Tristan’s gaze was so intent that Austin felt as though the merman wanted to grapple him. “Likely only Hal.”
The carriage shifted, and something hard bumped Austin’s wrist. He glanced down, but whatever it was had vanished against the black velvet seat. They’d passed out of the city, and there were no lights.
“It’s the jewellery you liked earlier. It’s in a dark box.” Tristan reached across and clicked open the container. He angled the contents toward the window. The white lace garter and silver jewellery shone ghostly pale in the dark.
“You can put it on me,” Austin said, deliberately imperious.
The tension in Tristan’s aura grew. It wasn’t annoyance.
He took the silver from the box, untying the lace garter at the back. Tristan considered it for a moment, then leaned in toward Austin’s neck.
“What are you doing!”
“What you asked.” Tristan’s voice was a predator’s purr in the dark. “Are you going to be contrary with me all night becauseyou don’t like how I deflected my brother’s attention? Only an idiot would think I was being genuine in calling you plain.”
“It goes on mythigh,” Austin hissed.
Tristan paused. “Ah.” Then gruff and embarrassed, “I see.”
Austin practically vibrated in his seat.Plain. Easily lured. Idiot.If Austin mauled Tristan, the man would deserve it.
“Your thigh,” Tristan said, low, almost to himself. He carefully cupped Austin’s calf, lifted his leg, and placed it over his knee. “Ah, and I get to…” A happy hum burst free as careful fingers slid Austin’s shorts up. Gravity helped the soft fabric on its way. “Hm.”
Tristan manoeuvred Austin’s foot through the loop of silver and guided it to his thigh, then carefully tied the garter’s strings. The metal was cool against Austin’s skin. The lariat drop settled at mid-thigh.
“I see now why I annoyed you, suggesting you try it on at the stall,” Tristan said. His fingers slid slowly down Austin’s thigh, framing the chain as if it deserved admiration. “It suits you well. Dark blue, as you said. I’m sure rubies would be equally glorious on you.”
Plain. Easily lured. Idiot.
And glorious.
“Red does suit me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Austin turned his back on the daylight streaming through the window. He reached for one of his many plush pillows, hugged it to his chest, and didn’t stir from bed. It was a wonder Tristan hadn’t booted him out of his estate yet, especially after how irritated Austin had been with himyesterday. And yet, last night, Tristan had seemed peculiarly pleased to lead Austin back to his room. That hard, taking edge in him had softened into beseeching once more.
Eli’s hesitant knocks came and went. Outside, the wind was rattling the boards when firm knuckles rapped on Austin’s door. Gusts swirled sand into the air that struck the window and clung to the glass, turning the light murky and his room dim.
Tristan knocked again.
“What?” Austin groused.
The door creaked open. Tristan’s gaze felt like a physical weight on Austin’s body as he took him in. His perusal started at Austin’s ankles, where he’d kicked the silk sheets down, then travelled up the length of his bare leg to where he’d hitched one hip over a pillow. Tristan likely had a perfect view of his bare buttocks—Austin had a vague awareness of the silk shirt he’d slept in being rucked up, the bottom seam an annoying band midway up his ribs.
Tristan quickly shut the door, footsteps light as he crossed the room.
The mattress dipped at his back. Tristan grasped the edge of the silk sheets and draped them carefully over Austin. He released a gentle, questioning hum. Austin ignored it.
“It’s close to dinner,” Tristan murmured. “You haven’t eaten.”
Austin mustered a pitiful warning growl. He didnotwant to get up.
“Are you still annoyed about me calling you plain?”
Austin didn’t even bother answering.
Tristan waited to see if he was getting more than that, and when he didn’t, he slowly stretched out at Austin’s back, lying on top of the sheets. He cupped Austin’s shoulder, rubbing lightly. “Perhaps the ocean will energise you? I can carry you.”
