“I’ve always loved a game of cards,” Zara said with a shake of her head as she set her napkin on the table. “I’m game.”
“I warn you, she’s a terrible cheat,” Hux said as he got up and came around the table to offer his arm to Zara.
She stood and took it, but swatted him playfully as she did so. “Don’t tell him that, you’ll ruin the game.”
Richard laughed, this time with his full chest, and the sound rang in the room like something beautiful. He motioned his hand toward the door and they all left together, heading to a parlor where they would play their game.
Hux just hoped the larger game was one he wouldn’t lose.
CHAPTER9
Richard
Richard couldn’t recall the last time he’d just had…fun. And yet, as he, Zara and Hux finished off their last round of cards, that was exactly what he felt. After the passion of the morning and the vulnerability at luncheon, their afternoon of games had been surprisingly easy. They’d talked and laughed, and Richard had gotten glimpses of a deeper side to each of his lovers.
Zara loved reading and her face lit up when they discussed books. Hux was harder to crack, but Richard had come to discover that he liked art. Not just for stealing, but to look at. When Richard had confessed his investment in several of the plays of Peter Reid, a handsome and talented playwright, they had all come to realize they had been at several of the same performances of the man’s work.
“Though certainly we were not in anyone’s box,” Zara said with a laugh.
And Hux had smiled along with her and winked audaciously at Richard. “Unless we snuck in.”
The time had flown and now the clock in the hallway gonged out three. Richard blinked at the realization that the whole day had gone by.
“Tea will be in an hour,” he said, setting down his final hand of cards and smiling when he saw Zara had won the round again. Likely because when Hux cheated, it was on her behalf.
Because of course it was.
“I suppose we should all go up and prepare then,” Hux said softly, and his gaze glittered as he glanced over at Zara. She gave a knowing smile in return.
Richard tilted his head. “That actually leaves me with a question. You are always impeccable, Zara, but you came with no servants. How do you do it?"
Her smile widened. “We aren’t like you, Richard. Having a servant could be dangerous for people like us. You have to trust someone entirely when they can see what you’re doing behind the scenes.”
“And split what you earn to keep them quiet,” Hux added.
“I fix my own hair, but Mr. Huxley has become just as good at dressing me as he has at undressing me,” Zara concluded before she leaned over the table, cupped Hux’s cheeks and drew him in for a deep kiss.
Richard shifted at the sight of them entangled. It would never grow old, he could see that. It would always excite him to watch them together.
“I would wager he distracts you as often as he assists,” he said with a light laugh as they parted.
Hux arched a brow. “Wouldn’t you?”
“Absolutely,” Richard agreed.
“And that’s why we budget for a great deal more time to ready ourselves than perhaps we actually need. So that everyone gets…relief,” she said, and then shivered, her pupils dilating.
Richard swallowed. “You know, we could just as easily have tea in my chamber as in some stuffy parlor where we can’t be as…comfortable.”
“I don’t know,” Hux said, his hand settling on Richard’s knee beneath the table, stroking gently. “It seems to be that we could be very comfortable with her splayed out on a settee, moaning our names while we take turns fucking her.”
Richard heard the breath exit his lungs and he playfully glared at Hux for eliciting that response, which in turn made Hux laugh, a husky sound of desire and amusement mixed.
“A very pretty thought,” Richard agreed. “But I think I might rather remain in bed the rest of the day where there will be no interruptions.”
Zara’s face lit up with the idea even as she said, “But the settee another time?”
“Most definitely,” Richard said, and got to his feet. There was no hiding the erection that now pressed against the fall front of his trousers. Zara licked her lips at the sight and brushed her hand against it through the heavy fabric, caressing the length of him as she stared up into his eyes.
