This.This was why he held her in such great affection.That she would offer him such, and that he held no surprise she had.“I am not wholly reliant on Colgrove, or even slightly.I have invested some of my allowance as your financial managers have suggested and have quite the tidy sum Colgrove has no claim too.”
Her brows creased.“You have?On the advice of my mangers?”
“You are the cleverest person I know, El.If you trust them with your wealth, then so do I.”
Her brows drew further.“I am?”
“Do not pretend you do not know I think so.”She made to protest again, but he said quickly, “We are not here for us to discuss my brother or my finances.Do you wish your next lesson?”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth before jerking back up.“What am I to learn this day?”
“We should discuss how you plan to attract Malvern’s attention.Formulate a plan.”
She blinked, disappointment drawing the lines of her face.“That is what we are to discuss today?”
“What else shall we discuss?”
“Well, I thought…” She wet her lips.“Maybe something that was more…demonstrative in nature.”
His own gaze dropped.Her mouth was lush, delicious, and he should not want it again beneath his own.He should not want to dig his hands into her hips, to pull her into his body, to feel the softness of her curves melting into him.He should not want her moans, her gasps, the breathy way she said his name.He should not want her to whisper in his ear,More, Benedict.Harder.He should not want those things, and so much more.“Perhaps we might practice something else.”
Her eyes lit up.“What shall we practice?”
Something that did not involve them touching.Something where he could delude himself that he did not want to taste every part of her.“How you would draw him to your side.”
“Have we not already explored that, with the fan?”
“That is one way.There are others.”
When he did not continue, she scowled.“Well?What are they?”
He fought a smile.“Well, there is anticipation.”
“What do you— Oh.”She’d spotted his grin.“Do not think you are clever, Benedict.What else is there?”
He thought he was quite clever indeed.“Your gaze,” he said.
“Pardon?”
“Bring him to your side with your gaze.”
Her brows drew.“How?”
“Lock eyes with him and hold them.”He couldn’t resist putting his thumb on her bottom lip, her flesh dewy under his thumb.“Would you bite this as you held his gaze?”Absently, he stroked the soft flesh.“Would you watch as he made certain of your invitation with a quirk of a brow, and the follow his progress as he crossed the room for you?”Where her shoulder met her neck, her skin was creamy and tinged with the faintest hint of gold.A freckle sat on her shoulder above the faint curve of her collarbone, the light colour tempting a man to discover its taste.
“And then what?”she asked breathlessly.
“Perhaps he will come behind you.”He put action to words, standing behind her so they almost touched.
She bent her neck, her nape vulnerable.“Is this what I should do?”
“It is one option.”His own voice sounded like gravel.He could not look from where her neck joined her shoulder.She drew in her breath as his fingers met her skin and then held it as he allowed his touch to linger.Her pulse beat frantically, a thrum against his fingers.From his vantage, her breasts plumped against the neckline of her gown with each breath.
His cock stirred at the sight.He had noticed her breasts before, but he hadn’t let himselfnoticethem.They were soft and full and he wanted them in his hands.He could not have that, so instead he trailed his fingers over her collarbone.
She shivered, her teeth digging into her bottom lip as she tilted her head.Unable to resist such an invitation, he brushed his lips behind her ear.A small gasp parted her lips and he wanted to hear it again.And then he wanted to make her moan.
Splaying his hand over her ribcage, he drew her closer into him so her back moulded to his chest.Lifting her arm, she wound it around his neck, her fingers spearing through his hair and scratching his scalp.Pleasure bolted through him, arrowing straight to his rapidly hardening cock.Cupping her jaw, he nipped at the cord in her neck, where her shoulder joined.She moaned, and Christ, the sounds she made.
