Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Michael was waiting for him when he entered the sitting room a few minutes later. His stomach tightened. As nonchalant as he’d acted about the whole thing with Christina, he wasn’t looking forward to this. Michael had every reason to be angry with him.
“I take it you got a report of my behavior from Isaac?”
“Of course I did. But you can relax. I’m too tired to give you a beating tonight. Even if you are deserving of one.”
“I’m sorry, Michael. I know I’ve been nothing but a disappointment lately.”
Michael handed him a glass of port. “I don’t need an apology. Just as long as you’ve groveled adequately to Christina.”
Giles took a drink and settled into the chair with a sigh. “I don’t know if I can ever make it right, but I am trying. I was an absolute blackguard to her, Michael. Part of me was hoping you would give me a beating.”
“Now that, I do understand.” He sat down and set his glass of barley water on the side table. “Have you tried letting her hit you?”
“What?”
“I did that with Belle.”
“You did not.”
“I did.” He shook his head and sighed. “I made so many mistakes with her in the early days. I still do, but she’s pretty good about putting me in my place when I step out of line now.”
“I need to hear more of this letting her hit you nonsense. I don’t believe it for a minute.”
Michael chuckled. He reached for his glass and took a deep swallow before sitting back in the chair.
“It was early on in our marriage. I went into her bedroom after doing something to upset her. I simply stood there quietly, with my eyes closed, and allowed her to air her grievances… with her fists. It’s worth a shot,” he said with a shrug.
Perhaps it was.
“Certainly better than starting a fight with Isaac. He would have had you face down before you even realized what was happening. You’re lucky he refrained after you took a swing.”
Giles groaned. “Another person I need to apologize to.”
“It wouldn’t go amiss, but I doubt he’s expecting it.”
“How’s Belle?”
“She’s doing well.”
“And Olive?”
Michael smiled. “Perfect.”
“So how is it? Being a father, I mean.”
“It’s the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. Hopefully, you’ll experience it yourself.”
For a moment, he was rendered speechless. Stupidly, that hadn’t even occurred to him. “It’s definitely a possibility.”
Michael raised his brow. “Well, it would seem she has forgiven you then.”
“Mostly, I think.”
“And what about Ash? Has he forgiven you?”
Giles took a sip of his drink. “I don’t know. You know how it is trying to read that man. But perhaps mostly, as well. I don’t have my keys back, but he has started teasing me about it, which I think is a good sign. And he’s also tasked me with delivering important information to you.”
“Well, it sounds like you’ve become an expert at groveling.”
He nodded. “I certainly have been humbled.”
“You’re a good man, Giles. We all need to be humbled from time to time. Now what is this important information you have for me?”
Giles went over everything Ash had talked about involving Maison Rouge and Auburn Ridge. Not surprisingly, Michael was fully committed to it.
“I’ll need a few weeks, obviously. But I’m in. Both of those places are wretched, and the world will be better without them.”
The sound of hushed voices came from the hall. Michael was to his feet just as quickly, but Giles leapt over the sofa and beat him to the door, yanking it open.
Isaac and Christina both took a quick step back, shock registering on their faces.
“What in God’s name is happening here?” Giles asked. Not only had they been eavesdropping, but Christina was wearing nothing but her nightgown.
Isaac held up his hands and took another step back.
“A word, Isaac.” Michael’s voice was quiet, but left no room for questioning.
“Yes, boss.”
“He didn’t do anything,” Christina argued as Isaac stepped into the room. “He was trying to get me away from the door.”
Giles shook his head to stop her from arguing further.
He took Christina by the elbow and pulled her away.
She huffed, but didn’t fight him. They didn’t share a single word as he led her up the stairs to her room.
He closed the door, expecting her to immediately rage at him, but she didn’t. She was quiet.
“Most husbands would put you over their knee for traipsing about in your nightgown for all to see, not to mention eavesdropping on a private conversation.”
She swallowed nervously. “I hope that means you’re not like most husbands.”
He’d been joking. “I would never do something like that to you, sweetheart.” He hooked a finger under her chin to get her eyes on his. “I will never hit you. Not for eavesdropping or for anything else. Do you understand?”
“Please don’t be angry with me, Giles. I only wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurting you.”
He let out a long sigh. “How could I possibly be angry with you for that?” He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “How much did you hear?”
“Probably all of it,” she said with a shrug. “But even though I don’t know all the details, it sounds amazing. Why would you want to keep it from me?”
“It isn’t you I’m keeping it from. But someone like your father could create problems with that information.”
Her brow furrowed and her lips thinned. She was about to launch an attack.
He slipped his fingers into her hair and kissed her to head her off. “Do you really want to spend the evening arguing?”
She shook her head.
“Good, then the important question is, do you want me to turn the lights out before or after I undress?”
Slowly, a smile grew on her face, as her apprehension faded. “Kiss me again, and then I’ll decide.”
God, how he loved kissing her. And not just because her lips were perfect, but the way she responded to him was enough to drive him mad with lust. She leaned her head back, and opened for him, welcoming his possession of her mouth. She pressed herself eagerly against him as he massaged her bottom.
“Are you going to climb into bed and pretend to cover your eyes? Or would you like to come and stand by me so you can have a closer look this time?”
Her cheeks glowed with her shy smile, but she did come and stand by him.
She even helped him, pulling his jacket down his arms and unbuttoning his waistcoat.
When his chest was bare, her gaze scoured every inch.
Tentatively, she placed her palm against his skin.
She enjoyed looking at him, that much was obvious.
His ridiculous vanity purred with the knowledge.
This was all he had to offer, really. This, and money. Neither of which was something he could take any credit for. He wasn’t responsible and protective like Michael, or honorable like Ash. But he was attractive to women, and right now, that wasn’t a bad thing.
She raised her eyes to meet his. “Does it bother you that I’m not comfortable undressing for you?”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “You’ll do it when you’re ready.”
He let her go, and when he reached to open his trousers, she stepped around to stand behind him.
Apparently, she wasn’t ready to see all of him just yet, either.
He was happy to let her go at her own pace.
She stayed behind him as he removed the rest of his clothing.
Her fingers trailed softly down his back, until her hand wrapped around his bottom.
“You do have a lovely backside, Mr. Henderson.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to see the front?”
As he turned, she squealed and ran, jumping onto the bed and pulling the blankets over her head. He laughed.
“It’s safe now,” he said after dousing the lamps. “But you’d better get that nightgown off so I can feel your body when I climb in next to you.”
There was frantic rustling. “Done!”
He lifted the blankets near the bottom of the bed and slid underneath. She gasped when he licked the top of her foot. She was utterly delectable. He kissed his way up her leg. “Open for me.” He swirled his tongue over her thigh.
“Wait,” she said, already breathless.
“Do you not want this?” He flicked his tongue against her skin.
“I do. So much. But I don’t want it to be about only me tonight.”
“You must be joking. You think I don’t enjoy this?” He licked closer to the apex of her thighs. “If it could sustain me, I’d eat nothing else but you.”
“Giles!”
He chuckled. He quite liked embarrassing her. He nibbled softly with his teeth.
“You know what I mean. Promise me you’ll take your pleasure too. Like the first time.”
“I promise. Now spread these legs and show me how much you want it.”
She opened wide for him and he claimed her with his mouth.
He hadn’t been exaggerating. It was his favorite thing.
She tasted like heaven itself. And the desperate noises she made, fighting between letting it out and keeping it in.
Dear God, it made him feral with need. Every morsel of a gentleman, abandoning him.
Her legs trembled and she gripped her fingers into his hair, forcing a groan from his throat.
“Giles, please don’t stop.”
Never. He couldn’t say the word and interrupt her momentum. She was close now. She gasped, and the noises that followed were strained. She was trying so hard to keep quiet.
After she calmed, he pressed one last, soft kiss before moving over the top of her. “I won’t mind if the whole house knows how well pleasured you are.”
He could almost hear a blush in her breathless laugh. “I want you inside my body now, Giles.”
“Are you sure you’re ready? I don’t want to hurt you again.”
“You’ve rendered me incapable of pulling your hair and demanding it. Please just do it.”
How could he possibly refuse? He was certainly desperate for it. He nudged against her entrance, cursing her need for darkness. He wanted to see her face so he could know if she was hurting. “Promise me you’ll tell me if it hurts, even just a bit.”
“I promise.”
Gently, he pushed into her body. She moaned, and it didn’t sound like pain, but he was so afraid of doing that again. “Is it alright?”
“It’s wonderful. Keep going.”
He plunged into her again. It was like her body was made for him. Nothing had ever felt better.
“More.”
Her eager demand spurred him on, but without light, he had to see with his hands. He held one above her breast so he could feel it shake with each plunge, her nipple brushing against his palm. Her hips came up to meet him, urging him deeper.
“Please,” she begged. “It’s so good, but I need more.”
Soon, he was thrusting into her, both of them gasping for breath. He was dreadfully close, but he had to hold on. Her moans were escalating with each repetition, and he wanted to feel her body grip him and hear her call out as she took her pleasure once more.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and she didn’t hold back. Her shouts echoed the pleasure that shot through him like a clap of thunder, so powerful he barely managed to hold himself up through the turmoil.
When it eased, he collapsed beside her, blowing out a long breath. “Finally.”
Even her giggle was breathless. “Finally what?”
“Finally, I got the vigorous bedsport I was looking for the night I followed you into that study at Lady Hempsted’s ball.”
“I think, perhaps, I was looking for that too. I just didn’t know it yet.” She hummed with a satisfied sigh.
He pulled her face toward him and kissed her. “Thank you for luring me into your astonishingly delectable trap, even if it took me a while to realize that’s what it was.”