Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Phillip was not in a good mood. He still wasn’t sure who it was that was trying to steal his information. Sure, he had a thought. Albie Caulfield. But he had no proof.

Yet.

After speaking with his staff, he laid the situation out. If the perpetrator was one of them and they came clean now, he would show clemency. If he found out after he left the room they were a participant, he would do his worst to them and their family.

Kolby was in his back office with him, leaning against the wall while Phillip paced. This room had been the one that his friend Trace’s woman had been held prisoner in. One of the first things he had done when the ownership had become his was tear out one of the walls and turn it into a room with windows and light.

He couldn’t repair what had happened here, but he was able to do his best to be better going forward. He made sure there were no more slaves on his land and that the men and women who worked for him were paid a decent wage. Already the act had put him on the outs with some other plantation owners both on this and the surrounding islands. But he didn’t care.

Even before he’d met Fyre, he wouldn’t have been able to own a person. A woman he loved and respected, Lucien’s wife, looked like those who had been enslaved here, and he never would have been able to look her in the eye again if he’d owned anyone. Let alone himself. Ciara was a special woman and he would never disrespect her.

“What about using a new set of books and setting a trap?” Kolby’s low voice wound around him.

He paused by the window that looked out over a large field of tall green grasses. The very field he would cross when it came time to take his woman on their picnic. “If they are smart like we feel they are, they would be suspicious to see just a single page of numbers. Especially if they were just thrown down.”

“No, I mean a second copy of the books. Start making another set and when they are ready, you keep the correct set with you and set up the others as a lure.”

It would be a lot of work, but Kolby made sense.

“And are you offering up your services to keep an eye out here as well as watching my woman?”

“Yes.”

The agreement came with little hesitation.

He narrowed his eyes on Kolby. “You like her.”

The man straightened, looking far more dangerous than he had seconds ago, even if he still remained with his hands in his pockets. “I respect her. Just like I respect the claim you two have on each other. But yes, I do like her and had I met her first, she is a woman I would have gone after.”

“How much time have you spent with her?”

The man flashed a grin and Phillip frowned. He was extremely handsome when he smiled, not that Kolby did a lot of that. At least not around him.

“We eat breakfast together.”

Possessiveness rolled through him and he clenched his jaw. “I see.”

Kolby shook his head. “Your woman is stubborn, Edais. She gave us a demand. We shared breakfast with her or she would set off to make our jobs harder.” One shoulder moved in a laconic way. “She is the little sister we never had. None of us is competition for you.”

Damn right.

“She knows all of you and can tell you apart.”

“Yes. Even the actual twins. She is never wrong about which is Zander and which is Archer.”

“Would you be able to do this during a house party?”

“Watch over the books?”

“I am thinking I have been here a while and I should throw a party. Have people stay over, do things like we did in England. Activities, food, drinking. If the one doing this comes or thinks this would be the opportune time to make a move because of all the people, that will be their mistake.”

“In a month or so? We could get a few things set up in your study to be able to keep an eye out.”

“Yes, this is going to work. I am going to go track down my woman for our picnic and tell her she is staying for the week of activities as well. But first, we have to copy the books over so whoever is doing this does not become suspicious.”

Kolby nodded. “I will update my brothers.” Without another word, the man vanished.

Alone in the room, Phillip turned another full circle and walked out. Fyre was in his study and he headed straight there. The moment he spied her, head bent over her work, his heart eased in his chest. The ache there faded and his entire body relaxed.

For a moment, he just waited in the doorway, observing her.

“Ready for the picnic?”

She jumped, put the pen down and looked over at him. “You scared me.”

“The proper response is ‘Yes, Phillip, I am ready for you to take me away from here and have your wicked way with me.’ Or at least, that is the answer I am looking for.”

Her gaze sparkled. “Yes, my lord. I am ready for a picnic.”

He walked toward her. “Not quite what I said, but thankfully, I hear what I want.”

Her smile grew. “Of that I have no doubt.”

“Can you ride?”

“I can.”

Heat slammed him at the thought of her riding him, hair free and the sun making her skin glow as they enjoyed each other outside. His cock grew hard.

“You are a temptress.” He held out his hand. “Come.”

It didn’t take them long to get horses and be on their way. Phillip didn’t go fast, allowing the horses to pick their own speed. Although he had multitudes of questions, he didn’t voice them. Just watched Fyre as she took in the beauty of the island.

When the cove came into view, her sharp breath told him all he needed to know. She’d not been there before and she loved it.

They dismounted and tied the horses in the shade. He spread out the blanket and unpacked the food as she walked along the nearly white sands of the cove’s beach.

“When did you find this?”

He got up to join her and slipped his arm around her waist as they ambled along. “About a month after I arrived here. I come here when I want to be alone.”

“Is that a warning? Are you planning to kill me?”

“With pleasure? Yes.” He kissed her, moaning as her taste settled into him once again.

She sank against his body, trusting him to hold her up. Arms tight around her, he had to wrench himself back. “We need to eat.”

With her kiss-swollen lips, unfocused eyes, and the way her breath escaped in small, fast pants, he almost forgot all of his plans and took her there on the sand.

“Food.”

The cook had fixed them sandwiches and he ate three to her one. After they were done, he turned and put his head in her lap, smiling when she immediately sank her fingers into his hair. Stroking. Petting.

“I have a proposition for you.”

She hmmed and looked down at him. “What is that?”

“I have a plan to catch the ones doing this to the books, but I am going to need your help to get it ready in time.” A shrug. “Actually, Kolby suggested it. Will you help me?”

“Whatever you need.”

He picked up her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “You do not even know what it will be.”

“Are you planning on taking advantage of me?”

“Yes.”

His admission came fast and without any hesitation. Phillip watched her. She was addicting. To every sense, and some he hadn’t been aware of having.

She paused for a moment. Even the touch of her fingers halted, much to his dismay. Without taking his eyes off her, he moved his head into her fingers, providing a silent command to keep petting him.

She listened and started again. Finally she pursed her lips and tipped her head toward him. Her expression, however, hadn’t changed.

Hell, he was even finding the furrow between her brows adorable.

“I am not sure I should believe you.”

He took her other hand in his and laced their fingers. Bringing their hands to his mouth, he nibbled on the tips of her fingers.

“Believe me.” He drew one tip between his lips and swirled his tongue around it. Her grip in his hair tightened and his cock hardened at the sexy mewl that slid free.

“You would not warn someone before taking advantage of them.” Her voice was no longer crisp and clear, but faint with passion.

He loved it.

Another slow swipe of his tongue. “For most people you are correct. I would not.”

She tugged, trying to free her finger from his mouth. He denied that request.

Her lips twitched. “Most people?”

It was his turn to grin. “You caught me. Only you, Fyre. To hell with anyone else.”

“What are you talking about then?”

“I plan on taking every advantage I can with you.” He kissed each finger. “Kisses. Stolen caresses. I want you so aroused you cannot think straight.”

Phillip turned so he lay on his side as opposed to his back, facing the water before them. He knew his willpower wouldn’t be strong enough were he facing her core. The desire to taste her was nearly all-consuming.

Fyre had her legs bent to the side, but he settled his hand on her thigh, moving toward her knee.

“What about what you need help with?” Her voice, thready, almost broke the lock of restraint he struggled to retain his iron grip on.

He skimmed his hand down over her knee and back up, wishing he could feel skin. And he told her so.

The responding bite of her nails to his scalp reminded him he wasn’t alone in his increasing desire.

“You should not say such things, my lord.”

Fuck it. He squeezed her calf before pushing up so they were face to face.

“Would you rather I show you what I want to do to you, Fyre?”

She bit her lower lip even as she readjusted her fistful of his hair.

God damn he wanted to suck on that lip for her. “Yes.”

His cock nearly exploded.

Had she really just admitted that aloud? Considering the deep, shuddering breath Phillip just took, she believed she had.

Phillip’s gray eyes glowed with a hunger she had never seen before. Such raw, stark hunger.

For her.

Allfor her.

Phillip didn’t back off. Part of her had thought he was just teasing, pushing her to see how far he could get. But a line had been crossed and he wasn’t playing.

Neither was she.

He pressed her back into the thick blanket beneath them, the silken strands of his hair sliding forward as she released him to place her hands beside her. Phillip was large and warm over her even as he slid an arm around her, guiding her down.

His arms settled on either side of her and the hand that had been on her back now rested on the nape of her neck, his callused fingers wreaking havoc on her senses. His weight was upon her and she instinctively widened her legs, creating more of a cradle for him to settle into.

For the first time in her life, a man wanted her, not for anything other than desire. Eyes locked on her, he dipped his head and placed light, teasing kisses along her cheek, nose and chin. Avoiding her mouth.

She squirmed beneath him. “My lord.”

“Phillip, Fyre. Damn you, call me Phillip.”

“Kiss me.”

“I am. Give me what I want and I will give you what you want.”

He was hard against her and she grew wetter. She’d not been with a man but she knew about it, she had seen people doing it and heard others. Until Phillip it hadn’t been of interest to her.

She rocked against him with a needy whimper. The low growl that she got in return let her know he wasn’t as strong about resisting her as he was pretending to be. She gasped as his hand settled upon her thigh, under her skirts. His grip was firm and sure.

Phillip lifted her leg up higher on his waist, allowing their lower bodies to align better. This time when the move came, he was the one rocking into her.

“Christ, Fyre. You are going to be the death of me.” His lips continued to nibble along her skin like she was a delicacy. His favorite.

Emboldened and wanting this freedom, now, with this man, she stopped gripping his shoulders and sank her fingers back into his hair. The move arched her back, pushing her chest deeper into him.

“Phillip.”

Her admission of his name wasn’t loud, but by the way his eyes darkened further, she knew he’d heard her just fine. His mouth covered hers and he gave her the kiss she so desperately wanted from him. Heated. Passionate. Tongues tangling and their cores grinding against each other.

She rocked harder against him, seeking something just out of her reach. The low rumbles that fell from him encouraged her. Phillip stopped kissing her and put them nose to nose, his grip on her thigh flexing as he moved her higher before letting go and putting his arms on either side of her head.

“Take it, beautiful. Take what you need from me.”

She didn’t understand. The ache only grew. Fyre shifted again and Phillip’s jaw clenched as he moved against her.

Yes! That.

“Phillip…” Her voice had risen and his name fell from her lips as she sought an octave one level higher.

“Do you trust me?”

She yanked on his hair. “Yes.”

His hand was between them, not under her skirts like it had been upon her leg, but over them. He cupped her, replacing the hardness she’d been rubbing against. Her whimper of disappointment was short-lived as he began moving his hand.

Pleasure spiked through her and she wouldn’t have been able to stop her hips from grinding back if she’d had to. He pulled the reaction from her, tapping into some intrinsically instinctive action. Her moans poured from her, breathing coming faster, more jaggedly.

Phillip pressed hard against her and she splintered, crying out his name in a sharp, short cry of raw pleasure. Shock at how good that felt kept her off balance.

The man wrapped her tight as she came down from the shuddering high he’d given her and laid them down on the blanket, one of his thick legs between hers. She was encased by him and she had no wish to be anywhere else.

“You are going to kill me, Fyre. I cannot wait to do this without our clothes on and using my mouth and my cock to make you shudder like you just did.”

She melted into him, her own pleasure not fading but rising.

“You,” she whispered, the feel of his hardness unable to be ignored. “You would have me do something back?”

His fingers tangled in her hair, making her realize he’d gotten it out of her bun to fall around her shoulders.

“Not today, beautiful. This was for you. I need you to trust me with your body and I am not having our first time out here. It will be inside.” A deep kiss. “Where I can take my time learning every curve you have.” And another. “Have your taste on my tongue before I share yours with you.”

He nuzzled her throat and she whimpered, melting into him, and another wave of pleasure overtook her at his honest words.

“I do trust you.”

“I know, but I want it all from you, Fyre. I will not lie about this. Nor will I rush what we have just because my cock wants to be inside that tight, hot pussy of yours.”

She flushed, grateful he couldn’t see her face. His words should embarrass her, make her shocked and possibly offended, but it wasn’t even close. They aroused her.

“What now then?”

He chuckled, pulling back to look her in the eyes.

“Round two?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Or, I could tell you what my plan is and you can see if you are still willing to help.”

There was a thread of vulnerability in that statement. Fyre held Phillip’s assessing gaze without blinking.

The Earl of Edais was a lot more than what he allowed most people to see. And she had fallen for both sides. The cold, seemingly uncaring man who snapped orders and the one who was with her now. The one who put her wants and desires above his own. The man who would forgo his own release because he didn’t want to rush her into anything.

Lifting up, she brushed her lips to his. “I already told you, my lord. I will help you. Tell me what you need.”

The heat in his eyes nearly scared her. Possessive, proprietary, and all-consuming.

“A few things.”

On a deeper level than she’d known possible, joy lit her from the inside. How could this man, an earl, be so hesitant to ask for help from her? What did she have?

“You have them.”

His chuckle warmed her throughout as he tucked her close. “What if I wanted you to be naked in town?”

“Then I would say I had misunderstood the looks you give me and how possessive you are when you think of someone like Mr. Caulfield looking at me, and that as I was wrong, you are okay with him seeing me completely naked.”

A low growl rolled from him and he nipped her neck. “Never.”

“That is how I know.”

“You sound smug.”

“And you should tell me what it is you need.”

“When did you get so bossy?”

“A few minutes ago.”

He kissed her again, until she lost track of time. When he pulled back, his face was a mask of smugness.

“Much better.” He brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. “It has to do with you making a duplicate copy of my books.”

She blinked and waited, expression blank.

“I need them soon. I know it is a lot of work and I will pay you extra for the additional hours you will be spending, but I would need them before the end of the week.”

Running it over in her mind, she knew it would mean a lot of late nights. But she could and would get it done. For him.

“What else?”

He looked as if he’d expected her to ask about the first thing and was a bit shocked she didn’t have more questions about it.

“I will be having a house party in two weeks and I want you there.”

“That is not a question.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Will you please attend the party?”

“Why me?”

“Besides the fact I want you in my house?”

“Yes. Will I be there to work?”

“No, you will be there as a guest.”

Her shock took a bit to fade and she lay there in his arms as he explained his plan.