No pain, no gain… Sinclair
CHAPTER 2
Phillip rolled out of his latest mistress’s bed irritated in the extreme.
“Come back to bed, darling,” she cooed. “It happens to all men. It is nothing to be embarrassed of.”
“I am not embarrassed,” he bit off, looking around for his clothes. And it never happens to me, he added to himself as he started pulling on his breeches.
He glanced back to see Giselle lying there naked upon the silk sheets. He had been keeping her for a few months now, but he supposed it was time to turn her off. He supposed, if he could view this dispassionately, he had no business wasting good coin on a mistress, and he was, if anything… a good businessman.
Giselle had her blond hair spread artfully around her. Always the consummate actress, he was certain that she knew exactly how she looked in every pose possible. Her face was always made up and her nipples rouged. She even took the time to prepare herself for him, always slick between her thighs. There was a time when this was enough to bring him to a full salute, but lately it was not enough.
“What will it be, Giselle?” he asked, reaching for his waistcoat.
“I do not understand,” for the first time that evening Giselle began to look alarmed.
“Your parting gift. You may keep the house until the end of the contract, which you know is twelve months. But this is not working, so a bracelet, necklace, ring… What will it be?”
“We can make it work, darling. I will do anything you want.” Giselle rushed over to him falling to her knees to beg. But all it did was turn his stomach.
“You are making a fool of yourself, have some dignity, woman. I will send something around then. Goodbye.” Phillip grabbed his hat and strode toward the door, and for the briefest moment had the strongest sense of déjà vu. Perhaps he was getting too old for this.
Giselle screamed obscenities and threw things at him as he walked out. He was most getting too old for this.
******
“And then she begged on her knees, the great Giselle? Good grief, man, had I have known, I would have been there in thrice. There is a great deal of things I can think of I would appreciate her doing on her knees, but one, in particular, comes to mind.” Sinclair Moberly raised his eyebrows suggestively.
The boys hooted and whistled to their great amusement of his folly. Phillip had to admit it had raised his spirits to be around his friends. He had conveniently not included the information of why he had decided to leave Giselle, as there were some things that one just didn’t share, not even with friends. He looked around at his ragtag group of pals, those not yet caught in the parson’s trap.
There was Lord Moberly, Viscount Adderly, known among his companions as Daniel, and his younger brother, Sinclair. Both were the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, but both brothers were known for their penchant for wildness.
Next sat Lord Shore, Viscount Northland, Benjamin to the group, or really Ben. He was quiet-spoken most of the time, but had a sharp wit and a quick smile. Ben saw things that most others missed -it was almost uncanny.
The last was Lord Bosworth, Earl of Staving, the eldest of the group and quite possibly the most corrupted - Samuel. He had been married once upon a time. Said it was the worst nightmare that was ever to be thrust upon him, and he was ever so grateful when she decided to not wake up one morning shortly after they had wed. Most didn’t know how to take this - it was so morbidly put. However, an Earl is still an Earl. So, when Samuel heard that he was still considered an extremely eligible bachelor despite his shady past, he began doing everything in his power to sully his reputation. And the man had an incredible imagination.
Yes, this group of misfits and miscreants were not quite what one would call good ton, even though they held some of the highest ranks. They were all invited everywhere, and the good mamas of the ton kept throwing their babies at them. All in the hopes that their bright-eyed little misses might be the one to capture one of their hearts… or purses, whatever came first.
“So, do you have your eye on someone else then?” Daniel asked, sipping his drink.
Phillip thought for a moment. It was common knowledge that he was never without a woman to bed. But lately he was having a harder time getting… hard. It was the damnedest thing, and it seemed to start in the middle of the whole fiasco with Eli’s bride.
He had never in his life struggled with this before. He used to get hard just looking at a woman. When he was a youth, he could barely walk out of doors. He was tupping the maids at fourteen, and by now the man had lovemaking down to an art. Something was seriously wrong.
“No, I haven’t settled on anyone yet,” he muttered.
The entire group of gentlemen raised their eyebrows in surprise.
“Are you playing the long game then?” Ben asked. “Is there a married bird you are pursuing?”
Phillip frowned, “Perhaps I am just wanting some time to myself.”
“I say,” Samuel interjected, “are you ill?”
Phillip rolled his eyes and said with finality, “No.”
“So, is Giselle free game?” Daniel asked. “Because I haven’t plans for the evening. Do you suppose she is still on her knees?”
Phillip laughed, once again grateful to these smarmy bastards, “Go get her, Romeo, but be careful - she bites.”
Daniel paled, “Maybe I will stay.”
Sinclair flew out of his seat: “No pain, no gain,” and off he went, oblivious to the laughter behind him.