Page 32 of Her Daring Earl
Lord Brighton took another sip of the port that seemed to be magically refilling due to the diligence of the footman behind him.
“Then, there was one time at school when Fitz and I wagered to see which one of us could set a particular garment waving on the flagpole. I thought for certain that I could win this one, but Fitz went out of his way to become the victor. He?—”
“I think that’s enough,” Fitz said firmly, putting his drink down on the table in front of him.
“Oh, but we were just getting to the good part,” Lord Brighton said before Lord Whitby chimed in, “probably best not to tell that story in the company of the ladies.”
“Ah,” Lord Brighton said, sitting back in his seat as though he had forgotten just who he was sitting with. Eliza supposed that could be forgiven since the three women who were present were not exactly the most proper of ladies to have ever made his acquaintance.
“I don’t mind,” Eliza said, knowing that she was probably pushing it too far, but she had an indescribable need to learn more of what lengths Fitz had gone to. She had a feeling it involved a woman. Why she wanted more information about Fitz with another woman, she had no idea, but it was like some perverse need to know more.
“You should,” Fitz said, but that wasn’t what caused her to stop talking. It was his hand, which had come under the table and gripped her thigh.
Gripped it high enough to have her swallowing hard in surprise.
“Lord Whitby, why do you not tell us about your land?” Lady Fitzroy said. “I hear that you came into an unexpected inheritance recently.”
“Why, yes, I did,” Lord Whitby said as he began rambling on, only Eliza couldn’t have repeated anything he spoke about.
She was far too focused on Fitz’s hand.
And the way it was moving up her leg.
CHAPTER 11
Fitz was playing with fire.
But then, so was Eliza. Watching her sit next to Brighton, a smile on her face as she listened to his stories, was placing him closer to the edge than he liked.
What edge that was, he wasn’t sure, but he felt about ready to combust between his ire as well as his need to have Eliza beneath him again.
It was as if her every movement, her every word, her every damn breath was calling to him, making him want her more intensely than he had ever wanted another before.
Somewhere in the back of his mind where the rational thought lived, he knew that part of the reason she was so enjoying Brighton’s stories was because they were about him, but he still had this intense, sudden need to possess all of her smiles, to protect them with another.
So, he decided it was time to have his own bit of fun.
He took possession of her thigh, inching his fingers upward, enjoying watching her face as she tried to hide her reaction to him.
There was the initial widening of her eyes, which was soon followed by the swallow, causing movement in the long columnof her throat, and then the forced smile to hide what she was truly feeling.
But not once did she bring her hand down to cover his, nor give him any hint that she wanted him to stop. Which made him want her all the more. He ran his fingers over the silky fabric of her dress. He should know what material it was, having seven sisters, but truth be told, he didn’t overly care if it was silk, satin, or muslin. It made no difference to him.
What he cared most about was that it was draped over her body, hugging her curves, hiding that beautiful skin from him.
It was soft, that was for certain, and welcomed his fingers as they ran over it until they reached the crease where her leg began. He lightly danced his fingers over her center before leaving it again, doused in satisfaction when she practically jumped.
“Are you well, Lady Eliza?” Lord Whitby said, interrupting his recitation of his lands to peer closely at her.
“Just fine,” she said, her voice practically a squeak, and Fitz had to hide his smile behind his other hand as the man continued.
He wished he could find a way through this fabric to actually touch her, but there was no recourse for that – not here, not now.
There was only one thing to do about it – get everyone to bed and hope that he could find his way to her bedroom without anyone noticing him.
The question was whether either of them would make it until that time. She was biting her lip now, a slight sheen of perspiration shining on her forehead.
Fitz began rubbing faster, the muscles in his hand tightening as he kept his arm as still as possible so his actions wouldn’t be obvious.
