by Dana Delamar
“So how many of these guys are gay, do you think?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No idea. They’re all actors, so some, I’m sure.”
“I’ve got my eye on that tall chap in the brown coat,” Ken said, nodding to a couple nearby.
The man was looking our way, his eyes raking us up and down, and I smiled. “Could be he likes us both.”
Ken grinned and shook his head. “Oh honey, I don’t think so. Check out where his eyes are now.”
I turned to look, following the man’s gaze to a pair of tall men entering the ballroom. Riley and Carter looked resplendent in top hats and clothing that fit as though it had been tailored for them. The black masks covering their eyes made me think of highwaymen, and a shiver of anticipation flowed over me. Oh, to be stopped at night in a carriage and to have the two of them come aboard with nothing but money and lust on their minds…
“The nerve of you, Lady Sutherland, drooling over other men when you’ve got me in your arms,” Kenji teased.
I gave his shoulder a light squeeze. “Trust me, if I thought you were interested, they’d be in trouble.”
His gaze flicked away from mine, and flags of crimson appeared on his cheekbones. But… wasn’t Ken solidly in the gay camp?
“You aren’t, are you?” I asked tentatively. Could Ken be bisexual? He always wore his homosexuality like a badge of honor.
“Of course not. I’m as gay as nineteen pink balloons.” His dark eyes were stormy, his grin a tad forced.
Deciding that it was none of my business, I inclined my head. “I’m afraid Riley and Carter make me think everyone is bi.”
He gave me a peck on the cheek. “His Grace forgives your unseemly behavior.”
“How gracious of you.” I smiled at my own pun and glanced over Kenji’s shoulder, my gaze colliding with Riley’s as he headed my way, Carter close behind.
Kenji spun me around. “Here they come. Riley looks pissed. Pistols at dawn, do you think?”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” I whirled around again, and a gloved hand that wasn’t Kenji’s slid over the junction between my neck and shoulder.
“May I cut in?” Riley asked as we came to a stop. Ken drew himself up to his full height. “I laid claim to the lady’s first two dances. You may wait until she is free.”
I giggled. Kenji really was good at being imperious. I smiled up at Riley as we spun away. “How good are you at swordplay?” I asked Kenji.
He burst into laughter at my double entendre. “My Lady Sutherland, you’re damned good fun.” He nodded at Riley, who stood at the edge of the dance floor with his arms crossed. “The only way I want to cross swords with Riley again is if we’re both naked.”
“Even though he pissed you off?”
Ken shrugged. “Have you looked at the man? I can forgive a lot of things in his case.”
“Yeah. And I bet he knows it.”
Ken winked at me. “Of course he does, honey. Part of his charm.”
Yes it was. Maybe it did make Riley a bit spoiled. But he didn’t seem irredeemable.
The quartet started a new piece, and Kenji switched direction, steering us across the floor. I caught sight of Riley several times in between the other twirling couples. He hadn’t budged an inch, his lips set in a firm line.
Carter was dancing with Lori, and he gave me a wide smile and nod as they passed by.
So Riley wanted to pout. Well, the wait would be good for him then.
The dance ended, and Kenji started to escort me off the floor, but I stayed him. “One more, Your Grace?”
He bowed to me and steered me back into the crowd. I caught Riley’s gaze as we whirled by. His mouth was open, a slight crease between his brows.
I’m not that easy, Mr. Kendrick. I smiled at Riley and winked. You want me? You have to work for it.
“Can you make sure we’re near Carter and Lori when we’re through?”
“You mean Eric. And yes.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Kenji was true to his word, wrapping up our third dance right next to Carter and Lori. “Off to see about some… refreshments,” Ken murmured, his eyes locked on the actor in the brown coat.
“Good luck,” I said and turned to Carter. “I seem to have an opening on my dance card.”
Carter’s gaze slid to Riley, but I didn’t look, hoping Carter would pick up the hint. He did, and extended a hand to me. “At your service, Lady Sutherland.”
Like Kenji, Carter was a confident dancer. Unlike the rest of the men though, he was decked out in a kilt. “Is the kilt yours, Lord…?” I waited for him to supply a last name.
“Thornton. Eric Thornton. Duke. And yes it’s mine. Riley mentioned liking them when you were in Scotland.”
I laughed. “Everyone wants to be a duke tonight, I see.”
Carter grinned. “Thought Ken would go for royalty.”
“I thought so too, but he chose mere dukedom.”
“Riley is going to be peeved with you,” Carter said.
I shrugged. “He should have been on time then.”
Carter chuckled. “My fault. Well my kilt’s fault, I suppose.”
I looked up at him through my lashes. “He couldn’t resist peeking under it?”
“You know Riley.”
“I’m beginning to. I think.”
Carter squeezed my waist. “I approve of your strategy, by the way. I think sometimes Riley has no idea what we mere mortals go through. It’s good to remind him that he can’t always have what he wants when he wants it. I think I’ve forgotten that too many times.”
“Then let’s give him a good reminder, shall we?”
We spun around the floor for two dances. God, Carter smelled wonderful. And he felt wonderful too, his shoulder like iron beneath my glove, his large hand dwarfing my fingers, the other steady at my waist, gently communicating which way he wanted me to turn.
And all the while Riley’s gaze bored into me like a laser beam. I felt the heat of it every time we passed by him, but I barely acknowledged his presence.
When the second dance ended, he stalked our way and wordlessly extended a hand to me. His eyes held mine, daring me to turn him down again.
This time I didn’t. I took his hand and murmured my thanks to Carter as he stepped away.
Riley spun me back out onto the floor, his back ramrod straight, his feet nimble and quick.
“You enjoyed making me wait,” he finally said, his dark eyes holding mine.
“Couldn’t help myself. I’ve never been the belle of the ball before.”
A smile played with a corner of his mouth. “You are far too modest, Lady Sutherland.”
“Not modest. Honest.”
He gently squeezed my hand. “Then you spent your life among men who are blind,” he murmured, the huskiness of his tone making heat gather between my legs.
Damn him; he always knew what to say to make me melt.
“Is there somewhere more private we could go?” he asked.
“We have the run of the house.” I couldn’t look at him as I said it; instead I studied the faces of the other dancers, the onlookers. Did they know what Riley had asked me?
No one seemed to be paying us any mind. Ken had disappeared—hopefully having fun with Mr. Brown. And Carter was whirling Vicki Lozier around the floor, looking like he was having a great time.
Riley gradually directed us to the edge of the dance floor, then tugged my hand and led me down a candle-lit hallway. From my earlier explorations, I was pretty sure the study and the library were close by.
Riley steered us into the nearest room, both of us freezing when we saw Kenji on his knees in front of the man in the brown coat. With the actor’s hard cock in his hand, Ken half turned at our entrance. “Should’ve locked the door, I see,” he said.
“Sorry!” I called and tugged Riley out of the room. I tried the handle of the next door, and it led us into the library. Riley closed it behind us and latched it
, the sound making me slick between the legs.
There was a desk along one wall and a chair behind it. The windows were open to the garden beyond, where dusk was falling. A few couples were strolling the grounds.
“We need to close the curtains,” I said.
He took my wrist and pulled me close, shaking his head. “No need.” He walked me over to the desk. “Take off your panties,” he said as he sank to his knees.
Sweet Jesus. His eyes were smoldering as he looked up at me, his cock pulsing against the fine fabric of his trousers.
I hiked up my dress, trying to get to my panties, but the petticoat got in the way. “Help me?” I asked almost desperately.
He fished around under my skirts. “No wonder everyone was a virgin until marriage,” Riley grumbled. He yanked at the petticoat. “How does this thing come off?”
“There are some straps.” I felt around for them and untied them, and Riley tore the fabric away, then got down on his knees again and lowered my panties. I stepped out of them.
“Now get on the desk and spread your legs,” Riley commanded me.
I was careful not to sit on the dress, instead bunching it to my hips. Riley pushed my legs apart as though too impatient to wait for me to get there on my own.
My back was to the window, but the way I was posed, my knees wide apart, my skirt hitched up to my waist, wouldn’t fool anyone. “Can’t we close the curtains?” I asked.
Riley slid a hand up my inner thigh. “I’m not waiting a minute longer, Paige.”
His fingers found the folds of my sex, and I instinctively arched my back and widened my legs even farther, scooting to the edge of the desk, the dark wood cool beneath my buttocks, the comforting scent of old books surrounding me.
Riley nuzzled my thigh, his thick facial hair rasping against my soft skin, and I whimpered with pleasure. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled against my slick flesh. “You smell so fucking good, Paige. They ought to bottle it like perfume. It would be better than Viagra.”
His tongue darted out, licking the seam of my lips, and I stifled a moan. “You are such a dirty boy,” I whispered.
“That’s what you like about me.” He parted my folds with his fingers, then sucked my clit into his mouth, his tongue playing around it. I jerked and bit my lower lip, fighting not to cry out and draw attention.
He pressed one finger, then two, inside me, and I couldn’t help pushing my hips forward, not caring what I looked like to anyone who might be outside. “Riley,” I panted.
“Yes?” he asked, sitting back and looking up at me while his fingers continued to explore.
I met his gaze, saw the lust there, the encouragement to say what I wanted. “Make me come,” I whispered, still too shy to say it with more confidence.
He gave me a wicked grin. “I’m not one to refuse a lady.” He pushed my legs farther apart, then went back to sucking my clit, his fingers curling up inside me and stroking my G-spot.
I was panting hard and shaking, clutching at his shoulders, my thighs trembling as I struggled to stay silent when all I wanted to do was scream his name. He started flicking his tongue rapidly back and forth over my clit and something detonated inside me. I stifled a scream, sucking in air, my eyes closed as my hips bucked against Riley’s face.
He kept going until I had to push him away, my limbs weak, my flesh so sensitive I wasn’t sure I could close my legs without setting off another orgasm.
Riley rose and started unbuttoning the flap of material at the crotch of his pants. “I’m going to fuck you over this desk.”
I nodded and rolled onto my stomach, bracing myself on my elbows, my ass jutting into the air.
The doorknob to the library rattled and someone knocked on the wood. “Ms. Sutherland?” a female voice asked.
Yikes! I straightened up and shoved down my skirt. “Just a minute,” I called. “Petticoat!” I said to Riley, motioning to the ruffled fabric at our feet.
He snatched it off the floor along with my panties, which he shoved into one of his coat pockets while I hastily strapped the petticoat back into place.
My face burning, I strode to the door, thankful Riley hadn’t been kissing me and I hadn’t messed up my hair. Maybe I could pull this off.
I opened the door to the woman in charge of catering. “Yes? Is something wrong?”
The woman smiled. “We’ve run through all the champagne on the order. Should we open a new case or switch to wine?”
What the hell. “Yes, more champagne, please.”
The woman’s gaze flicked to Riley, then back to me. I did my best to keep my expression bland. “Anything else?”
“We’ll be offering cakes, tea, and coffee soon, along with cordials. And more champagne, of course.”
“Thank you.” I closed the door behind her and said a silent prayer that the woman could be discreet.
“Well, that wasn’t awkward at all,” Riley said, coming up behind me. He kissed the back of my neck. “You look gorgeous in this gown.”
I shivered at his touch, my insides heating up again. “We should get back to the party before we’re missed.”
He pressed his hard cock into my buttocks. “Forgetting something?”
I looked at him over my shoulder. “Waiting is good for you.”
He raised a brow. “Is it now?”
I turned to face him and played with the silk cravat at his neck. “Humbles you, a bit.”
He grinned. “You think I need humbling?”
“I know you do.”
He leaned down, his lips hovering over mine. “I’m keeping your panties.”
“You expect me to go out there and talk to people without them?”
He nodded. “Only you and I will know.” He kissed a corner of my mouth, then along my jaw to my ear. “And Carter.”
I trembled as Riley’s hot breath washed over the sensitive skin of my neck. And Carter.
A fresh flood of moisture gathered between my legs, making me ache.
Riley and Carter. I wanted them both.
And I was going to have them before the night was through.
CARTER
Riley and Paige had been gone quite a while, and all I could think about was what they were doing. Without me. Would the three of us still end up together before the night concluded? I certainly hoped so.
I was dancing with Lori again when they reappeared. Paige had that loose-limbed grace to her of someone who’d been well satisfied, though Riley seemed anything but as he headed for me.
I handed Lori off to Kenji as the dance ended, then made my way over to Riley and Paige. I caught his eye. “Everything all right?”
He looked at Paige and grinned. “I think you should ask Paige that.”
She smacked his arm. “You’re incorrigible.”
“And that’s how you like me.” He reached into a pocket in his jacket and pulled out something that he then pressed into my hand.
It was soft fabric, lacy… Oh. I didn’t look at the item in my hand. I didn’t need to.
Paige’s panties. I met her gaze, and the way she bit her lip made me chuckle. I stuffed the scrap of fabric into my pocket, then brought my fingers to my nose. The faint aroma of her arousal lingered on my fingers, and I couldn’t look away from her. I wanted her, now.
Riley spoke, low enough for both of us to hear. “It’s her punishment. She got hers, but I didn’t get mine.”
“We were interrupted,” she insisted.
“And Lady Sutherland apparently felt the game was over.”
“Your Grace…” Paige said, her tone caught between pleading and exasperation.
“So, I think, Thornton, that it is your duty to take the situation in hand, as it were.” Riley’s grin was pure wickedness.
I chuckled at Paige’s open mouth and wide eyes. “Come, Lady Sutherland,” I said, extending my arm to her. “We have matters of great import to discuss.”
She took my arm, her footsteps slow and stiff as we headed toward the terrac
e just off the ballroom. “We’re going outside?” she asked.
“I do believe we could use some fresh air.” I leaned down, whispering the last in her ear. “And I bet there are plenty of secluded alcoves in the garden maze.”
Full dark had fallen, and the garden paths were lit here and there, but shadows spread out before us as we walked toward the maze, pea gravel crunching underfoot.
“Are you both trying to get me fired?” Paige asked when we reached the entrance to the maze.
I stopped her. “Of course not. Look, if you don’t want to…”
She stared up at me, one side of her gorgeous face lit up by a nearby lamp on a post. “The problem is that I do want to. You two keep tempting me.”
Whew. I didn’t want to push her too far. Sometimes Riley didn’t seem to know—or care—where the line was, but I wasn’t a boundary breaker.
“We’ll never do anything you don’t want to.”
She started into the maze, giving my arm a tug. “I feel like I’ve lost all restraint. Like something in me has been unleashed, and I can’t stuff it back into the box I was keeping it in.”
“Do you want to? That’s the question I think you need to ask yourself.”
She was silent for a moment, her hand tightening on my arm. “I should say yes. I want to say yes. But if I’m honest…” She trailed off. When she spoke again, there was a catch in her voice. “The truth is, my life kind of sucked before this.”
“How so?”
“All I did was work.” She let out a little laugh. “The last time I had sex before this trip was five years ago.”
“Five years?” I shook my head. “I find that hard to imagine.”
“It wasn’t by choice.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Come on, Paige. That can’t possibly be true.”
She started to protest, then abruptly shook her head. “Okay, maybe I turned down some opportunities.”
We reached a dead end in the maze, one that had a stone bench and a small fountain in it. The perfect spot for what I had in mind. I drew Paige to a stop. “I’m sure you did.” I motioned her to the bench and remained standing. I could faintly see her in the light cast by the moon. She was looking up at me expectantly, and my cock swelled, the scent of her panties once again flooding my mind.