CHAPTER14
It had been three days since the first afternoon he made love to Valaria, and Callum couldn’t concentrate.He sat at his desk in his study, staring out the window with unseeing eyes as he relived every heated moment of that day.And the day after.And the one after that.Because she kept crooking her finger…and he kept coming…in every sense of the word.
But was he entirely satisfied, even though their afternoons together were pure, sensual bliss?He had to admit…no.The sex, of course, was amazing.She was a responsive lover and the more comfortable she got with him, the more active she became in their mutual pleasure.She could look at him with those blue-gray eyes and he was almost undone immediately.
And when she touched him…even more so.
But beyond pleasure, she didn’t allow anything else.In some ways the sex was how she built a wall between them.If he asked questions she didn’t like, she always turned to seduction.And he certainly wasn’t strong enough to deny her when she wrapped herself around him and drove him to the edge of oblivion.
“My God, he lives.”
Callum glanced over to the study door as Theo entered, Morris at his heels.He waved the butler away and forced a smile as he rose to extend a hand to his friend.
“I didn’t think that was in question,” he said.
Theo raised both eyebrows.“I haven’t seen you in half a week.You canceled fencing practice, you didn’t show up to the club—you have been entirely absent, Callum.And it isn’t like you.”
Callum shrugged.“I had things to do.”
“I’m sure.”Theo hurtled himself into a chair across from the desk, crossed one foot over his knee and steepled his fingers against it.“You look like shit.You must be having a great deal of fun.”
Callum laughed at the observation, despite how close it came to the mark of truth.He moved to the sideboard and poured them each a whisky.“How does that track?I look bad, so things must be good?”
Theo took his drink and watched Callum lean against the edge of the desk.“You don’t look broody, so I don’t think you are troubled.”
Callum felt his nostrils flare a little.Theo pulled a face.“Oh, that’s aslightlybroody look.But I think you don’t like my questions, it isn’t some deep well of sorrow you’ve lost yourself down.You do, however, look tired.Like something is keeping you up at night.Someone, I think.And I would know.I’m the expert it such nocturnal activities.”
Callum stared at his friend, speechless for a few seconds.“I don’t even know how to respond to you.”
“Of course, you don’t, because you can’t deny it.At least not in any way that will sound truthful.”Theo took a sip of his drink.“So who is she?”
Callum hesitated.He’d never been one for much kissing and telling.Theo had met his mistresses over the years, of course, but even as much as his friend was a consummate rake, he was not a cad.They did not compare women or lewdly rank them as some of their set had over the years.
“She wouldn’t like it,” Callum said quietly.
Theo’s eyes went wide and his mouth agape for a moment.Then he slugged the rest of his drink and set the glass down on the desk edge as he stood.
“Is itValaria?”he asked.
The correct guess so threw Callum off that he sloshed his drink on the carpet as he burst out, “Fucking hell.”
Theo shook his head.“Good God.I hardly know what to say.”
“You’ll say nothing,” Callum said.“Widow or not, she’s too early in her mourning period for this to be seen as a harmless indiscretion.She would be damaged if the truth came out, and I will not have that.”
Theo tilted his head at Callum like he was speaking in tongues.“Settle yourself.I would never endanger the lady’s reputation or your own.I hope you know me better than that.”
Callum realized he was standing with both fists clenched at his sides and relaxed at this reminder.“I-I’m sorry.The whole thing is very new.”
“And judging from your reaction, you need to talk about it,” Theo said.“So drink that whisky and let me be a friendly,discreetear.”
“I don’t know what I could say about it,” Callum insisted, but he did drink his whisky in one glug and pulled a face at the fiery consequences.
“Well, start with what it is in the first place,” Theo said.
Callum pondered the question, thought about the past few days in Valaria’s bed.God’s teeth, but she was something spectacular.He could scarcely think of anything else.
“An affair,” he murmured.“It’s just an affair.”
