Page 18 of The Earl and the Vixen
Eliza couldn’t help but notice Nick’s expression, which appeared to show the faintest signs of remorse. He caughther eye, and the intensity of his gaze sent shivers up her spine.
“My lady,” Lord Irvine said, capturing her attention. He held his hand out to her to help her up from the bench. “I thought we might take our drink on the terrace. It’s a lovely evening and not too terribly cold.” He leaned a bit closer. “And our drink shall keep us warm.” He smiled down at her, his expression full of mirth.
She responded by looping her arm in his and allowing him to lead the way. He already held the bottle they had won in the Pall Mall competition, and he stopped before they reached the terrace door to grab two glasses from the sideboard.
Once they were outside on the terrace, he poured them each a drink before he set the bottle down on the wide top rail. “To our win, and what a great team we make,” he said, holding his glass up in a toast.
She toasted him, and they each took a large gulp of their drinks. He was right about it keeping her warm as her throat had already warmed as she downed the liquid.
“If I may be so forward,” he started after lowering his glass, “why is it you have turned down so many offers of marriage, my lady?”
She took another fortifying sip of her drink before responding. “I don’t wish to marry.”
“Then wehave that in common,” he said. “At least for a very long time, indeed.”
“I am sure you will take a wife one day to secure your heir, but I never intend to marry.” She fell for the folly of schoolgirl notions once, and she would be damned if she’d go through that heartache again.
“But don’t you wish for”—he paused and captured her gaze—“other things?”
She smirked at him. “Does one truly need to be married to engage in such things? I would wager you haven’t been living as a monk, my lord.”
He choked on the sip he took and coughed a few times. Once he recovered, he responded. “I quite enjoy a lady who is so forward.”
Perhaps it was the drink or even the moonlight, but she found she enjoyed flirting with the man. Perhaps if she kissed him, she would feel a bit more inclined to allow other liberties and forget Nick once and for all.
“And I enjoy a gentleman who thinks so,” she said, giving him a coy grin.
He stepped closer to her and removed her drink from her hand, then set both of their glasses beside the bottle on the railing. “Lady Eliza, might you be amenable to a kiss?”
“I believe I would, my lord,” she said, smiling up at him. She wasn’t certain, but it was time.Time to see what another man might stir within her. She had only ever kissed Nick, and if one would have asked her three years ago, she would have said she would kiss no other man for as long as she lived. But unless she wished to never experience the touch of a man again, she had to try.
He cupped her face in his hand and glanced at her lips. Much to her annoyance, she pictured Nick’s face and longed for the man before her to be him.
“Irvine,” a familiar voice called out as if she had conjured Nick from her thoughts. “Our hosts have requested your presence.”
Lord Irvine quickly dropped his hand and stepped back from Eliza.
“Of course,” he said before turning back to Eliza, whispering so only she could hear. “I should like to continue this later.”
She nodded and watched him depart before pushing past Nick to return inside. Eliza was afraid of what she might do or say to him if she remained in his presence, wanting him as much as she did. She didn’t trust herself not to drag him to her bed. So she took off through the other doorway and down a corridor to avoid being seen by the other guests.
But she hadn’t been fast enough as Nick was quickly on her heels. His firm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a small study with only a few bookcases and adesk. There was a bit of light in the room from the low embers glowing from the fireplace.
Nick closed the door behind them and leaned against it. The shadows on his face made him appear a tad dangerous, yet irresistibly handsome. “Eliza,” he said, breathless and frenzied. His nostrils flared and his jaw set in a hard line. “What in the hell do you think you are doing?”
Chapter 8
Nick fought to keep his hurt and anger under control. If he had arrived even a few seconds later, she would have been in the man’s arms and his lips would have been upon hers. That was something he just could not allow. The man would be confused when their hosts did not know why Irvine sought them out, but it was the first thing Nick could come up with to get the man to leave.
“Last I checked,” she started, “if I wish to fuck a handsome gentleman, I am free to do so.”
His blood boiled, and he stepped closer to her. “No, you aren’t,” he ground out. She was right, of course, but she should have married him. She was always supposed to be his, and even with all that had happened betweenthem, and all that he still didn’t understand, he still wanted her. That much he knew for certain. His body, his cock…his heart, his soul…all wanted her.
She closed the distance between them, stopping just out of his reach. “From what I hear, he is quite well known for his prowess. I’m sure he’ll be able to satisfy me in bed. Perhaps he’ll even teach me a few things.”
He released a low growl and stepped closer so he could pull her to him. “I will not allow you to fuck Irvine. Or any other man.” He bent his head to kiss her collarbone and neck, causing her to sway in his arms. At least he still affected her.
She didn’t pull away and instead matched his dare by licking along his jaw until she reached his ear. “It is no business of yours if I should wish to come all over his thick cock,” she whispered.
