Whatever is the matter with your… Eden
CHAPTER 9
Phillip was mildly irritated as his younger sister’s blatant shock at his offer to join them on their outing to Gunter’s.
“You?” Lillian narrowed her eyes, “Want to accompany Juliana and I? Do you even know which one of us is which?”
Juliana giggled, “More like he has a tendre for the lovely Lady Eden.”
Lillian’s complexion cleared, “Oh, well then, that makes perfect sense.”
“I do not have a tendre for Eden!” Phillip boomed out, only to cause his younger sisters to erupt into gales of laughter. He was starting to remember why he didn’t do anything with the nursery set.
“We mustn’t tease him, Julie,” Lillian’s whiskey eyes danced. “A man in love is very temperamental.”
“Bloody hell, I am not in love with her! Why do people keep asking me that?” Phillip turned on his heel and exited the house.
Lillian and Juliana looked at each other in surprise - sure there was a story there that needed exploring.
Their mother came out to give them a once-over before sending them out to the carriage, brushing away some meaningless lint on Lilly’s shoulder and freshening up Julie’s bow under her chin.
“You both look beautiful,” the Dowager Marchioness smiled at her lovely daughters and gave them some excellent advice: “Try to tease your brother out of his black mood before you arrive. I guarantee you will have a better time.”
They nodded sagely before giving their mother a kiss and racing out to be helped into the elaborate carriage kept by Phillip, who in all truth was a very good brother to them.
By the time, they had arrived at the ducal mansion, the three siblings were no longer at odds, and spirits had been restored. That did not mean that Phillip wasn’t apprehensive about the outing itself. Even the very thought of being near Lady Eden did strange things to his equilibrium.
He had left the girls in the carriage and went to call for Eden at the door. Their elderly butler was nothing on Joseph, and Phillip almost felt bad for the poor man who seemed dreadfully dull. Obviously, he had no one to keep him company and nothing to amuse him. Bent with age, he shuffled along slowly, his liver spots showing clearly on his balding head. Phillip shivered and hoped that he would never go bald.
“Are you enamored of our butler? Because if you are, I do apologize, but I think that he is a bit old for you.”
As her saucy tone danced across his skin, he felt the hair on the back of his nape lift. He knew that he was smiling before he could even stop himself. Damn it, he didn’t even want to stop. The familiar stirring of desire hit him like a ton of bricks. If he could only figure out what her secret was, then he could be free of her.
“I hadn’t thought of adding elderly gentleman to my daily list of debaucheries this morning, but if you think that it might cheer the old boy up? He does look as if he needs something.”
Eden had watched their exchange from behind the staircase and couldn’t help but take a moment to drink in the pure male magnetism that had radiated from Phillip. But she just couldn’t leave it well enough alone, she wanted more and came out to play with the big bad wolf.
“I hadn’t realized there was a list.”
His eyes darkened imperceptibly, “There is always a method to my madness, despite what it may look like.”
She pretended to consider, “One would wonder what it would take to make it on the daily list of debaucheries.”
In a flash, he was right beside her. Eden’s breath caught in her throat, and he could see her heartbeat, the rapid pulse of it underneath her porcelain skin. Her eyes widened, alarmed at her own boldness. Standing so close to her, he could see fear clearly written across her face, but mixed with the distinct look of hunger, and it struck him. He was not alone in this folly. This insane attraction that was driving his every waking moment was not one-sided.
He grinned wickedly, “I do not make it a habit to play with innocents.”
She frowned, “I didn’t ask you to.”
“You may not have used the words, but your body is issuing all sorts of invitations.”
She sucked in an outraged breath, “How dare you!”
“My sisters are waiting in the carriage.” He stepped back from her, ready to show her to the door.
He thought that he turned quickly enough to avoid any uncomfortable realizations; alas, today was not his day.
“Whatever is the matter with your cock?” Eden blurted out.
It was the second time that day Phillip seemed to move with superhuman speed. One moment he was stepping away, the next he had whirled back, gathering her into his arms while clamping a hand over her mouth.
“Where did you learn that word? And do you have any sense in your head?” Phillip hissed in her ear. If he had thought he had been hard before, hearing her use dirty words, with her soft curves shoved against his hard body, had left him aching. He really needed a woman, and his body wanted this one.
Eden forced his hand away while whispering, “What else should I call it, your man sword? And why is it all swollen and poking out? I didn’t even rub against you.”
His lips twitched while he tried his best not to picture any rubbing, “No, definitely not that. Ladies are not supposed to speak of body parts, ever, and especially not male appendages.”
Eden huffed, “That’s the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Everyone thinks about appendages, especially male ones. I have it on good authority that males think with this appendage most the time.”
Phillip did have to admit that this was most likely true. However, he would never admit this to her. “What scent are you wearing?”
Eden frowned, “Jasmine and pear, I think. Why?”
“It’s… distracting,” Phillip was thinking about licking her, and that was reason alone to put some distance between them. “Listen, Eden, no more thinking about such things until you are married,” Phillip tried to sound stern, but the thought of Eden marrying anyone gave him an uncomfortable feeling.
“I will do whatever I want to. I want to know what makes cocks do what they do. You have one, so why won’t you tell me? Why is it that men can do whatever they wish?”
He stared at her, “You cannot be serious. This could ruin you.”
“I will be careful,” she struggled a bit in his arms, and he bit off a moan.
“Eden, you had better bloody well stay still!” he warned, his patience thin.
“Or what?” she taunted.
“You asked for it!” And he crushed his mouth to hers.
It wasn’t delicate or soft. His fingers were fairly digging into her flesh. It seemed that he was drowning, and she was the last lifeboat. He slanted his mouth, and his large hand came up to cup her face.
“Open your mouth, Eden,” he murmured between hot kisses, and she did just what she was told.
Then she was drowning, and it was decadent! He kissed her with skill and precision, knowing just what he wanted, and damn it, she was going to give it to him. She was whimpering, and he wondered if she even knew it.
He knew that tonight, when he was home in bed, it would be this moment that he would be remembering when he took himself in hand. He had pictured her a million different ways in a million different places, but this kiss…. the reality of kissing her was blowing his mind.
Then he heard a door shut and the shuffling of feet. As quickly as he had grabbed her, he released her. Looking down the long hallway, he saw the elderly butler. He could hear her labored breathing behind him, and a ghost of a smile flitted across his face. But he didn’t have time for that.
He moved quickly to get in-between the butler and Eden, giving her some time to compose herself. If the butler saw his problem, so be it. There wasn’t a whole lot he could do about it now.
“Lady Eden seems to be missing now, Lord Randall. Perhaps I could tell her you called?” the elderly man rasped.
“I’m here,” Eden called out from behind him, and Phillip almost rolled his eyes. She was a terrible actress. They were going to have to work on that.
He turned around and made a great show of surprise, “It is so lovely to see you, Lady Eden!”
He bowed, and she gave him a deep curtsy. Her color was high, but otherwise she didn’t seem too molested.
“My sisters and I have arrived for our afternoon outing. Are you ready?”
She nodded quickly, “Most definitely, thank you ever so much for attending me, Lord Randall.”
He helped her with her pelisse, and then they exited the mansion to alight the carriage.
As he lifted her in, he whispered, “I will help you in your quest.”
Her eyes shot to his, and he winked.