She kissed him, her mouth moving against him desperately, her hands tightening in his hair.This.This is what they had.Passion and lust and golden afternoons with her hair tangled around him, talking about everything and nothing and justbeing.
He growled when she wrenched her mouth from his.Pushing against his shoulders, she hissed, “People could see.”
He let her go, returning her stare, his chest bellowing.Christ.He had forgotten where they were.“It has not run its course,” he said intensely.
Her shoulders slumped.“We always knew it would end.”
He opened his mouth to further protest only to shut it with a snap.What was he doing?This was El.His El.“Fine,” he bit off.
Surprise lit her face, and maybe a hint of disappointment?What did she have to be disappointed about?She was ending them.“You do not look fine.”
“What can I possibly say?You do not wish to continue and instead wish to go back as we were.There is nothing I can do.I cannot force you against what you wish.”
She watched him warily.“You do not seem pleased.”
Was she insane?“Of course I am not bloody pleased!”His outburst sounded too loud in the air between them.Lowering his voice, he said intensely, “I am not the one who wishes this to end.”
“I have what I wanted,” she said, her voice high.“I’ve taken a lover and it was more than I could ever have imagined, but now it is done.”Hysteria entered her tone.“You promised, Benedict.You promised we would still be friends when it was over.”
He worked his jaw.Christ, he had, hadn’t he?It was only… He didn’t wish it to ever end.
“I will give you what you want, El.I will give you time and distance.Turns out I require both as well.Perhaps you were right that we should not see each other for a time.”Perhaps, if he had time and distance, he would forget the taste of her, the feel of her skin, the shocked gasp she made every time he entered her.Perhaps, with time and distance, he would forget what it was like to love her.
“But we are friends,” she said helplessly.
A mirthless smile tugged at him.“It appears I require some time to remember that.”
Chapter Twenty Two
Flamescrackledandpopped,orange sparks spitting as logs shifted in the grate.
Slouched in an armchair, Benedict stared as the fire consumed its fuel, finding a macabre kind of comfort in it.He did not turn when the door to his study opened, nor did he turn as his brother lowered himself into the chair besides his.
The fire continued to crackle and pop.“You were not at dinner,” the Earl finally said.
After the fight with El, he’d not felt like socialising with anyone, not even his family.He’d felt even less like leaving the house.Thus, he’d taken a tray here in his study, to contemplate burning logs and mope.“What do you want, Colgrove?”he said instead of answering.
He could feel his brother studying him.“We need to talk,” the Earl said.“About your use of Caraney House.”
The fire popped again.“Since when are you interested in my romantic entanglements?”
“Since they take place on my property.”
“I thought it was to be my property.”
“But it is not as yet, and I never intended it to be used as you used it.There are more appropriate venues for that.”
Benedict glanced at his brother.“Do you refer to the house on Merit Street?”Merit Street was where his brothers had taken lovers and temporary mistresses.
Cheeks ruddy, the Earl nodded sharply.
Benedict returned his gaze to the fire.“Merit Street was not fit for my purpose.Besides, I have not used it previously, why would I now?”
“Why would you use Caraney House?”
“Why would I not?It is promised to me.”
“It is also unstaffed.”
