Page 8 of A Wager With A Rake
The man who’d been watching her stood from his stool and approached.Court scurried to a stand and was at her side in an instant, glaring at the man.It was like the man hadn’t noticed Court’s presence before then.Or hadn’t cared.He supposed that, given the way Theodosia had encouraged the man’s attention, he might have assumed she and Court didn’t have an arrangement.Which they didn’t.But he needn’t know as such.Let him think Theodosia was spoken for.
Court extended his arm to her, and she begrudgingly took it.He led her toward the doorway to the outside.“You don’t have to treat me like a bug you aim to squash, Tess.I never set out to harm you.”
“I know that,” she said, her tone the kindest it had been since she arrived.“But I had a vision and plan for my life and this setback is the same as suffering a devastating loss.Far more painful than the loss of my husband.”
He chose not to reply, a twinge of guilt hitting him.She didn’t have as much in the world as Court had.Not as many rights, not as many properties, and not as much money.But also, she wasn’t his obligation or his responsibility.They had been friends in their youth, but you didn’t sign over valuable estates for those reasons alone.The rumors that doing so would bring upon them both would hang over both of their heads, even if he had a fleeting thought to do the very thing.But that was nonsensical.
Court sent for the carriage and a few moments later, he was handing her inside.He took the seat across from her and he could hardly see her face within the dark cover of the carriage.
“Are you going to tell me why you spent supper glaring at that devilishly handsome man?”she asked after a few moments of rolling along in silence.
Her tone was far too smug for his liking.“I don’t know what you speak of,” he replied indifferently.
He could hear her giggle.The woman had dared to giggle at him.“Oh, but you do.”
“Perhaps, instead, you might explain why you were encouraging him to pay you attention.Do you have any idea what he would prefer to do to you if given the chance?”
“I very much have an idea, and I welcome it.”
He wished he could see her face to see if she was serious and meant what she said.But his cock hung on her every word.
“You don’t mean that.”
“You should know better than anyone that I do.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”he asked, slightly offended by her statement.
“Do you even know how many women you have bedded?”
He swallowed hard.He didn’t.But that was beside the point.“I don’t know how that…”
“Men have the luxury of doing whatever they please,” she started, interrupting him, “while women are expected to hide the sensual parts of themselves so they might remain pure for men in their eighties.I intend to enjoy my status as a widow, and that includes inviting whomever I wish to my bed.”
Court was suddenly thankful for the darkness, given how his cock strained his breeches at the thought of the beautiful woman across from him, wanton and begging to be fucked.It would seem he needn’t worry about the woman developing feelings for him, which would change the nature of his entire restraint.
“But,” she continued, “I supposed tonight wasn’t the night to entertain such endeavors.But certainly I shall see the man again once I settle in at Rosewood.”
The thought of whoever that man was climbing on top of Theodosia made his skin crawl.A reaction that he didn’t dare to inspect or assess, but it irritated him.Then there was her unwillingness to accept that she’d never be the owner of Rosewood.
He wasn’t certain what else there was to say between them.One could only argue the same point so many times before it became tiresome, and they’d reached that point hours ago.And all of his focus must go to willing his cock to subside before they arrived back at the estate before he gave in to what he wanted.
It would appear that maintaining control over himself would be more challenging than he expected.Left alone in the dark with his thoughts, all he could think about was how soft her skin might be, what she would taste like, what her lips would feel like wrapped around his cock.
By the time they rolled to a stop in front of his home, he wasn’t sure how he’d kept himself from freeing his member so he could quietly stroke his shaft across from her.Because if he didn’t achieve his own release soon, it would become far too painful.
He rearranged himself as best as he could and then rose to exit the carriage.Once his feet hit the gravel, he turned back to help her exit.Against his better judgement, he gripped her hips and lifted her down.Her body brushed his when he set her feet to the ground, teasing his cock from the whisper of pressure that had grazed it.
She put her hand in the nook of his arm, and he led her inside.
“Thank you for escorting me to supper,” she said as soon as they reached the staircase, “even if it was wholly unnecessary.I believe I am for my bed.”
“Then I shall escort you to your chamber,” he blurted before he could stop himself.It was the combination of the ale he’d drunk that evening and his aroused state, but imagining her undressing and settling into her bed made him wish he could spend more time in her presence.Far more time, albeit for pleasurable reasons.
“Very well,” she said, with a tone that indicated that an eye roll accompanied it.
They started up the stairs, and he decided he had to know more about her plans for the future.About her desire to invite any man she wished to her bed.“So that is the type of man you aim to keep in your company?”
“Not that it is any business of yours, but perhaps.”
