you ought to quit while you are ahead,” said Connor softly, eyeing the pair of empty bottles by his friend’s side.
Making a face, Gryff replied with a rude oath.
“Suit yourself,” murmured the earl.
Alexa felt the Wolfhound’s big, muscled body shift again, and silently prayed that he was taking his leave. A trickle of sweat teased its way down her spine, leaving a trail of liquid sparks.
“What’s the matter, puppy?” he snapped. “Am I making you nervous?”
She shook her head, not daring to speak.
“Then stop squirming.”
Her limbs tensed and she held herself very still. This was dangerous.
Oh-so dangerous.
But it wasn’t just fear that was coursing through her blood like hot buttered rum. It was something far more potent—a heady mixture of excitement, elation, and some emotion she couldn’t quite define.
After several long moments of silence, the Wolfhound moved away, but only to stand by the marquess.
“Do you wish to pull up a chair and join the game?” asked Gryff.
Holding her breath, Alexa ventured a peek from beneath the brim of her hat.
“The stakes aren’t high enough to tempt me.” The Wolfhound appeared to have lost any interest in the players or the card game. As he turned to survey the room, his gunmetal gaze skimmed over her as if she weren’t there.
Alexa knew she should be relieved, and yet…
“Have you seen Babcock?” he asked his friend.
“Not that I can recall,” answered Gryff.
“If you are searching for company, Lord Killingworth, you need not look too far.” A voluptuous blonde slipped around two gentlemen at the dice table and placed a hand on his sleeve. Alexa tried to concentrate on her cards, but she couldn’t help noticing that the décolletage of the woman’s gown was cut nearly to her navel. And her ample bosom was covered by barely a thread. “I would be delighted to keep you company.”
“I’ve business elsewhere,” he replied.
“Business?” The blonde’s hand rubbed suggestively along his arm. “But here, you won’t have to pay for your pleasures.”
Her touch dropped to toy with the fastenings of his trousers. And then her fingers slid lower and cupped a small squeeze.
As the Wolfhound gave a rumbled laugh, Alexa felt her own flesh begin to tingle. His brandy-roughened voice seemed to stir a fresh wave of molten heat that swirled in her belly, then dipped deep between her legs.
With a little purr, the blonde began to tease her palm back and forth.
The earl’s reaction was obvious, despite the low light. However, his laugh grew a little louder. “I assure you, my dear, that wherever I go, I am never required to pay for my pleasure.”
“Hell, the lad’s blushing,” chuckled Quincy. “Have you ever tupped a woman, Lars?” he asked with a leer. “You’ve got more than enough to pay for a prime article like Sally.”
“Bloody hell, could we stubble the talk of sex?” grumbled Gryff. “Be a good lass and dangle those lovely tits elsewhere, Sal. You’ll frighten the lad away before I’ve had a chance to recoup my losses.”
The woman made a moue of disappointment and flounced away.
“Very well, I’ll leave you all to your games.” The Wolfhound glanced at Alexa and gave a bored shrug. “Enjoy your evening, puppy. You may blink now and I won’t bite off your head.”
Gritting her teeth, Alexa watched him walk away. Damn the man. The fire inside her cooled somewhat, and yet her blood was still thrumming. How dare he treat her like a child when she was besting some of London’s most notorious gamesters?
Forcing her attention back to her hand, she steadied her nerves and channeled her pent-up emotion into sharper play and bolder bets.
“Damn, I’d wear two pairs of those cursed black gloves if it would bring me such a winning touch,” growled Quincy, as he shoved back his chair. “I’m done for the night. Ye better fold them as well, Haddan. Your dish is as empty as mine.”
“No, no, I can feel it in my
Making a face, Gryff replied with a rude oath.
“Suit yourself,” murmured the earl.
Alexa felt the Wolfhound’s big, muscled body shift again, and silently prayed that he was taking his leave. A trickle of sweat teased its way down her spine, leaving a trail of liquid sparks.
“What’s the matter, puppy?” he snapped. “Am I making you nervous?”
She shook her head, not daring to speak.
“Then stop squirming.”
Her limbs tensed and she held herself very still. This was dangerous.
Oh-so dangerous.
But it wasn’t just fear that was coursing through her blood like hot buttered rum. It was something far more potent—a heady mixture of excitement, elation, and some emotion she couldn’t quite define.
After several long moments of silence, the Wolfhound moved away, but only to stand by the marquess.
“Do you wish to pull up a chair and join the game?” asked Gryff.
Holding her breath, Alexa ventured a peek from beneath the brim of her hat.
“The stakes aren’t high enough to tempt me.” The Wolfhound appeared to have lost any interest in the players or the card game. As he turned to survey the room, his gunmetal gaze skimmed over her as if she weren’t there.
Alexa knew she should be relieved, and yet…
“Have you seen Babcock?” he asked his friend.
“Not that I can recall,” answered Gryff.
“If you are searching for company, Lord Killingworth, you need not look too far.” A voluptuous blonde slipped around two gentlemen at the dice table and placed a hand on his sleeve. Alexa tried to concentrate on her cards, but she couldn’t help noticing that the décolletage of the woman’s gown was cut nearly to her navel. And her ample bosom was covered by barely a thread. “I would be delighted to keep you company.”
“I’ve business elsewhere,” he replied.
“Business?” The blonde’s hand rubbed suggestively along his arm. “But here, you won’t have to pay for your pleasures.”
Her touch dropped to toy with the fastenings of his trousers. And then her fingers slid lower and cupped a small squeeze.
As the Wolfhound gave a rumbled laugh, Alexa felt her own flesh begin to tingle. His brandy-roughened voice seemed to stir a fresh wave of molten heat that swirled in her belly, then dipped deep between her legs.
With a little purr, the blonde began to tease her palm back and forth.
The earl’s reaction was obvious, despite the low light. However, his laugh grew a little louder. “I assure you, my dear, that wherever I go, I am never required to pay for my pleasure.”
“Hell, the lad’s blushing,” chuckled Quincy. “Have you ever tupped a woman, Lars?” he asked with a leer. “You’ve got more than enough to pay for a prime article like Sally.”
“Bloody hell, could we stubble the talk of sex?” grumbled Gryff. “Be a good lass and dangle those lovely tits elsewhere, Sal. You’ll frighten the lad away before I’ve had a chance to recoup my losses.”
The woman made a moue of disappointment and flounced away.
“Very well, I’ll leave you all to your games.” The Wolfhound glanced at Alexa and gave a bored shrug. “Enjoy your evening, puppy. You may blink now and I won’t bite off your head.”
Gritting her teeth, Alexa watched him walk away. Damn the man. The fire inside her cooled somewhat, and yet her blood was still thrumming. How dare he treat her like a child when she was besting some of London’s most notorious gamesters?
Forcing her attention back to her hand, she steadied her nerves and channeled her pent-up emotion into sharper play and bolder bets.
“Damn, I’d wear two pairs of those cursed black gloves if it would bring me such a winning touch,” growled Quincy, as he shoved back his chair. “I’m done for the night. Ye better fold them as well, Haddan. Your dish is as empty as mine.”
“No, no, I can feel it in my
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