There was the clearing of a throat behind them and they both turned. Darrius had exited the study and was staring at them. Benedict almost laughed. No wonder Vanessa had mistaken the other man’s desire for dislike. His expression was hard in the glint of lamplight, but Benedict knew he was aroused by what he saw. It was in the ripple of the muscle in his jaw, in the way his fingers flexed at his side.
Benedict held his stare, lost in blue fire for a moment. Then he turned Vanessa toward him and nudged her forward even while he kept his front pressed to her back. “Do you want to kiss her, too?”
Darrius sucked in a breath, the only sound in the quiet. Then he nodded. Benedict slid a hand along her throat to tilt her face upward toward him. Darrius caught her with a growl and kissed her. When he moved to cup her cheek, his fingers slid across Benedict’s and now it was Benedict who lost his breath.
Vanessa’s fingers clenched against Darrius’s jacket as their kiss deepened and filled with the promise of passion to come. And come and come and come, Benedict hoped. There was something magical about having her pressed between them, her movements teasing both of them. He wanted to have her this way, both of them buried in her body, their cocks separated by nothing but a thin membrane of flesh.
He was almost dizzy with the image as Darrius finally pulled away from her and stepped back, his breath short and his gaze a little unsteady. “The sooner we say our goodbyes, the sooner we get to continue that,” he said, his voice rough and laced with the same desire that coursed through Benedict’s veins.
It was so powerful to see it. Darrius held back so much, denying himself pleasure and even emotion. But with Vanessa…well, she brought him out of that protective shell a little. Made him more of the man Benedict had always believed he could be. That he longed for him to be.
“I agree,” Vanessa said, and smoothed her gown with both hands. She smiled back over her shoulder at Benedict. “And I hear the Egerton party coming down now, so it seems the time has come. Shall we, gentlemen?”
Benedict arched a brow at Darrius, who was also smiling at how she took charge. “After you,” Darrius said with a great flourish to motion her back toward the foyer.
Benedict followed and they found Lord and Lady Egerton and Reid standing together. They all looked a little…flushed, and Benedict almost laughed. Seemed they weren’t the only threesome who’d been up to a bit of naughty mischief before departure.
Egerton stepped forward and extended a hand to Darrius. “You’re handling this mess like a true gentleman, Warwick.”
Darrius glanced briefly at Vanessa, but then nodded. “Thank you, Egerton.”
The men continued to shake hands even as Lady Egerton enfolded Vanessa in a hug. “When you return to London, come see me,” she said. “Whatever happens, we will work together on the next steps.” She glanced at Benedict meaningfully and then at Darrius as she released Vanessa.
“And in the meantime, we will do what we can in London,” Reid said.
Egerton nodded. “I will have a stern meeting with your parents, Vanessa. They will cause you no trouble either way. And if I find Arthur Warwick…”
He trailed off and inclined his head at Darrius, as if asking him what he desired. Darrius folded his arms. “Please feel free to punch my brother in the mouth if you find him. On my behalf.”
That elicited a rare smile from the marquess, and Benedict couldn’t help but notice how very handsome the man was. No wonder the marchioness and Reid were so obsessed with him.
“I shall do that and pass along your regards.” He placed a hand on Merritt’s back and guided her toward the door. “Come along then, you two.”
They loaded into the carriage, made their final waves of goodbye and then they were off, racing down the drive. And finally, Benedict was alone with the two people he couldn’t resist.
He turned, smiling at them both, and said, “Finally. And now may I suggest we retire back to Darrius’s room? Because there’s nothing I’d like more than to continue what we started in the hallway. With far fewer layers of clothing, of course.”
Darrius took Vanessa’s hand and tugged her gently toward the house. “I thought you’d never ask.
Vanessa
As the three of them staggered upstairs and down the hallway toward Darrius’s chamber, the energy had been light. Playful even. But the moment the chamber door closed and locked, that shifted. Darrius spun her into his arms and his mouth was hot on hers like it had been in the hallway, his fingers dragging into her hair, gripping her scalp to turn her head and deepen the passionate kiss. Benedict didn’t hesitate either—he was at her back, grinding against her. The feel of them flanking her, pressing her between them, was almost overwhelming in its pleasure.
She reached back, cupping Benedict’s cheek, and he leaned in as Darrius pulled back, the two men almost brushing lips in the exchange. She would have asked them to, but Benedict silenced her with his mouth. Her dress was being removed. She had no idea which one of them was doing it. It was just hands now, just fingers brushing her, pulling fabric down, sliding against her skin as she moaned in pleasure and anticipation.
The dress was tossed aside and as Benedict continued to kiss her, Darrius dropped to his knees before her and untied her garters. His mouth dragged along the line of the top of her stocking and she shuddered with the sensation. He rolled the silky stockings down, unbuckled her slippers. His hands were hot on her bare skin as he retraced the line back up her leg and repeated the action on the other side.
His fingers slid higher now, brushing between her legs, urging her to open to him. She couldn’t resist. She was already too swept away, there was no going back. She widened her stance, granting him some access and broke away from Benedict’s kiss. They both stared down at Darrius, this powerful man on his knees for her and she realized that the way Benedict was standing, it would be so easy for Darrius to lick him, too.
And once again her fantasies were stoked. A fire that exploded further when Benedict pushed her hair back over her shoulder and kissed the sensitive spot where her shoulder and neck met.
She felt like she was in suspension as she waited for Darrius to lick her, but he continued to watch her with Benedict for a moment before he asked, “Have you ever had a man in your mouth?”
CHAPTER 10
Vanessa
The question hung in the air, held captive by the tension that image created between them. Slowly she shook her head. “I-I’ve seen illustrations. But never tried it.”
