“Is it?” she laughed lightly.
He cleared his throat and made a decision so swift and sudden that he didn’t have time to argue it with himself. “I’m having a gathering of my own at my estate just outside of London. Next week. From what I’ve seen tonight, you and yourfriendwould make a fine addition.”
She leaned back. “That is a kind offer for a man who just met me.”
He shrugged. “I’m an excellent judge of character.”
Her eyes danced with humor at the statement. Probably judginghima fool, but it didn’t matter. “As am I. I will see if my friend is available, but if he is, I see no reason we wouldn’t enjoy such a gathering.”
“Very good,” Richard breathed, his heart racing. “I look forward to it.”
She smiled. “As do I. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I see Mr. Huxley now. I’ll send word by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Very good. I look forward to…entertaining you.”
Her eyes widened just a fraction and her gaze slid down the length of his body, drinking him in. Her pupils dilated a fraction and she licked her lips. “As do I. Good evening, Mr. Fitzroy.”
Then she turned and slipped away, back to Hux across the room and then out of the ballroom with him, the pair chatting softly as they departed. It was only after they were gone that Richard realized all the coins had been removed from his pockets.
He smiled despite the loss. Oh yes. This invitation he’d made in this state of heightened awareness and arousal was ill advised. But he intended to make it fruitful, as well. He intended to make it something he’d never forget.
CHAPTER3
Hux
Hux looked down at Zara’s head bobbing in his lap in time to the carriage as it rumbled along the road a few days later. The pull of her mouth on his cock, the swirl of her tongue…it was all meant to make him come. And it was working. Heated pleasure streaked up his cock, settled in his balls, made his entire being pulse with the edge of release.
He wanted to dig his fingers into her hair as she sucked him off, wanted to feel her rumble with desire, but he couldn’t muss her. They were too close to their destination. The home of Richard Fitzroy, the gentleman who had invited them to his gathering at the ball a few days before.
Zara looked up at him, her blue eyes heavy with pleasure. With need. He caught her under the armpits and lifted, tumbling her into his lap. She gasped as he reversed their positions, shoved up her skirts and speared her with his cock, leaning heavily on the carriage wall as he took her in long, languid strokes.
She came in a gasping burst of breath, her skin flushing and her body gripping him in ripping waves of pleasure. It was everything, it was too much, and he couldn’t resist the draw of her any longer. He buried his mouth against her neck, breathing her in as he groaned out her name and came inside of her. For a few moments, they remained that way. She stroked along his back, he peppered kisses against the place where her shoulder met her neck. But eventually she laughed softly and pushed him away.
“I must fix myself before we arrive,” she insisted.
He grunted and gave her a playful glare as he moved to the seat across from her and went about tucking himself away, smoothing the passion-wrinkled folds in his clothing.
“I think our handsome Mr. Fitzroy might like you tousled by passion, if the way he looked at you at the ball was any indication,” he said.
She arched a brow and stifled a smile. “Perhaps. Though was he looking at me or at you that way, Hux?”
Hux cleared his throat. Of course he knew he had garnered as much attention from Fitzroy as she had. He had a sense for men who were built like him. Well-honed after many years of sweaty passion in places where such behavior was encouraged. Pleasure was pleasure to Hux. He didn’t care what form it took. He liked all forms.
“That may remain to be seen,” he said. “But I think it would be wise if you and I were to create a game plan. After all, we might have a little fun at this gentleman’s gathering, but we’re also there for a job, are we not?”
“Most definitely,” Zara agreed. “Fitzroy has some treasures to uncover, I’m certain. And who knows who else will be in attendance. We could leave this gathering all the richer.”
“And satisfied,” Hux said softly.
Zara shifted in her seat and met his eyes. “How far can I go?”
Hux lifted his brows. He made no claim to Zara’s actions and never had. That was something he was careful about. After all she’d been through, no one deserved total freedom more than she. And yet she always asked before she played, as if she were truly his. And every time it struck the heart of him that he had tried to lock away for decades.
He cleared his throat. “You need to ask?”
There was a moment when a little pain passed over her features, but she wiped it away. “He is very handsome, as we have established. There may be a great many opportunities that come my way. But you and I are…we’re partners, aren’t we? Shouldn’t I have your approval of whatever course of action I choose to take?”
Hux leaned across the carriage, placing a hand on the seat edge on either side of her. Her pupils dilated when he pressed a little closer, invading her space.
