Guarding the Countess

by Jess Michaels

  Which left him alone with Naomi for the first time. She wouldn’t look at him. She looked at Marcus, but not at him. He supposed he deserved that. After all, he knew he could sometimes be detached. Cool. Marcus was better at easing the minds of others. He’d had to be—it had helped him make his way in the world, pull himself up in rank in the military.

  They’d always been opposites that way. It was one thing Everett loved about their connection.

  And yet now he felt lacking as Naomi sat down on the chair with a huff of breath.

  “It isn’t the finest of accommodations,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But a smaller room is better, in some ways. Fewer points of entry.”

  She looked at him at last. Over him, actually. Head to toe. Appraising and, he could see, interested. His cock jolted at the thought.

  “You think whoever shot at me is driven to chase me across London? Could someone hate me so much?” She drew an unsteady breath. “Could I be the reason three men are dead? Truly?”

  He pursed his lips. She’d asked the same question back at Marcus’s home a few hours before. He knew his harsh tone when he responded had stung her. It seemed he was being offered an opportunity to make up for that.

  He moved from the bed, stepping toward her and closing the distance with just one long movement. He leaned down and his hand came out almost against his will, tracing her cheek gently. Her breath caught, just as it had when Marcus took her hand, and he reveled in how her pupils dilated for him, as they had for his friend.

  “Listen to me, Naomi,” he said. “I realize you cared for those men, that you feel guilty at this new idea that the killer could have been pursuing you.” Her shudder was all the answer he needed. He continued softly, “But whatever happened to your husbands, it is not your fault. If someone killed them to get to you, that is only the killer’s doing, not yours. You are not responsible for anyone else’s bad acts.”

  Her relief was palpable as she sagged against his hand. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  His fingers curled against her skin and she let out a shuddering sigh. One that called to him in ways he could hardly stand. He leaned in slowly, watching as her eyes widened and her lips parted. She wet them, and he was almost unmanned right then and there.

  He was going to kiss this woman, mourning gown and investigation be damned. He was going to kiss her until she lifted against him and moaned his name.

  But before he could brush his lips to hers, the door to the room opened and Marcus stepped inside. Naomi let out a tiny sound and bolted to her feet, racing past Everett to the window, where she stared out, her shoulders shaking.

  Everett stood and walked to Marcus. His friend lifted both his brows and Everett shrugged in response. They both knew what was happening here. They both knew what they wanted. What would happen in regards to that want was something else entirely.

  “I came up the back stair as soon as everything was situated,” Marcus said, glancing toward Naomi. “It’s late—I could ask for some supper to be sent up.”

  She pivoted and her gaze flitted over them. She shook her head. “It’s been a long day. I’m very tired. I think I’ll just…I’ll just sleep.”

  Marcus nodded and cast a glance toward Everett. “Do you want the first watch?”

  Everett let out his breath. Marcus could obviously see the outline of the erection that was in no way hidden beneath his trousers. He supposed his partner was trying to make things a bit easier considering the sleeping arrangements.

  “Very well,” he said.

  Marcus walked past him and motioned to a small privacy screen in the corner of the room. “You may remove your gown there, Naomi. I will sleep on the bed beside you, above the coverlet.”

  She jolted and stared at the bed. It seemed very small when Everett considered Marcus and Naomi lying there. Unless they were right on top of each other, an image that didn’t help the erection one bit. If anything, it excited him all the more.

  Her shoulders rolled forward. “Very well,” she said, and walked to the screen to change. Everett lolled his head back, stretching his neck.

  It was going to be a long night. One that didn’t promise any relief from the desire he hadn’t expected, though that didn’t mean the feeling was unwanted.

  Naomi slid beneath the covers, feeling naked even though her chemise covered her somewhat and the blankets even more. It was just that she’d never spent a night with two men in her room before. Certainly not two very handsome, very virile men whose glances in her direction didn’t exactly speak of chaste protection.

  They looked like they each wanted to eat her alive. And she was not opposed to the idea either.

  But that wasn’t going to happen. She pulled the covers up to her neck and lay there as she watched Marcus divest himself of his jacket, and then he started to unbutton his shirt. Oh God, was he going to take off his clothes? She found herself straightening, lifting her head to see. He unlooped his cravat and then removed his boots before he tugged the shirt over his head.

  She could hardly contain her murmur of approval. The man was built like a workhorse. Thickly muscled, hard as steel, meant to be touched. But she would not touch him. Would not. Could not.

  She squeezed her eyes shut as he lay down on top of the coverlet, depressing the mattress and making her roll slightly toward him as he settled in. Now she could smell him. Smoky, minty, just something good. She could feel her sex tingling, and she clenched her legs together to make it stop. It didn’t.

  “Are you comfortable?” he asked, rolling to face her on the pillows. Close enough to lick.

  She nodded. “As much as can be expected under the circumstances.”

  “Try to sleep,” he soothed. “It will be better in the morning.”

  “If you say so.”

  She shut her eyes again and tried to count her breaths. In and out, over and over. Only as her body relaxed slowly, her mind took over. And this time she wasn’t thinking about Marcus and his touch or the fact that Everett had nearly kissed her.

  Instead, her mind flashed an image of the window exploding next to her head as a shot rang out. Of the feeling of sliding across the ground as Marcus’s body hit her and covered her for protection.

  She jolted, her eyes coming open as she let out a tiny sound. Marcus was still awake, of course. And he was watching her.

  “Remembering?” he asked.

  She nodded and her eyes began to sting with tears.

  His brow wrinkled and then he reached out. “Here, may I?”

  She nodded again and his arms came around her. He dragged her closer under the covers until her body molded to his, separated only by the thin barrier of blankets. She buried her face into his bare neck, shaking as he smoothed his hands along her back gently.

  It was meant as comfort, of course. Or at least that was what she’d told herself when she allowed it. Only now it felt like something different. His warmth shook away the fearful images, but replaced it with the wanting she’d been trying to deny since the moment she’d stepped into this man’s study.

  She’d been married a short time, but she’d felt alone all those months. Stephen’s ideas of pleasure had very rarely involved any kind of intimacy with her. Or comfort. Or pleasure that she didn’t provide with her own hand. And now this handsome, delicious man was holding her, and her body lifted against him of its own accord.

  His hands stilled on her back and he leaned away, staring down into her face. She stared right back up, trying hard not to judge herself for what she wanted. What she needed, after this long, horrible day.

  “Naomi,” he whispered.

  “Please,” she said back.

  That seemed to erase all the doubt on his face. He lowered his mouth, and suddenly he was kissing her. And not gently either. His tongue drove inside her mouth like he couldn’t control the passion and she opened to him, fisting her hands on his chest as his fingers traced down her spine and then tangled in the covers. He pushed them down, removing t
he barrier they created.

  Her whole body tingled as he kicked the blankets away and cupped her backside, pulling her even closer as the kiss deepened and spiraled out of control and into madness. She didn’t care. She wanted to drown in him. To feel him. To forget today and all the fear and pain that burned inside of her.

  “Do you want to feel good, Naomi?” he asked as he drew back just enough to speak.

  She nodded, her movements jerky. “Y-yes,” she whispered. “Please, please make me feel good.”

  “Roll over,” he ordered.

  She was shaking as she did so. And when she did, she froze. In the heat of the moment she’d allowed herself to forget that Everett was in the room, so caught up was she in Marcus. And he’d been so quiet, sitting there in his chair, that he could have been asleep. Only he wasn’t. He was slouched down low on the chair, and he was just…watching them.

  She bit her lip as Marcus wrapped his arm around her midsection and drew her back so that her bottom was firmly against his pelvis. She felt the hardness of him against her, grinding as he slid his hands up to cup her breasts through her chemise.

  The act blurred her concerns about Everett. Stephen hadn’t liked her breasts. Told her they were too full. No one had touched them in so long, and as Marcus flicked his thumbs over her, she ground back against him with a gasp of pleasure.

  Across the room, Everett’s eyes lit up and he lowered a hand to the harsh line of his cock, which was visible through his trousers. He rubbed his fingers along the fabric as she locked eyes with him.

  This was happening. And she didn’t care how wanton it was. She wanted it. She wanted Everett to watch and Marcus to fuck, and that was what she was going to get.

  Behind her, Marcus slid his fingers into the straps of her chemise and drew it down, over her arms, bunching it at her waist. The warm air from the fire brushed over her hard nipples, and she let out another long sigh.

  Everett was unbuttoning his trousers now, pulling himself free. Her lips parted as she watched him stroke a hand over his entire length, and his eyes fluttered shut for just a moment. Then he opened them again and held her gaze once more so that her sex jolted with the wickedness of it.

  Marcus’s mouth moved to her neck, sucking there as he urged her onto her back. She did what he wanted, lifting into a too-brief kiss before he dropped his mouth to her nipples and sucked. She almost levitated off the bed as pleasure mobbed her. Almost enough to come, not quite.

  He sucked and licked, laving first one breast and then the other until she had no breath and her voice was rough from moaning. Then he pushed her back onto her side and tugged the rest of the chemise off.

  She was naked and arched back into him, trying to find a way to get closer. He chuckled as he licked her neck again, sucking. She felt his hand pushing between their writhing bodies, and tensed as he unfastened the fall front on his trousers. Then his hot length hit her backside and she gasped once more.

  She didn’t have to look at him to know he was big. He was hard. And she was going to get what she wanted. He maneuvered her, guiding her into the right position, and then he stroked the head of himself across her soaking wet entrance.

  “Please,” she murmured, looking at Everett while feeling Marcus.

  She didn’t have to say it twice. He spread her open and then he was pushing inside. She stretched to accommodate him, grinding back as he filled her inch by inch. He reached around, pressing his fingers against her clitoris as he began to thrust. She met him with each stroke, grinding against his hand and his cock as pleasure built inside of her from some deep, powerful place.

  Everett stroked his cock in time, almost like he was the one inside of her. She held his stare as he pleasured himself, watching his neck strain as he observed her with Marcus.

  And then her orgasm was there, powerful as she writhed out of control, riding the waves of pleasure as she gripped Marcus harder. He grunted against her neck, pounding faster now, harder, deeper. Everett did the same, and as her orgasm faded, both men came, Everett against his hand, Marcus by pulling from her body and pumping between them.

  Marcus pulled her against him tightly, and she found herself snuggling back into his arms. Everett smiled, panting as he mouthed, Sleep.

  And as her heartrate came down and her body stopped twitching with pleasure, she did just that.

  Chapter 5

  Everett stood in the filtered sunshine of the morning, watching as Marcus spoke to the boy at the inn about their horses. Marcus sent Everett a side glance, patted the boy’s shoulder and then joined him outside the stable.

  “I’ve asked for a horse to ride alongside for the return trip back into Town,” he said.

  Everett arched a brow. “I see. Does that mean you don’t wish to ride in the carriage with Naomi after last night’s…acts?”

  Marcus shifted, but his gaze didn’t leave Everett’s. That was something, for often these kinds of conversations about giving in to passion inspired Marcus to pull away, to Everett’s endless frustration.

  “I didn’t plan to make love to her last night,” Marcus said after he’d glanced around to ensure they weren’t being eavesdropped upon. “She was shaking, and once I touched her…”

  “Yes, I understand,” Everett said. “Watching you two was…well, it’s been a long time since we shared a woman for more than just a night.”

  Now Marcus’s gaze did flit away and he cleared his throat. “It didn’t end well last time, did it?”

  “Naomi is different,” Everett pressed. “She looked at me across the room as you slid your cock inside of her. And she came.” His cock grew hard just thinking about it. “She’s different.”

  Marcus shook his head, but didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Everett knew he was uncomfortable with this topic. With the sharing? Not at all. When he was in the midst of passion, no one dedicated himself to pleasure as much as Marcus. But after? He was always pulling away from what he wanted most.

  Everett stepped closer. Stepped into Marcus’s space, almost touching his chest with his own. He tilted his head until Marcus was forced to meet his eyes.

  “I want this,” Everett said softly. “And I do not ask for much.”

  Marcus’s eyes came shut and he nodded. “I know.”

  Everett was ready to ask him which part he knew about, but before he could, Naomi stepped from the inn and looked around for them. Both of them stared, as it was impossible not to. She wore the same gown as yesterday, but she took Everett’s breath away. Especially now that he’d seen her in far less. In nothing at all. With his friend buried inside her body as she moaned out pleasure.

  Now that was all he could see.

  She blushed as she started toward them across the wide expanse of drive and lawn. Marcus caught his arm. “You ride with her in the carriage,” he said softly, his tone laced with almost desperation. “See if she’s…open.”

  Everett’s lips parted as he turned toward Marcus and stared. “Truly?”

  “Yes. She’s magnificent, Everett.”

  Marcus released him and moved toward Naomi with a friendly smile. Everett nodded. “I hope I find out,” he muttered before he joined the pair beside the carriage.

  Naomi sat in the carriage, staring across at Everett, who was seated on the bench opposite hers. He had been quiet since they departed the inn a half hour before, glancing over some papers he had withdrawn from his pocket.

  Like Marcus, he had not brought up the previous night. Hadn’t acted any differently. Naomi wasn’t certain what to think of it. The experience with Marcus while Everett was watching and pleasuring himself with his hand was one of the most powerful of her life. Did it mean so little to them?

  Did it matter? She’d known them for all of twenty-four hours. What had happened was an anomaly. Perhaps it was best to forget it.

  None of which she could make herself believe.

  “Do you think ill of me?” she burst out, and immediately wished she could take it back.

  His
gaze came up slowly, blue depths the color of the sea on a cloudless day. He snagged her with that stare and put away his papers before he said, “And why would I do that?”

  She swallowed. Well, she’d started the topic, she might as well just get it out. Finish it. “Last night,” she said, and felt her cheeks burn. “So soon after my husband’s death. Doing…doing what I did with Marcus. With—with you.”

  He leaned forward in the small space and draped his elbows over his knees. Now he was very close, indeed. She could see the flecks of darker blue in the light of his eyes. Smell the hint of mint and coffee on his warm breath. God, but she wanted him to kiss her, as she’d known he wanted to do last night.

  What was wrong with her?

  “Did you love him?” he asked.

  Her lips parted and the thoughts of desire fled. “I—what?”

  “The earl,” he clarified. “Your latest husband, did you love him?”

  She shifted. Most would never think to ask such a thing. Loveless marriages were the norm in the kind of Society she kept, that this man kept. The few exceptions were seen as irregularities. Whispered about like they were on display at a museum.

  She cleared her throat. “No. I married him to get away from a bad situation.”

  “Which was?” he asked.

  She bit her lip. “My brother…my stepbrother, Thaddeus. He has always been protective of me. He demanded I live in his home after my second husband’s death, and I could hardly refuse when my own home was ripped away from me by my late husband’s family. Thaddeus’s wife is difficult. She runs hot and cold. They argue. It was unpleasant.”

  “So you married the earl,” Everett said softly.

  “It sounds mercenary, I suppose.”

  “No, it sounds reasonable,” he said with a shrug. “It’s the way of our world, after all.”

  She nodded. “I regretted it soon after. I didn’t want him dead, of course, what happened is horrible. That he could have been killed because of me is even worse. But I quickly realized that I was not going to be happy in such a loveless, odd arrangement.”