Page 66 of How to Kill Your Rival

He holds me through it, his face lost in my hair.

The band plays.

The party continues.

‘Eliza,’ James says after we catch our breath.

‘Don’t,’ I say.

‘I wasn’t going to say anything insufferable,’ he says.

‘Yes, you were.’

James laughs, and I fall a little in love with the way it makes his eyes crinkle just a touch. ‘I was going to say that the Stewarts⁠—’

‘Not now,’ I whisper before kissing him gently.

We stay clinched and kissing for a few more minutes until he slides out of me, and I notice a trickling down my thighs.

‘I need to get cleaned up,’ I say. ‘You’ve made a right old mess.’

James nips at my throat.

‘Or I could clean that up for you…’

Fuck. The way he has me clenching my thighs is utterly unreasonable.

‘I’d love nothing more than to see you on your knees, as well you know, Mr Rutherford, but I really must get back.’

He dips down for a moment and kisses the hot wetness between my thighs.

‘Next time. Just remember that this,’ he says, dragging a finger over my cunt, ‘is mine.’

And the possessiveness in his voice has me grinning.

21

JAMES

After she claimed me, I’d hoped that I might end up with Eliza in my bed. But I wake up alone.

Well, not entirely alone.

Coffin perches on the ornate wooden wardrobe and looks at me sceptically. If a crow can be such a thing.

He winks his one good eye before hopping down onto the end of my bed.

‘Morning.’

He tips his head and winks at me as I put my hands behind my head and stare at the ceiling.

Eliza was jealous.

I hadn’t intended her to be. I’d just been catching up with Vivienne, but boy, do I feel like I’ve won the bloody lottery. Eliza Hamilton wants me.

Me?

Not just to toy with this time.