Page 78 of A Gentleman's Wager

“What curious play is this, my lord?” Vaughan rested his head upon Lucerne’s knee and looked up at him. Realising his mistake at once, his eyes narrowed, dark eyes flickering with smouldering resentment. Unable to resist, Bella tweaked his right nipple. Angry he might be, but she owed him, and there was no guarantee she would ever get another such opportunity as this.

Vaughan clapped his hand over hers and held her fast, making her squeak in alarm.

“Oh, don’t look at him for answers. I assure you, he’s not the saviour you think.”

“And I suppose you’d have me believe you’re not the devil either?”

“My aspirations are not nearly so high.”

“Let go.”

Astonishingly, he released her at once. Only to slide his hand up her inner arm and tighten his grip around the fleshy upper. “Remember you started this.” He jerked her forwards so that she was looking down at him, her mouth poised directly above his. He flicked his tongue across her bottom lip, making the sensitive nerves there sing. Bella whimpered as his tongue drove deep, and he pulled her further from Lucerne, who shifted restlessly beside her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and tried to pull her back to him, but Vaughan’s grip only tightened.

Bella’s whimpers became a moan. If one of them didn’t release her soon, she’d end up with bruises.

“Let her go,” Lucerne demanded.

“But Lucerne, isn’t this precisely what you wanted?” Vaughan said against Bella’s lips. “Have you not tormented me with such talk these last two days? Might we not have her together? Your words, not mine.”

Had he really advocated for such a thing? She wanted to seek assurance from Lucerne, but Vaughan refused to release her.

“Let go,” Lucerne repeated.

“You let go.” Vaughan curled his free arm around Lucerne’s leg and stroked along the inside of his thigh.

“Dammit!” Lucerne’s grip loosened, allowing Vaughan to claim her. There was barely time to acknowledge how easily Lucerne had been conquered before she was experiencing the thrust of Vaughan’s tongue. When he broke off the kiss, Bella drew back on the edge of delirium, eager for air. She looked straight down into his eyes. They were dilated and liquid, so open she thought she would fall into them. So, overflowing with lust and love she didn’t know how to process that level of emotion. She gasped and retreated to Lucerne’s arms.

Lucerne cupped her face. “Bella,” he mouthed, ready to kiss her.

Vaughan’s sudden movement as he flipped onto his feet startled them both. Lucerne lurched almost off the chair when the marquis paced towards the door, settling with a sigh of relief, when his action was merely to close it and turn the key rather than flouncing out of the exit.

“You gave no…” Lucerne stammered and looked at her.

Vaughan proceeded to snuff the candles, swiftly plunging the room into deeper darkness, until all that remained was the white-orange glow of the coals in the grate. The scent of beeswax lingered as he poured another brandy and lushed it.

“Vaughan,” the sofa silk rasped against Lucerne’s breeches as he stood. He crossed to Vaughan’s position on the hearthrug. “Pour another.”

Pennerley blinked but did as instructed. Lucerne took it from him, drained the contents then set the glass firmly on the mantle. “Now neither of us can claim to be tipsier than the other.”

“I don’t need to be drunk. I pray only you understand why.”

“I ask only that you give it a chance.”

“Is that not what I’m doing?”

Lucerne’s expression turned quizzical. “I’m not sure. But you can hardly claim this is my doing.” He tapped a finger against the front of Vaughan’s pantaloons. There was no mistaking the hummock there. “I could be jealous. What do you think, Vaughan? Should I be? All your kisses tonight have been for her.” He caught his fingers in the silken strands of Vaughan’s hair. “Yet, you claim you don’t even like her. That I shouldn’t want something you clearly find inspirational.”

“You know what I want.”

Lucerne wove his fingers deeper into Vaughan’s hair. “I know what you say you want.”

“I’m not in the habit of lying to myself, Lucerne. I know who and what I am, and what I desire. I’ve always known.”

Lucerne bent their foreheads together. “I won’t argue with you.”

Bella watched them on the edge of her seat, certain they were about to kiss. It was not at all like the time before, when all had seemed playful. Instead, the tension seemed to ripple between them, growing with each word and action. All she suspected was proving to be true. She sniffed the air, convinced she could detect the faint undercurrent of male arousal.

She wasn’t certain who initiated the kiss, only that it was a beautiful thing. Lucerne and Vaughan were as perfectly matched as sun and moon. It was hard not to be jealous of that symmetry or remain unmoved by their passion. They clove to one another, hip against hip, staffs pressed tight. It made her light-headed simply to watch. No doubt this would prove her cue to leave once again. Well, she would not go willingly this time.