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A groan of release echoed from the nearby divan. The head that had been between Mrs. Isbill’s thighs was now in the lap of Mr. Isbill. Gods, I really hoped this man ended up well rewarded for all his . . . hard work this evening.
Sighing, I turned my head to a nearby glass wall that overlooked the yards of the manor and the gardens.
I’d rather be out there.
The space between my shoulder blades began to tingle.
Ineededto be out there.
I was moving before I realized what I was doing, muscles tensing to stand, when a man wearing dove-gray pants suddenly filled my view, his linen shirt left unbuttoned. Leaning back against the thick cushions of the couch, I looked up to see a white mask shielding all but the lower half of his face.
“You look like you’re in need of company,” the man announced.
“I’m not.”
“You sure about that?” He stepped forward, moving to where my legs took up the remaining length of the couch.
I did nothing to hide my sigh. This man wasn’t the first to make it past Naomi, who was doing her level best to lure would-be pursuers away. I was beginning to feel as if the solarium were a henhouse full of foxes. “I’m positive.”
“I can change your mind,” he said with all the confidence typical of a man who was used to turning nos into yeses. My senses opened, reaching out to him. Or with the confidence of a man who was used toforcingnos into yeses. “You won’t regret it.”
Knowing I should just ignore the man, I instead smiled up at him and did exactly what I shouldn’t.
Because apparently, I was in the season of making bad life choices.
I extended my hand. He didn’t hesitate, taking it. The moment my skin connected with his, I felt his voice in my mind, as clear as if he were speaking, but it was my voice that whispered, telling me things unknown till that very moment. His name. How he made his living. Hiswife,who was not here. I saw what he wanted— his intentions. He wanted to get off. Shocker. But there was more to that, something that brought on a bitter bite of disgust.
I tugged on his arm, guiding him so we were at eye level, and then leaned in. “I have no interest in choking on your cock tonight,” I whispered, my mouth inches from his. “Or any night,Gregory.”
His jaw went slack with surprise. He went to jerk his hand free, but I held on, letting him watch my smile grow— watching the blood drain from the skin beneath his mask. I released him. Eyes wide, he backed away from me and turned without saying another word. Laughing under my breath, I wiped the hand he had touched on the cushion as I once more spotted Naomi moving about the crowd, her long legs and arms shimmering from a dusting of gold body paint. She had lingered close to me most of the evening before I shooed her off. While her watchfulness was kind of her, it wasn’t . . . it wasn’t right.
I wasn’t her responsibility.
But she was coming straight for me.
“Scoot over,” she instructed, leaning over my legs.
I kept the glass of wine steady, watching Naomi as I grinned. It was clear Naomi was up to something as she all but prowled up the length of my body. The seductive, fluid movements of her body were a bit exaggerated. I knew she knew it too, because one eye winked. She wore no mask. None of Claude’s paramours felt the need to hide their faces.
“I thought you might want company.” She stretched out behind me, propping her elbow on the arm of the couch. She dipped her head close to mine. “Keep those special hands of yours to yourself,” she reminded me.
“I will,” I promised, knowing that her coming to me about Laurelin was atypical of her. She preferred that I remain unseeing to her future and to her thoughts. Sometimes that was impossible, though, even without touching her. I just didn’t let her know when that accidentally happened. “You know I don’t need the company, right?”
“Oh, but you most definitely do.” Her hand curved around my hip and squeezed gently as she flicked her gaze toward Claude. “The longer you’re alone, the more interesting you become to those around you.”
My jaw clenched. “You should be enjoying yourself.”
“I am.”
“Sure.” I shivered as the edges of her hair fell over my arm. “You must be thrilled to be lying behind me.”
“I am.”
“Naomi— ”
“Come now, you know I like to play with you.” She slid her hand down my hip as I rolled my eyes. Her nails slipped over the slit in the gown, skating over the bare skin of my thigh. “You know damn well my motives aren’t purely altruistic.”
I did know her actions weren’t solely out of the goodness of her heart. Naomi liked to play, when it was only her doing the touching and caressing. And because she knew that, no matter what, I wouldn’t forget what she asked of me and touch her, she had complete control. A part of her got off on that.
