crossed her expression at the question. Her gaze darted to the door, then back to him. He felt the answer in her actions even if she denied it in her words.
“I wantyouto join me, Elliot,” she whispered, and caught his hand to tug him toward her.
He sighed before he kicked out of his trousers and stepped into the warm water. He let out a groan of pleasure as he sank beneath the waves. They shifted around so she was behind him and his back pressed to her front. Her arms came around him and she slowly began to rub the washcloth over his chest. Down his stomach. Around his cock, washing away the earlier activities and the sweat from filling the tub.
