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“Ah, you’re here!” Michael’s words declared. James couldn’t fathom the expression on Marina’s face as he stepped back from her, but he rather hoped it was disappointment. “James, I’m glad you’re here. We have three more gentlemen who are not paying their debts.”
Michael appeared through a doorway and held out an accounts book for James to see. Under his breath, James cursed to see the names. He couldn’t put faces to all of the names, but he was familiar enough with them to be certain they were all long standing members of the club. There was Lord Fortheringhay, a rather gluttonous and large man, who might as well have eaten his cash, then there was Mr. Arthur Baker, a man who came most nights, and lastly, the Marquess of Stanton.
Michael struggled to put a face to the latter name, but he remembered well enough the Marquess had a vast estate and much money. If he was refusing to pay up, then something had to be wrong.
“I will write to them directly.” James led the way into his office with Michael and Marina following behind them. “I will threaten to report them to the debtors’ office too if they do not pay in the next month.” He was laying out his parchment and ink to begin his letters when his attention was torn away by Marina and Michael.
Michael had taken her hand once more in greeting and kissed the back.
“You have returned to our gambling hall again already?” Michael asked, lowering her hand though not quite releasing it quickly enough for James’ liking. “Shall I hope it is the company here that has drawn you back, rather than the pastime of work?” He offered Marina a dazzling smile then smirked in James’ direction.
I know what you’re doing, Michael. You’re trying to make me jealous.
What irked James more, and made his blood boil beneath his skin, was the fact it was working. All he wanted to do was tear Marina away from Michael’s grasp.
“You flatter yourself,” Marina said, putting Michael in his place. “Yet I can’t deny, the company is enjoyable.”
Her words had James tossing down his quill. He couldn’t stand this burgeoning friendship between Marina and Michael, not when he and Marina had come so close the night before to becoming something much more intimate. He nearly knocked over his inkwell as he strode around the desk.
“Perhaps your wife could join us for a drink this evening, James – oh!”
James grabbed Michael’s shoulder and began to steer him to the door. Michael’s sound of shock was soon drowned out by laughter.
“Upsetting you, was I?” Michael asked. “I was simply being kind to your wife.”
“Attentive. That is what you were being, rather too much.” James opened the door and pushed Michael back out of it. Despite the vigor of the action, and a little aggression, Michael was still laughing, clearly pleased he’d achieved his aim.
“Am I banned from her presence then?” he continued to tease as James closed the door on him and locked the door. James spun on his heel, marching back into the room when he came face to face with Marina’s angry stare.
She stood tall, something that amused him a little for one so petite in stature compared to him. Yet there was fire in her eyes and resistance.
“Are you now banning men from my presence?” she asked. “That is rather possessive…”
“Not possessive.”
“What is it then?” She waved a hand at the closed door. “Your friend was simply being kind.”
“And you like his kindness a little too much.”
“What should it matter if I like his kindness?” she asked wildly. He had no answer to give her, nothing that explained with words his feelings.
I cannot tell her I am jealous. I cannot do it!
“How can you just push him out of the room so – hmm!”
He cut her off. Marching toward her, he silenced her with his lips on hers.
CHAPTER11
“James,” Marina tried to murmur his name between kisses, but she barely got chance. James seemed determined now, intent on kissing her, and she had no reason to stop him.
When his hands took her waist, his fingers splayed across her gown, she was only too happy to move her body toward his, allowing him to continue that kiss. She was soon backing up though she didn’t pay attention to where they were going. She only thought of that kiss and how his hands seemed intent on gripping her, holding her to him.
As her back collided with the wall, she gasped at the sudden thud, excited by their heated and fast movements. He parted from her lips, setting kisses on her neck that started travelling south, across the neckline of her gown. When he pulled back the top hem, revealing a glimpse of the crest of her breast, he kissed the pale skin there, urging her to moan at the intimate touch.
“You’ll have to stay quiet, Marina. We don’t want the whole gambling hall to hear us.” His words had that excitement only growing, wondering what he had in mind for them to share.
His kisses travelled even further south until he placed them on her clothed hips then he dropped to his knees.
