Page 16 of The Earl and the Vixen
When the sun emerged from the horizon that next morning, he gave up on the notion of restful sleep.
Climbing out of the bed, he wrapped his banyan around himself before washing his face with the cool water in the washbasin.
He glanced down and his cock protruded in front of him and refused to relent, aching from the intensity of thethoughts that invaded his sleep. He willed it to subside, not wanting to think of the one person he wished would ease his need. Trying not to think of her only made him think of her more. Made him want her more.
Nick couldn’t have his valet help to dress him in such a state, his member fully erect and throbbing. He tried to think of something else, but his mind kept coming back to her. It always came back to her.
Where he stood, he fisted himself and stroked up and down his shaft. He let his head fall back and stiffened his legs, stroking and teasing the steel rod between his legs as he imagined her lips wrapped around his cock. He thrust his hips to meet his hand, increasing his speed, still imagining her tongue stroking the smooth underside. She used to love when he fucked her mouth, leaving him with a wet surprise he could lap up between her thighs.
Before he came, he grabbed a cloth from the washstand and whispered her name when he released himself into the soft fabric.
He set the soiled cloth on the table and tied his banyan closed. He was still half erect, his need only momentarily sated, but perhaps he might better have his wits about him. Thinking about Eliza wouldn’t help, but he must get her alone so he could ask her why she abandoned him. Why she told him she loved him and would always be his, only to disappear and refuse to see him.
And more importantly, he’d have to ensure that a rakehell like Lord Irvine didn’t put his hands on her.
Chapter 7
Eliza and Juliet strolled into the breakfast room, arm in arm again. Eliza wasn’t ready to face Nick after what had transpired between them, but she knew Juliet wouldn’t fall for any attempts to delay their arrival in the breakfast room. She didn’t care to admit to herself how much the man still affected her. Her body craved him and her heart longed for him. But he was merely toying with her affections, and she was the fool for turning wanton in his presence. What made the matter ironic was that he was the one who had unlocked her wanton desires, and he still wielded the power to engage them at his will.
It wouldn’t be a surprise when he tossed her aside at the conclusion of the house party. Given his attention to Lady Preston, he probably had multiple women at his disposal.He dallied with her because he knew he could, and she had willingly allowed him to do so.
The odious man didn’t even believe he owed her an apology for tricking her, breaking her heart, and, in fact, ruining her. Her choices for a husband were limited—not that she wished to take one. She may have had many proposals, but once they knew another man had already taken her maidenhead, they would cast her aside. They could even seek an annulment or treat her poorly.
Worse than that, even after three years, she hadn’t dislodged him from her thoughts, and—she hated to admit—her heart. If yesterday had been any indication, her body betrayed her in how much she wanted him.
“Good morning, ladies,” Lord Irvine said, bowing to them. “Allow me to help you to your seats.”
They each took one of his proffered arms and when she glanced up at the man, it wasn’t lost on her that his gaze had locked onto her chest again. She glanced at Juliet, who smirked and stifled a giggle.
“Are you feeling all right this morning, Lady Eliza?” he asked. “I was disappointed when you didn’t join the rest of us for dinner.”
She caught sight of Nick entering the breakfast room, and her breath caught. She instantly pushed the notion aside and reminded herself that no good could come fromthinking of him as anything but the horrid man who used her and cast her aside.
“I am feeling much better, indeed,” she said, smiling up through her lashes. She bit her bottom lip for good measure and almost laughed when the man’s gaze immediately fixed there. Men really were simple creatures.
Eliza still wasn’t certain that she wished to couple with Lord Irvine, but it appeared the option would be available for her if she chose to pursue it. He may be a rake, but he had been kind and attentive to her, at least. He was likely a skilled bed partner, too, if she allowed herself to consider it.
He escorted them to the sideboard, where they made their selections. He carried each of their plates to the table and set them down, then pulled out their chairs and seated each of the ladies. Lord Irvine seated himself in the open seat next to Eliza, positioning his chair closer to her than he ought. When he sat down, his thigh rubbed against hers.
She noted that there still wasn’t even a hint of excitement or anticipation at having him so close. When she had been anywhere near Nick, or any part of them barely touched, the electricity had been palpable. It drew them closer together so that they sought any excuse to touch each other. Which was still evident based on what had occurred between them the day before.
She mentally chastised herself for comparing her reaction to anything regarding Nick. What she and Nick had wasn’t real. At least not for him. He made that quite clear. So perhaps she couldn’t be trusted to know what attraction or connection was. And did it truly even matter if all she would ask of Lord Irvine was physical pleasure? It’s not like she would ever consider marrying the man. She didn’t need him to cuddle her and whisper sweet nothings.
She opened her mouth to speak to Lord Irvine and closed it again when Nick took the seat directly across from her. Refusing to look at him, she refocused her attention on the man beside her, even if her body betrayed her attraction to Nick. “I hear a group is going to go riding after breakfast. I hoped you might accompany me, my lord.”
“I would be honored to ride with you, my lady,” Lord Irvine replied. “Do you enjoy horseback riding?”
“I do very much,” she said, looking up from her plate to offer him a wide smile. She glanced at Nick, whose neck had turned red, and his gaze bored into her. She rolled her eyes at him and took another bite of her food. Eliza glanced at Juliet and noted that Marquess Theodore Camden had seated himself next to her and had her engaged in conversation.
With her friend distracted, she focused her attention back on Lord Irvine. She tried to think of something to speak to him about, but Nick beat her to it.
“Will you be entering a horse in Newmarket next season, Irvine?” Nick asked.
“I intend to. I recently bought a fine contender from the Clive family, and I believe he shall be up to scratch,” Lord Irvine replied. John Clive was the most sought-after horse breeder in England since he took over the business from his cousin, who had unexpectedly become a titled peer.
Eliza masked her irritation at Nick’s interference and focused her attention on her plate. She tuned out the monotonous conversation about horses and races while picking at her food. She suspected Nick might have engaged the man in conversation to prevent her from doing so. Why did he care what she did or who she entertained, in her bed or out of it? He’d lost the right to do so.
She didn’t speak for the rest of breakfast, all too glad when she could excuse herself to change into her riding habit. She could only hope that she could escape Nick during the group ride, but she had erred when she asked Lord Irvine to accompany her in front of him.
