smiled. “Ah well, if your husband ever decides to sell his magic, I’d like to see if I can give Jethro a night where the rest of the world falls away and it’s just us.” Arching her chin at the hall, she added, “Come on, we better go back. The men will be wondering.”
I followed her, my mind racing. Whatever drugs Sully had cooked up for Jethro’s condition when he was younger were now obsolete thanks to Nila’s love and presence. But...if we could give them a night where there were no other thoughts, responsibilities, or interruptions caused by whatever Jethro suffered, then...I wanted to give them that.
Before we left Hawksridge Hall, I would give Nila a gift.
A small box with the keys to a whole other world.
A world accessed only by virtual reality, desire, and togetherness.
Chapter Eight
“FOUND YOU.” I WRAPPED my arms around Eleanor as she brushed past, her fingers hastily tying her mask back into place. Nuzzling against her neck, I inhaled her, groaning at the scent of orchids, her, and the crispness of English air. “I missed you.”
I’d finished with Mr Prest.
I’d garnered all I needed to know about him, even with his face obscured by a mask. Despite the ruthlessness surrounding him, he seemed legit in his yacht endeavours, and the quick photos he’d shown me on his phone indicated an exemplary product. He’d promised to send through a quote with a range of vessels so I could go over it with Eleanor and see if it was a worthy addition to Rapture and its guests.
As far as I was concerned, I’d been friendly with Jethro. I’d been polite with Mr Prest. I’d put in an appearance and socialised for long enough.
Now, I wanted to be alone.
With my delicious fucking wife.
She shivered as I pressed a kiss against her throat. “I missed you too.”
“I’ll see you later, Eleanor.” Nila waved, vanishing into the ballroom in search of her husband.
Eleanor raised her hand weakly in goodbye, her body melting in my arms as I licked the shell of her ear. “I’m about done with this shindig. You?” I sucked her sunburst diamond earring into my mouth. “I’ve had a hard-on since our dance. I can’t stop thinking about being inside you.” Dropping my hand down her belly, I pressed her ass against me. “Feel that, Jinx? That’s your fucking fault, and I’m done waiting.”
Her head tipped back, landing on my chest. Her long hair wedged against us. “Found a closet we can disappear into?”
“A closet won’t do.” I arched my hips into her ass, grateful no one else was in the shadowy corridor. “I want all of you. I want you naked and begging. I want to take my time and ensure you’re as desperate as I am.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I’m as desperate as you.” She laughed softly, her breath catching as I fisted her breast, squeezing her nipple through the iridescent material of her ball gown. “Sully...”
“Let’s go.” Releasing her, I grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the masquerade.
“Wait. Do we need to say goodnight? Is it rude if we—”
“It’s rude if I spend the entire night with an obvious erection.”
She smiled, her gaze dropping down my front. “I could get on my knees and help you with that.”
I grinned savagely. “Oh, you’ll be on your knees alright. But then I intend to repay the favour with my head between your thighs.”
Her eyes hooded. “How is that you can make me wet in two seconds flat?”
“How is that you can make me so fucking hard when I had you only a few hours ago?”
“It’s a curse.”
I cupped my hand around her nape, jerking her into me. Our lips touched as I fed words into her mouth. “The best kind of curse.”
I kissed her.
Hard.
Our noses brushed, our masks clacked, and our tongues broke free at the same time, dancing, licking, desperate to drop all pretences of being human and give in to the animals within us.
Struggling to catch a proper breath, I stumbled back and dragged my gorgeous wife down the corridor, past suits of armour, tapestries, masterpieces, and weaponry. We stopped halfway up the staircase, desperation ensuring another fierce and furious kiss before we practically ran the rest of the way to our room.
Wrenching open the door, I tossed her inside before locking it and ripping off my tuxedo blazer.
If I didn’t get out of these clothes soon, I’d tear them off, and I didn’t want to show such disrespect to Nila’s sewing