She giggled at the idea that something so wicked could be considered commonplace. But his casualness about it was also arousing. “And was it a man or a woman?”
“Both in varying times,” he said. “And before you ask, yes, I was involved with all parties. Pleasure is pleasure, my dear. I like all its forms.”
“As do I,” she said. “Good, we’re finding so many things we’re compatible about.”
He placed a hand on her thigh and glided his fingers upward slightly. “So many things.”
She gasped at the touch, surprised he seemed so capable of setting her aflame with such ease. She was experienced, after all. Occasionally she felt jaded when it took a great deal of fantasy and effort to truly become excited by a new man. Once she was there, it was fine, but this was… captivating. Instant. Volcanic.
She caught his wrist. “Before you start all over again, I must plead for some comfort. I’m famished. Is there anything in the larder of this gilded cage that we could share? Or perhaps we could take a little jaunt to my house where my very kind servants would whip us up a gorgeous meal to give us strength.”
To her surprise, Silas sat up straight. “Fuck!”
“What is it?” she asked.
“Does that clock say eight?” he asked, leaning forward to look at the little clock on the mantel below the hideous portrait.
“Yes. Do you need spectacles? That would be adorable, I’d love to steam them up.”
He gave her a playful glare but there was truly trouble in his countenance otherwise. “My brother, the marquess, demanded I join him for supper tonight at eight. I hadn’t known for certain if I was going to attend, but I did mean to send him word if I refused. Now I haven’t done either and I’m certain he’ll be furious.”
She sat up. “You could send word now and ready yourself quickly. I’m sure you could make it within the hour.”
“I think being late might be worse in his estimation than not being there at all. No, I’m sure the damage is done and I’ll hear about it from all sides eventually.”
He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. She wanted to press for more, but once again she silently cautioned herself on doing so. This was temporary. This man was not her protector, she didn’t have a place to try to soothe his pains or worries. In fact, it was very much better if she didn’t.
She leaned forward and placed her chin on his bare shoulder, looking up at him. “Well, if you intend to stay…I think I can make the trouble worth the while.”
He glanced down at her and she watched the concerns bleed from his expression. She had done that, even if she told herself it wasn’t her place.
“Could you now?” he asked with a chuckle. “I think you could.”
“After food,” she insisted, and batted her eyelashes. “Please, sir…just a bite.”
“I likesir,” he admitted, and leaned down to kiss her. “Come, let’s get dressed and I’ll see if I can have something palatable brought to us. But then I absolutely insist on you following through on this ‘make the trouble worth it’ plan of yours.”
“Oh, I will,” she said as she cupped his cheek and drew him in. “I promise.”
CHAPTER8
It turned out Arabella kept her promises and in spades. After they’d eaten the night before, a reasonable spread despite the very obvious disapproval on his butler’s face when he delivered it, she had pleasured him for hours. Until they were both weak with it. Until they couldn’t stay awake from exhaustion and satisfaction.
And now she lay in his arms, still asleep despite it being late in the morning, and he felt…calm. That was the word for it, he thought.Calm. Like things were well for him somehow in a world that hadn’t been balanced in years.
She shifted a little at his side and her hand, which had been resting against his stomach, slid up to his chest. His body reacted, despite the acrobatics of the night before. The wanting for this woman didn’t seem to fade.
“How long have you been awake?” she murmured, turning her mouth against his shoulder and kissed it lightly.
He shivered in response and started to stroke along her spine lightly. “I don’t know. Not long. A few minutes.”
She inched closer and now her hand came down across his hip and her forearm brushed the half-hard cock that was already asking for more.
She lifted her head and smiled a little, that wicked flash of brilliance he was starting to crave. “Seems like something else has been awake a bit longer.”
“Something elseseems to be awake at all times with you.” She leaned up to kiss him and he drew her over his body. “I think you might be a siren.”
“No,” she laughed as she began to gently stoke him. “They’re half-bird and I can’t sing, you truly don’t want me to try. I think you mean a succubus.”
