Page 49 of His Scandalous Viscountess
With his blood thrumming through his veins, desire bubbled just under his skin, making him feel as though caterpillars crept all over his body. “It may be a bit tarnished, but I would don armor for you nonetheless.” He leaned in close and lowered his voice. “Of course the magic really happens when we discard the armor altogether.”
“Indeed, my lord, I suspect far more is accomplished when men set aside their armor. After all, I’ve never made a very good damsel in distress.” She reached down and caressed the paltry fabric that covered his now partially erect shaft. “I’ve always been more of a welcoming widow, happy to assuage a man’s more lusty needs.”
“Your practical nature has always been one of my favorite things about you. Now keep your hands to yourself lest we scandalize even the most bawdy of London’s populace.” He grabbed her hand and dragged it from his aching cock so he could both place a kiss on her palm and help his need settle down. It would likely be hours until he could have his fill of this woman who drove him mad with desire.
Ros, Theo, and Emily swept Jules into their little group to wend their way through the garden paths leading up to the building. Stone, Cooper, and Arthur walked behind, discussing something quietly while keeping an eagle eye on the ladies. Wolf strolled with Flint and Linc.
“Are you boys enjoying the tightening noose of possible matrimony?” Linc asked with a cheeky grin.
Flint shot him a dark look, his shoulders set in a rigid line. “You know very well that Ros will release me as planned, once Wallthorpe is dealt with.”
“Do I?” Linc let one brow rise in question. “I see the way she looks at you. The woman is completely taken with you.”
A burst of laughter from the women had all of the men looking to the head of the group, until Theo shushed them after casting a wary glance backward.
Wolf had also begun to worry that Ros was a bit more caught up in the fake engagement with Flint than was wise. His violent tendencies would be a worrisome prospect for any well-bred woman. But marrying a rougher sort of female wasn’t an option, not even for Flint.
“If she won’t do it willingly, I’ll give her a reason to hate me before the charade ends. You know I shall never marry.” Flint sounded almost as though he was angry about the whole situation.
“Hopefully we can resolve the question of why Wallthorpe is so determined to have Jules before then. I haven’t heard anything from the private man of inquiry I hired. But he is the man Stone and Cooper have both utilized, so I expect something soon enough.”
Julia had little to hide beyond some lurid details about her life between her marriage and her reappearance in London. Slowly she’d been sharing it with him. The hardest to hear had been the truth of her marriage. It still made Wolf want to kill the man. Too bad he was already dead.
Arthur dropped back to join them. “Those two married types are deadly boring. All they can talk about is how the markets are doing, their investments, and theirbabies.” Emily’s brother shuddered.
Linc laughed and slapped Arthur on the back. “Those two have always been sticks-in-the-mud. The real fun lies back here, with us.”
“I hope there will be dancing partners aplenty at this shindig,” Arthur replied with a grin and a waggle of his brows.
Linc’s eyes glittered with mischief in the light of the torchlit path. “The doves will be ours for the plucking, my friend.”
Wolf and Flint looked at each other and groaned. Those two were still high on the bachelor life. When their time came, they would learn that one good woman far outweighed having many passable women in their lives. In the meantime, Wolf supposed there was nothing wrong with them living it up. As long as Arthur continued on the straight and narrow, Cooper and Emily would remain content. And well, Theo and Stone appeared to be living in a dream where he was the master of his castle…and likely his woman, though none of the Lustful Lords would deign to speculate on their private life.
A squeal of excitement burbled through the ladies as they neared the glass monstrosity that contained their evening entertainment. For once, this would be a ball worth attending. Without all the stiff formality of theton’susual entertainments, tonight should prove to be a rollicking good time for everyone. As the path opened up to a large graveled area before the entrance to the building, Wolf nodded at his friends. “Excuse me, gentlemen.”
“Dear God, another one among us has fallen prey to the desires of a woman.”
Linc had a flair for the dramatic, one that Wolf mostly appreciated, but not so much in the moment.
With a snort, he moved forward to claim the arm of Jules, because there was no possibility he could stand by and allow another man to mistakenly believe she was unescorted. Cooper, Stone, and Flint also claimed their ladies, leaving Linc and Arthur to trail behind.
Inside the illuminated bubble, the musicians were warming up as the crowd milled about. Jules grinned at him from behind her half mask, but refrained from speaking, considering the volume of the din around them.
Finally, they found a corner for the group to claim, and they settled in for an evening of revelry and bacchanalian delights.
A few hours later, as the crowd found themselves generally deeper in their cups, Wolf wished he could steal Jules away. Unwilling to strand part of their group by leaving, he decided to lure his feisty redhead into the gardens for a quick tryst. As she returned to his side once more, her dance partner bowing gallantly, Wolf tucked her hand in the crook of his arm.
“Come along with me, mistress. I can show you even more delights beyond the glare of The Crystal Palace.”
She grinned and then batted her lashes ever so innocently. “Whatever can you mean, kind sir?”
“Ah!” He knew she’d be a game one. “There are magical things beyond the glow of the lights. Come with me, my pretty, and let me show you paradise.”
She worried her lip and truly hesitated for a moment. “Wolf?” Her voice grew serious. “I’ve heard it can be dangerous in the gardens. Are you sure this is wise?”
He released her hand and turned to face her. Cupping her cheek and mask in one hand, and resting his other on her waist, he looked deep into her eyes. “I would protect you with my dying breath before I let anything bad happen to you again. Haven’t you realized that by now?”
Something dangerous—something that looked suspiciously like love—sparkled in her green gaze. “Yes. That’s what scares me.”
