Tenting your breeches… Benjamin
CHAPTER 15
Phillip was whistling while sauntering down the grand staircase of his home when he happened across his younger sisters coming in all bundled up from outside.
"Where have you two ragamuffins been to this afternoon?" He teased affectionately.
Juliana lifted a brow as she gave her pelisse and box purse to Joseph, "We have been visiting with Eden Norfolk."
Both sisters noticed their brother stood a little taller at this bit of information, drawing a little closer.
"You don't say," his acting skills were deplorable - Lilly desperately wanted to roll her eyes. "What was Eden up to this afternoon?"
Juliana shrugged, "A little bit of this and a little bit of that."
Phillip scowled, "Dash it all. What in heaven's name does that mean?"
Lilly's lips quirked into a mocking smile, "It means that it is for us to know and for you to find out."
"You mean for a price," Phillip grumbled.
Lilly looked uneasy.
Juliana shrugged nonchalantly, "Perhaps. What evening event will you be attending tonight, brother dear?"
Phillip looked even grimmer, "I haven't decided if I wish to pierce my ears to death at Signora Vignaroli at the opera or listen to Madame Ford at the theater. I do wish that I knew that some of other members of the ton were doing this evening."
"Oh yes, Eden did mention something about both of those events," Lilly nodded at her brother sagely. "I am more than certain she will be attending one of them."
Phillip rolled his eyes, "You are bloody brilliant, Lil. The next thing I know, they will be naming streets and towns after you."
"Hardy, har, har," Lillian had no issue throwing his snarky comments back at him. "I wouldn't be so snotty to the one person that might be able to arrange that the two of you get that moment alone together.”
"I thought you didn't know which one she was attending," Phillip said, completely confused.
"Women always know what they want and how to get what they need. I just asked her which one she was attending, it was as simple as pie," Juliana repeated to him while patting him consolingly on the arm.
Who knew that living with grown women would be such a complete chore? Granted they didn't seem to have any issue making him feel like a complete idiot.
"So, are you going to tell me where she will be or not, Jules?" he gritted out.
"Eden will be at the opera with her mother, but, Phillip, a word of advice... please proceed with caution. Her mother is particularly caustic with her, and I think that there are a lot of hurt feelings between the pair.”
Phillip frowned, "I had the same impression. Others have mentioned it to me as well. I will most definitely consider it. Can I do anything for you, ladies, before I prepare to leave for the night?"
Lilly looked over at him, "Just don't do anything stupid - she's our friend, you know."
"I would never!" He tried to play it off lightly, but his sisters just gave him that knowing look that eventually caused him and sober up.
"Alright, I promise that I will do my utmost to play by the rules and within reasonable terms," he winked at them, and the girls giggled to themselves before giving their brother a kiss on his cheek and heading to freshen up.
Somehow this all had to work out.
*****
Phillip felt in his element dressed up to the nines in his best clothes. He knew that all eyes were on him, and he'd be damned if it didn't feel good. His shoulders were broad, his waist tapered, and his thighs thick with muscle. It was true that he was easy on the eyes, and his charm and wit knew no bounds when it came to seducing women.
The rush of a new conquest, the thrill of a new mistress, none of it compared with what he was feeling when Eden walked into the Royal Opera House. He wanted her, and he wanted her now.
His body felt inflamed - it was as if the temperature had been turned to scorching degrees. She was wearing a peach number that matched very closely to her skin color. The iridescence of the material glittering in the lamplight: this gown was by far the most daring that he had seen on her yet.
Her full bosom curved deliciously away from her tiny waist, and he longed to wrap his large hands around her and suck one of her nipples into his mouth.
"Are you actually tenting in your evening breeches?" the delightfully horrid teasing of his friend Benjamin ringing in his ear. "Dan was right. You are a walking wet dream for this girl."
"I really hate both of you," was his only reply. "Help me get her alone."
"The things I do for you, people," Benjamin mumbled but acquiesced.