the thin cashmere of her cardigan. My cock, already half erect, twitched eagerly knowing that all it would take was a flick of my finger to pull back the cardigan and reveal her breasts behind the delicate veil of lace.
Delaney’s voice was strained as she whispered back, her eyes drifting to my lips, “I give them what they want?”
My fingers found the elastic hem of her panties and I leaned forward till my lips were just a hair’s breadth away from hers. I could practically taste the whiskey hot on her tongue.
When Delaney’s long, dark eyelashes started to flutter closed, I whispered, “Wrong.”
I pulled back and removed my hand from the heat between Delaney’s thighs.
“What the fuck?” she hissed, her voice quickly rising. “What the actual goddamn fuck, Ronan?”
I ignored her to stretch forward and knock on the black felt partition.
“We’re good to go, Benson!” I shouted.
I nestled comfortably into my seat as the car shifted smoothly forward before picking up Delaney’s to-go box with the half-eaten steak au poivre. I acted like I only just noticed that Delaney was still staring at me with absolute incredulity written on her delicate features.
“Oh,” I said, popping open the lid. “You want the correct answer?”
Delaney could only make a confused, strangled noise. I looked over at her and gave her a wink.
“You tease them first, love.”
Delaney’s hands clenched into fists and she shouted at the roof of the town car. I grinned before licking my lips and rubbing my hands together hungrily.
“Ah, there it is,” I said, looking down at my lap. “My fork!”
Delaney
Rain pitter-pattered on the glass dome of the greenhouse. I watched it fall through the foggy windows as I wiggled my toes on the edge of the white garden table. I had a warm wool blanket around my shoulders, a steaming cup of coffee balanced on the arm rest, and a massive bowl of Lucky Charms in my lap. It was the perfect quiet morning until Ronan arrived, startling me with a loud “Cheerio, love!”, knocking my feet off the edge of the table, and stealing my bowl of cereal.
In the chaos I knocked over my cup of coffee, jumping up with a shriek as it spilled all over my pyjamas. My blanket tumbled off my shoulders and Ronan swept it up to lay over his arm. I stared at him with livid eyes as he moved to arrange the blanket comfortably on his own chair opposite mine, plop down with his own feet propped up on the table, and then dig his spoon into my Lucky Charms.
“Um, ex-fucking-cuse me?” I barked, holding my hands out at my sides as coffee dripped off my silk button-down.
“This morning I will be teaching you how a proper lady eats breakfast,” Ronan explained, pushing my spoon around the bowl and then frowning. “Hey, did you pick out all the marshmallows?”
I was about to curse him out some more when I realised…there was something different about him. I stared closer. It was only a little after eight and yet here he was, first of all, awake, but second of all, showered, groomed, and clothed. I eyed with growing suspicion his combed-back hair, his shaved jawline, his clear eyes, and his sharp, dark green suit paired with velvet smoking slippers.
“You don’t smell like tequila,” I said, my voice wary and unsure. “Did all of Dublin run out or something?”
Ronan was still examining my Lucky Charms.
“Really, Delaney, even plumbers know you never pick out the marshmallows. It’s simply not done,” he said, frowning irritably. “And you intend on becoming a lady in high society?”
“There’s colour in your skin,” I noted, squinting as I leaned forward for a better look. “Didn’t get your fill of prostitutes’ blood last night, Count?”
Ronan shook his head in disgust. “I’m a billionaire and I’m expected to just eat these little brown bits with no marshmallows?” he asked, lifting a spoonful high and pouting at it. “What’s the point of being super rich if this is the life I’m cursed to live?”
“Your buttons are even buttoned correctly,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “Are you… are you… sober?”
Before I could get an answer from Ronan, the door to the greenhouse opened once more. Benson came in rolling a silver tray and holding a garment bag.
“Ah, there you are, Benson,” Ronan said, shoving away the bowl of Lucky Charms and hopping energetically to his feet. “Impeccable timing as always.”
I stared at the fine china tea pot and matching teacup with disdain.