Simply Carnal by Kate Pearce Page B

waited, his gaze fixed on the other man’s face.
    “Are you coming back to the Demon Club soon?”
    “I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”
    Ralston swallowed hard and then looked down at the floor. “I ... miss seeing you there.”
    A snake of lust unfurled itself deep in Christian’s gut, and he pushed Ralston up against the wall. “I’m sure there are plenty of others who can take care of your needs.”
    “No one like you, Mr. Delornay.” Ralston grabbed Christian’s hand and brought it to his groin. “Even thinking about watching you makes me hard.”
    Christian squeezed Ralston’s cock until he groaned and then let go. “I’ll think about it, Ralston.”
    “Thank you, sir,” Ralston gasped.
    Christian turned on his heel and went back to find Richard. His cock was half-erect now, and he was more eager than ever to get back to Mrs. Smith. What would she think if she’d just seen him? Would she think him a sadistic bully, or would she offer him her usual bland smile and not care at all? He hadn’t even fucked Ralston. Sometimes he wished it were as simple as that, but the reality was far more complex.
    He rejoined Richard with a smile and indicated that they should leave. Outside, it had just started to rain, and he hailed a hackney cab.
    “Let’s go back to the pleasure house. I wish to introduce you to Marie-Claude. She will make sure that you are offered everything a man could desire.”

8
    “M r. Delornay asks if you will do him the pleasure of meeting him in his bedchamber.”
    “He has returned from his parents’ house?” Elizabeth paused on the stairs and looked back at Ambrose. “I thought I was supposed to be making myself pleasant on the second level this evening.”
    “Apparently your plans have changed.” Ambrose smiled at her. “Don’t worry. Marie-Claude has offered to take your shift. I believe she is about to show Mr. Ross around the pleasure house, and she is quite excited about it.”
    “Mr. Ross?”
    “Mr. Delornay’s half brother, Richard.”
    Elizabeth nodded. “Ah, Emily’s brother.”
    “That’s right. He has returned to London and seems determined to make all well with the Delornay branch of the family.”
    “There was friction in the past?”
    Ambrose gave an exaggerated shudder. “Ask Mr. Delornay to tell you about it. It is a long story.”
    “I will.”
    Not that she intended to stay long enough to ask Mr. Delornay anything of a personal nature. Elizabeth resumed her ascent and walked back to the private apartments. She always liked letting herself through the locked door into the quieter areas of the house. She felt like an actor who was finally able to shed her stage persona and be herself. But she couldn’t let down her guard completely. She still had her secrets, and there was always Christian to contend with.
    She knocked on the door to his suite and waited until he asked her to enter. He sat by the fire reading a book, his coat and waistcoat discarded, his fair hair damp from either the rain or a recent bath. Elizabeth walked over to him and inhaled his warm scent. A bath, then, and he hadn’t bothered to get dressed because he was expecting her company.
    “Good evening, Mr. Delornay.”
    She curtsied and he looked up, his appreciative gaze taking in her cream gown with the low bodice edged with seed pearls.
    “Good evening, Mrs. Smith. You look very fine in that gown.”
    “Thank you.” She smiled and waited to see what he wanted her to do next.
    “I have decided that if you are to pretend to be lovers in the room of desires, you need to become more familiar with Paul and Ambrose.” He angled his head to one side to study her more closely. “Does that offend you?”
    “Not at all, Mr. Delornay. In truth, I think it is a good idea.”
    “Then I shall be asking them to join us.” Christian stood and moved behind Elizabeth to start unlacing her gown. His businesslike tone was surprisingly reassuring. “Unfortunately, they can’t stay all