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Winter hid a smile while she drank her wine, braced for more of the hate from Nicholas to stagger her. But she got distracted when the thumb on her palm transferred to her thigh, running lazy circles and signaling that the worst part of dinner was over. Higher and higher it went, almost teasing, and astonishment had her gripping her spoon tighter when she realized she was more than ready to spread her legs. She closed it immediately, narrowing her gaze at him while he nodded serenely at whatever Nicola was saying.
When he continued with that hot, calloused thumb, she snaked her hand down his trousers, squeezing it in warning. A sound got stuck in her throat when she felt a bulge growing, her fingers itching to unzip him and take care of it now. Laughter from Helena had her retreating her hand, then swatting his off as she tried to get her act together, but it was impossible.
“So, Nicola, tell us more about your excursion and if there’s any hope to get you to attend more events in the future,” Helena prompted, taking control of the conversation when the king decidedly grew grumpy, his vibe once again a blank slate. “And Nicholas, do tell me about your romantic prospects.”
Just like that, no one was paying them any attention as Nicola told grand tales and Nicholas’s charm returned to regal them with the pros and cons of all the house daughters who were his speculated potentials. Sometimes, she was asked a question or two, allowing her to respond in a way that opened up the vibe gates once more.
All the time, Nate sent her hot, promising looks that took her breath away, but his hand never returned to her thigh.
“Congratulations on surviving dinner.”
“I don’t know if it’s an accomplishment or not.”
“It’s an accomplishment,” he confirmed. “Especially when it comes to my family. You are lucky that my father wasn’t in an assertive mood and my brother wasn’t in a nasty one—and that my sister wasn’t in the mood to keep egging him on.”
She recalled the violent vibe and shivered.
“Your mother is admirable. I met her before. She didn’t know me, but she treated me kindly.”
“My mother has her moods, too, but she generally is the peacemaker around here.”
“How she does it is impressive. And how you keep your calm no matter what it is, too.”
“I wasn’t calm,” Nate admitted.
“Oh?”
“I was raring to have a go with my father over his comments of you and as usual, to knock some sense into my brother.” He drew her closer. “But that wasn’t the reason I wasn’t calm.”
Their walk halted as he ushered her into a space that didn’t belong to House Hendricks. Winter looked around the lavish bedroom, confused, then went on alert when Nate began to stalk her. The constant evasion of predators around her dictated she back away from the look on his face, but she stood her ground as she watched his approach.
“Why are we in House Chatterley?”
“Because House Hendricks still has a lot of visitors, and I asked Matthew to provide us with their safest, most comfortable room.”
“Oh.”
“Ask me why I wasn’t calm.”
Winter gulped as he stood inches away, his heat curling into her belly. She reached out to touch his half-exposed chest, but he took her hand and kissed her fingers one by one until her heart was pounding.
“Why weren’t you calm during dinner?” she asked.
Hot, hooded orbs pinned her in place, his gruff voice filled with an emotion she identified with.
“Because I couldn’t stop thinking about taking this tiny, glittery little thing off,” he replied, fingering her dress…her nipples. She arched into the touch, then gasped when he lifted her off her feet and was carrying her elsewhere.
“It’s highly risky to do this here,” she warned, but her voice didn’t sound steady anymore. She bit her lip when he deposited her to the bed and trapped her legs, then began the slow, excruciating task of peeling her dress off and putting his mouth on newly exposed skin. “They could hear us.”
“I asked for a soundproof room, darling. So, don’t be afraid to make a sound.”
Dumbfounded, she gaped at his lowering form, wanting to tease about his confidence. But all teasing left her when he finally exposed one breast and his face darkened with lust.
“They approve of this union,” he said, blowing over a pink tip before he put his mouth there. Pleasure sharpened and ached. “Soon, more people will approve of it.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” His mouth moved to her stomach, his tongue trailing a hot, wet path. “The more approval, the more it messes with my brother. The less he becomes civil with me, the more he ends up showing his hand.”
