Chapter 9 Alex #2
The other side of the ballroom was busier than King’s Cross had been this morning, and almost as loud. The quick, unpredictable tempo of the jazz band thundered through the room, never quite allowing one to relax.
But even if the room had been silent, Alex knew he wouldn’t be relaxing in either case—because Raj was fast approaching with a rapt expression. “Alexander, dear boy.”
Had he given Raj leave to use his first name? He certainly didn’t remember doing so, but it seemed churlish to protest, given that he was married to the man’s daughter. “Raj.”
“How did things go with Mr Chamberlain?” Raj asked, sitting so closely their knees nearly knocked together.
Alex subtly tried to push himself backwards, his eye snagging on a table on the outskirts of the dance floor. His chest fluttered as he saw her, the tension brought about from Raj’s unwelcome appearance draining out of him.
Sitting next to young George, Savi gently cradled Albie in her arms. Maternal was not a shade he expected to see on her, but lord, did she wear it well. There was something magical about the curve of her lips as she rocked her half-brother, his eyes gradually closing.
An ache took root inside his chest. He’d always wanted children, at some distant, far-off place in the future, but this was the first time he’d been faced with what that would look like. Who else would bring his children into the world if not his wife?
Perhaps they weren’t there yet, but he hoped one day their marriage would be as loving as his parents’ marriage was.
He never expected his body to react to the sight of Savi holding a baby—but, fuck, he could barely tear his eyes away from her. He wanted to shove Raj out of the way, bridal carry Savi up to the bedroom they’d been allocated for the night, and do his damnedest to create a baby of their own.
“Alexander?” Raj leant in to block his view with a wave. “You were saying about Chamberlain.”
Swallowing down those unexpected and somewhat startling feelings, he cleared his throat. “Chamberlain was impressed by your track record. He says he’ll be in touch on Monday morning about the smallpox roll-out.”
“Atta boy.” Raj’s expression was so smug it was almost sickening. “I knew I could count on you. Thank you for your assistance.”
“In return,” he began, staring Raj down, “I hope I can count on you to assist me.”
“How so?”
“Savi would like some of Sarala’s jewellery.”
Raj jerked out of his arrogant slouch. “Sarala?”
“Your late wife,” Alex intoned delicately.
“Yes,” Raj came dangerously close to rolling his eyes. “I know who she is. Forgive me, I wasn’t expecting to hear her name this evening. Even now the loss is…” Raj’s lips thinned. “Painful.”
So painful that he announced his engagement to another woman not six months later. “Indeed. I believe the pieces Savi is after are a pair of peacock bangles and, uh, Jhumka earrings.”
Why did Raj look almost…disappointed? He wearily rubbed his brow. “The ones she wanted for the wedding. If I knew where they were, she would have them already. I had the poor servants scour the house on hands and knees, but they were nowhere to be found.”
How difficult could it possibly be when he had so many sodding servants? There were only so many places in the house where the jewellery could be. “I’d ask that you look again.”
Raj’s nostrils flared. “Fine.”
The silence that fell between them was neither comfortable nor amiable, but it was cut short by the sudden arrival of little George peeping over the table, with Savi not far behind, still holding a now-sleeping Albie. He grinned up at his father, missing his two front teeth. “Nighty night, Papa.”
“Are you off to bed?” Raj pulled his son onto his lap, his surliness forgotten in an instant. “Goodnight, dear boy.”
“Is it okay if Savi reads me a bedtime story?”
“Of course,” Raj responded, kissing George’s mop of dark hair. “Only one though.”
Over Raj’s shoulder, Alex met Savi’s gaze. Overwhelming need blazed through his veins, so abrupt it nearly took his breath away. It wasn’t sexual, not entirely. It was a swirling mass of primitive, savage urges, uninvited and uncontrollable.
The urge to follow her and get her with child as soon as he possibly could.
“Goodnight, Alexander!”
Alex coughed, furiously sweeping his thoughts under the table. “Goodnight, George.”
As Savi led the little boy away, Alex didn’t give Raj a chance to strike up another conversation.
He jumped to his feet, making a beeline for the drinks table.
Fucking hell, what was wrong with him tonight?
It was like he’d briefly stepped into a Fu Manchu novel and been subjected to the man’s so-called hypnotic influence.
His mind whirled as he made a stealthy escape from the ballroom, hiding in Raj and Katherine’s drawing room. It hadn’t been arousal before, but now that he was alone, he could truly indulge thoughts of spreading her on the bed beneath him.
His cock was painfully hard, tenting his trousers.
He covered his lap with a pillow should anyone come looking, but thankfully he was left alone to sip his Chianti.
The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
He tried to return to the more rational version of himself, but it was impossible.
What the fuck was happening to him? He’d never been like this before, so out of control over his own mind.
Twenty minutes after he sat down, Alex came to the conclusion that there was only one way to solve the issue.
Release.
Grabbing the cushion to continue to hide his groin, Alex checked the corridor was clear before advancing up the stairs. Prolonged movement would always deflate an erection somewhat, but he knew it would return with a vengeance once he stopped.
Mercifully, their bedroom wasn’t far from the landing.
Alex shouldered his way in and discarded the pillow, breathing a sigh of relief when he closed the door behind him.
He tore open his trousers so forcefully that one of the buttons bounced onto the carpet, rolling across the room until it disappeared under a chaise longue.
Alex froze, his hand down his trousers.
An occupied chaise longue.
Savi reclined on the seat, her sketch folio resting on her bent knees and a chocolate truffle halfway to her mouth.
The dress she’d worn downstairs had been discarded on the floor, rumpled and ignored.
She’d replaced it with a pair of silk pyjamas in a pale green.
A tray of chocolates rested on the table beside her, missing a number of its inhabitants.
It was perhaps the most embarrassing moment of his life.
Alex went to uncurl his fingers from around his length, but—
“Don’t.”
Renewed arousal burned in his gaze as it captured Savi’s.
She set her folio—and chocolate—aside and climbed to her feet in measured, graceful movements. “I’m…intrigued. What has you so inflamed that you can’t bear to wait until later, husband?”
He wasn’t going to lie. “You,” he growled, his chest heaving with desire.
Savi neared him, prowling far closer than he would have expected, until her body was an inch from his.
He jolted as her fingers brushed against his wrist—just above the hand that held his cock.
She lifted her head through air taut with tension, her lips hovering just beneath his. “Tell me,” she murmured.
He had the strangest feeling that she was enjoying this, enjoying seeing him pushed against his limit.
But for the first time, Alex was…uncertain about his desires.
He wasn’t ashamed of them, per se, but he’d never heard of a man being driven to rabid madness by the thought of spreading his wife beneath him and claiming her as his woman, knowing that she’d accepted his seed, the very essence of his life.
Christ, even knowing that he’d filled her with everything that he had.
That she’d chosen him to be the father of her children.
“You want me to admit that I find you attractive?” Alex squeezed his cock, knowing she would feel his muscles moving.
A breathless sigh left her, her attention firmly focused on where his hand disappeared inside his trousers.
“Are you curious?” he whispered into her ear. “Do you think I didn’t notice you that day at the lake? The look in your eyes was ravenous. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
“Oh, I’ve thought about it,” she confessed.
“Good.” The word was a rasp. His free hand dropped to her waist, circling it until, with one quick pull, her body was pressed against his in earnest. She sucked in a silent breath, his erection now thrust against her. “Have you bedded a man before, Savi?”
There was a sliver of doubt on her expression, but she nodded.
“Then you know how I want you.”
Her eyebrow quirked, almost taunting him. “I am very well aware,” she breathed, letting her hand glide down the back of his—straight into his trousers.
Alex gritted his teeth as Savi wrapped her hand around his cock, a groan coming out through gritted teeth. “Savi.” Another groan followed when she squeezed, sliding up to the head with a devilish flick of her wrist.
He didn’t think; he just moved, bridging the gap between them to claim her lips. He growled into the kiss when Savi responded with equal fervour. She tasted of rich chocolate and overwhelming need, and he couldn’t get enough of it, slanting his lips over hers for more.
She clung to him as he walked backwards towards the bed, her touch never leaving his cock.
“I’ve ached for you this evening,” he grunted.
Savi, the minx that she was, looked unapologetically pleased at that information. “Oh, how I feel for you,” she whispered, gripping his sac with a hold that was both possessive and gentle, drawing out a hoarse moan from him.
When the back of her legs brushed against the bed, Alex went to lie her on the mattress, but she pushed him away. Frowning, he remained still—and confused. “Is something the matter?” Or had she changed her mind?