An Affair So Right (Rebel Hearts #4)(68)

“The guest of honor.”

“Who is that?”

He sighed as he studied the papers. “This is my sister Mary’s birthday dinner.”

Theodora gaped at him, eyes filling with tears. “You’re holding a dinner for her?”

“I do so every year.”

Theodora cupped Quinn’s cheek impulsively, heart bursting with unexpected adoration. “What a good brother you are.”

“Too little, too late.” He bent to kiss her, and despite them being in the study, she allowed it.

His kiss was sweet and gentle, and somewhat briefer than she found she wanted by the end. They drew apart to finalize the arrangements, and she was rather excited she would now see the fruits of her efforts at the dinner for such an important person in his life.

Quinn’s arm stole around her back. “What else is there to do tonight?”

“I was thinking about the St. James property. What shall you do with it?”

“Before I say anything on the subject, do you have an idea already?”

“I think you should make it available to lease for the season.”

“It is barely furnished but for the one bed.”

“A day or two will take care of any shortcomings in the decor,” she promised. “I have taken the liberty of drafting an advertisement for a short-term lease, if you approve, and one for the property on Wellington Street, too. What did you want to do with the place?”

“Lease them both.” He grinned. “We agree on that.”

She grinned back widely. “A very sensible pair we are.”

“Was there anything else?”

“Only a few years’ worth of papers to pour over.”

“They’ll still be there tomorrow.” His lips settled at the top of her spine, and a delightful thrill swept through her as he kissed her neck.

“Quinn,” she whispered.

“Shh,” he warned. He unbuttoned her gown a bit, and then he swept his hands around her body to cup her breasts beneath the gaping gown. “How do you like being engaged to me so far?”

“Very well, even if it’s only pretend.” He continued to tug at the buttons until her gown hung loose and was in danger of sliding down her arms.

“We’ve never pretended to like each other.” He slid one hand down her body under the gown, forcing it to fall to her hips. He cupped her quim firmly. “I want to taste you. Right here, right now. Over our desk.”

Theodora shivered. She would like that very much. “Your desk,” she murmured, trying to collect the papers he’d spread about them before they were completely muddled.

“You can’t be my secretary anymore.” He pulled the pins from her hair and buried his face in the fallen locks.

Theodora spun around to stare at him, clutching the papers to her chest. “Why can’t I work?”

“We’re engaged now, and things must be different between us if we’re to portray a legitimate engagement.” His lips bussed her cheek softly as he took the papers and set them aside on the chair. “But I never said you couldn’t do the work, my dear.”

“Then—”

“Shh,” he whispered again. “Can’t you tell I’m trying to make love to my betrothed very quietly so no one finds out?”

He drew her hard against him. He was warm, impatient and very aroused. She stared up at him as he bent to kiss her lips, eyes locked on hers. They kissed, staring at each other, and then Theodora closed her eyes. She was overwhelmed by him, and just as aroused as he appeared to be.

He lifted her onto the desktop, raised her skirts and widened her legs to stand between them. He cupped her face as he kissed her languidly. Throwing caution to the wind, Theodora lifted her fingers to his waistcoat and began to unbutton him.

He threw off his coat and waistcoat.

Theodora wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face to his white shirt as he tackled the laces of her stays. “What if someone comes?”

“The door is locked, and my mother made it very clear that she’d not return downstairs again tonight.”

“They trust us to be alone together and behave.”

“Their mistake, but I won’t ever correct them.” He lowered her bodice and teased the skin of her upper back with his fingertips. “I know what I want.”

“What?”

“Just you, as you are now.”

A smile curved her lips as Quinn proved how much he desired her, with his hands and with his lips. She eased back against the tabletop, using her hands and elbows to slow her fall as he pushed her gently down. Although she knew this was reckless, a very stupid thing to do, she couldn’t deny him or herself another moment or two of pleasure.

Cool air brushed over her upper thighs, and she closed her eyes. Quinn kissed her breasts languidly until she was panting, and then worked his way down her body toward her thighs. He eased her legs wider apart, and then he was kissing her quim, devastating her senses, tasting the evidence of her desire for him.

He buried his face there, and Theodora arched her back, succumbing to the intensity of her own excitement. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for this. No sin she would deny him, just so long as she could feel this way forever.

Quinn groaned, and she lifted her head to watch him. He was lapping at her quim with firm strokes, eyes closed, loving her the way he did best. She stretched to cup his head, and he moaned again, right at the heart of her pleasure. Her body quivered, and then when he sucked on her clitoris, she cried out—much too loudly not to be misunderstood by anyone passing the door.