Page 53 of Enemies with an Earl
He curled over, head falling to Thorne’s chest, panting and gulping down air. He barely had the energy to lift his gaze to find Thorne’s. The man was biting his lip, gaze still dark, still somewhat hazy in that post-orgasm daze. It was the most delicious sight Felix had ever seen. This large, impossibly strong man, covered in Felix’s seed. In their seed. He wanted to commit it to memory.
Thorne slowly dropped back to the mattress. Gaze locked on Felix’s, his hand lazily slid down over his muscled chest, down to his stomach. He slipped his fingers through Felix’s seed, rubbed it into his skin. Felix’s sharp inhale cut through the chamber, and his cock jumped, thickened, and that all-too-familiar coiling pressure began building.
Thorne’s stare shot to the movement and then back to Felix’s gaze, eyes wide. “Again?” he asked in disbelief.
Felix sank his teeth into his bottom lip and rocked it back and forth as he nodded. He had no bloody clue why, but the heat of a blush flamed over his cheeks.
Thorne grinned and grabbed the edge of the bed linens, hastily wiping himself clean. “On your back, Bentley.”
Felix frowned and apparently was moving too slowly. Because in the next minute, Thorne’s hands were palming his arse and flipping him onto his back. Felix bounced lightly on the mattress, arousal thrumming through his veins. Anticipation. He didn’t think he’d ever get used to being thrown around by this man. How it instantly reduced him to nothing but simmering lust.
Thorne settled between Felix’s thighs. His gaze met Felix’s, a dark promise in those grey irises.
“My turn,” he murmured, his voice molten, hungry. “And I fully intend to express my full appreciation.”
And then Thorne put that wicked mouth to use.
27
Felix
Felixdrewhishorseto a halt next to his sister’s. He scanned their surroundings. Christ, it was like something out of a painting. Giant willows bordered the flowing River Arun. A mossy path led to their vibrant green cascading branches. A thick wood lay on the other side, wildflowers dotting the overlong grass leading up to the trees.
He slid down from his horse, then followed Flick and her mount. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. The new blooms of spring were potent on the breeze, sweet and floral, the song of a collection of birds melding with the bubble of the flowing river. A glorious May day, warmer weather on the horizon, flowers in full bloom, the earth reawakening. New beginnings. A tiny bit of the tension in his frame eased.
They tied up their horses, and Felicity beckoned him to follow. “I knew you would love this place.” Flick smiled back at him.
Felix had always loved being outside. Far away from society. From constraints. From judgment. The Jennings trio seemed to need sanctuary. Fitzy liked to escape in his books. Flick and Felix liked to disappear into the wild. Where they could be free.
Felicity reached into the canopy, brushing aside a section of the long dangling branches. Felix followed her inside, and his eyes widened. He spun in a slow circle, mouth slack, taking in the myriad arched vines cascading around them. The river’s sounds were muffled in here, almost giving the space a feel of being its own small world. It felt like…a haven.
“Do you know who else would love this?”
“Mother.”
Felix shot a grin at his sister. “Exactly. Mother wouldlovethis.”
“I’ll have to show her when she arrives.” Felicity plopped down against the tree trunk and wiggled her bottom until she was comfortable.
Felix lowered himself next to his sister, propping one knee up and resting a forearm across it. He nudged Flick with his elbow. “So, you’re getting married. I’d congratulate you on your betrothal and becoming the next Duchess of Devonford, but—wait—weren’t you already lined up to do that?” He paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Am I supposed to congratulate you again?”
“Oh, congratulations are most definitely in order, you oaf. That was a hard-fought betrothal. Ash was determined to live a life of penance, to be alone for the rest of his life. But he stood no chance. Not against me.”
“No one does, sister.” Their gazes caught, and they shared a smile. Felix’s smile faded, and he ran a knuckle over Flick’s pert nose. “I’m unbelievably happy for you, Felicity. I’m so sorry I almost kept you from all of this.”
“You know—and I hate to be one of thoseeverything happens for a reasonpeople—but I feel as though things had to unravel the way they did.” She gnawed on her lip and linked and unlinked her hands, her gaze drifting inward. “I…don’t think I would have ended up with Ash if I hadn’t come here to seduce him. If we had broken the betrothal because you’d listened to me”—she arched a saucy brow at him, and he winced—“then we would have cut ties, and that would have been the end of it. It is not as though the Duke would have ever approached me afterward. So…maybe it wasn’t so bad that you were a total boorish numpty.”
Felix let his head drop back against the rough trunk, an almost-there smile pulling at his lips. “That may be true. But I hate that I didn’t listen to you. It was just so confusing because you did want to marry Wessex at one time. I assumed once you two settled down together, you’d be happy. I remember when he asked for your hand. You weresoexcited. The look on your face? God, Flick, I thought I’d finally succeeded at something after Father…”
“Oh, I remember.” She rolled her head back and forth against the willow’s trunk next to him. “But what young woman wouldn’t be over the moon that she was to become a duchess? That a dashing gentleman wantedheras his wife. The newly betrothed sparkle was snuffed out fairly quickly when I realized that Colborn wanted me as an ornament, not as a person, not as a partner.
“The thing is, Colbyissomeone I enjoy spending time with. But it’s nothing of consequence when yourfriends are spoiled arses who can’t keep their peckers in their pantaloons. You just don’t want to marrythose people.”
A laugh slipped from Felix, but it came with a twist of the gut.
“Stop. I can practically hear your guilt. You’re forgiven, Fifi. You need to stop berating yourself over everything.”
“You forgive me so easily,” he said softly. “When it was no minor folly.”
