Page 17 of A Wager With A Rake
Theodosia’s breath hitched, but she pulled away, her eyes glittering with defiance.“Patience, Court.I believe I should like to read for a while.We have days ahead of us for me to best you again.”
After he watched her walk away, his eyes glued again to the sway of her hips, he’d left her alone to read for the afternoon.Court took advantage of the opportunity to review his correspondence and the ledgers he’d brought with him after his hasty departure from his primary estate.Although Theodosia was never too far from his thoughts.
That evening, the anticipation grew as the first of their card games drew closer.He hadn’t seen her all afternoon, and then she appeared in the drawing room just as supper was announced.They forwent an afternoon meal to have an early supper so they could focus on their wager.
Court escorted her to the dining room.The room glowed with soft candlelight, casting flickering shadows across the table.He pulled out a chair for her to the left of his and then seated himself at the head of the table.
The first course was placed before them, but Court hadn’t even taken a bite.He found his gaze drawn repeatedly to Theodosia, her skin luminous in the warm light, her eyes sparkling as she appeared to ponder something.He loved to watch her mind at work.A realization he just as quickly pushed aside.
“Do you remember that summer when I stayed with Rebecca and you?”she asked, a hint of laughter in her voice.“When you dared us to sneak into the orchard and then we brought back so many apples and gorged ourselves?”She nodded toward the centerpiece on the table, which included several apples.
Court chuckled.“How could I forget?We were sick for days afterward.My mother was convinced we’d all caught some dreadful fever.”
Their eyes met across the table, and for a moment, there was something unspoken between them.Court glanced away and reached for his wine glass, needing something to occupy his hands.
“You were always up for a dare.And you were quite the little hellion back then,” he teased, his voice dropping to a husky murmur.“I see some things never change.”
Theodosia’s cheeks flushed, but her gaze remained steady.“Perhaps you simply bring out the worst in me.”
The air between them crackled with tension.Court leaned forward, drawn inexorably toward her.But before he did something he might regret—like kiss her senseless—he forced himself to lean back, gripping his utensils tightly.
“Or perhaps,” he said, his tone deliberately provocative, “I bring out your deepest desires.”
Theodosia’s breath caught, her chest rising and falling rapidly.Court’s eyes followed the movement, his mouth suddenly dry.
She assessed him, then raised her chin.“And what of your desires?”Theodosia’s eyes sparkled with mischief, and he knew she was teasing him.
“Once I win this game we play, I’ll teach you a thing or two about desire.”He chuckled to himself when she audibly gasped, before biting into her bottom lip.He knew he played with fire and scrambled to return to their previous banter before he had her bent over the dining table.“Surely your late husband set your expectations quite low in that regard.I hear some men struggle to rise to the occasion once they reach a certain age.”
Theodosia eyed him as if he’d grown a second head and then her lips curled into an amused grin as she burst into whoops.“Did you just bring up my dead husband’s cock at the supper table?”
Court took another large gulp of his wine and flashed her a toothy grin.“Of the things I’ve done in my life, that was arguably not all that astonishing.Besides, I can’t help but be curious.Did he at least remove the wig first?”
Theodosia covered her face with her hands, sliding them down her face as she bit back her laughter.“Would you believe it fell off once?That horrid thing landed right on my breasts.”She shook her head, letting a bit of laughter escape her beautiful lips before she turned more somber.“And the wig made no difference either way.Spending a moment in his presence, let alone having him in my bed, was dreadful.”
Court’s lips slowly curved downward at the thought of her being in a marriage against her will.Any woman, for that matter.He might be a libertine rake, but women of his company had always done so willingly, as it should be.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone firm and serious.
She waved him off.“None of that.Dundas is long gone, leaving me free to do as I please, and we have far more pressing things to concern ourselves with this evening.You should keep your mind sharp and focused on the game ahead.If your chess skill is any indicator, you are going to bed disappointed tonight.”
Given that he wouldn’t yet have her in his bed.He’d be disappointed indeed.
Chapter 8
Theodosia
Aftersupper,TheodosiatrailedCourt, following him to his study, the very room where she’d beaten him at chess earlier that day.Hopefully, good fortune would continue to be on her side.She’d need all of it, as her control was steadily slipping with every moment she spent in his presence.
The urge to allow him into her bed was far greater than she’d expected.She’d only taken to reading earlier, so she might get away from him and regain control over her urges before she caved and enjoyed every bit of his form.
Theodosia watched as he rummaged around in his desk.
“It is going to be Piquet, correct?”He pulled out a worn deck of cards and set them on the table before urging her to take her seat.“And are we to play a single game to determine the winner for tonight, or the best of three games?”
Theodosia met his gaze, pondering his question.Playing the best of three would give her a better chance to assess his strategies and improve her odds of success.“Best of three.Each game shall be the first to reach one hundred points.”
Court shuffled the cards with an expertise that spoke of his skill for cards.“I agree with those terms.”
