Page 66 of The Baron Takes a Bet
Lifting his hand up, he trailed his fingers against the smooth skin of her shoulder, and to his pleasure, she inhaled deeply. He wanted to roll her onto her back and kiss her, but he waited as her eyes slowly blinked open and met his.
Neither spoke momentarily, and Gavin’s smirk melted away as he looked at her. Of all the words between them, it seemed the most was spoken in silence. Holly’s shocked expression melted away as she slowly smiled at him, leaning forward slightly with her forehead, which he kissed.
“Good morning,” she murmured against the sheets before pulling back.
God, her voice was like velvet.
“Indeed,” he said, and to his own embarrassment, they both laughed.
What a bizarre way to start a day, but Gavin was sure he had never been as settled as he was at that moment. If he could spend all day in bed with her, he would and was very close to suggesting it when a knock sounded at the door.
“Holly?” the voice of Katrina sounded.
Panic shone in Holly’s eyes as she sat up, the covers tightly tucked with her hands beneath her chin as she rolled over. The expanse of her naked back caused parts of Gavin to wake. His hand came up and drifted up the smooth straight dip of her spine.
Holly turned around and frowned at him, shaking her head.
“Yes?” Holly answered loudly, swatting Gavin’s hand behind her.
“Um, I think you should come down to the parlor,” Katrina’s muffled voice sounded through the door, and something in her tone suggested urgency.
“Yes, dear, I’m nearly dressed.”
Gavin sat up and, leaning forward, nipped at the shoulder that so tantalized him. Holly made a show of trying to push him off but sighed as her head tilted, allowing him access to her. Indeed, nothing was as essential to distract Gavin from feasting on Holly for the next hour or two.
“It’s just that, well, I think you should know that Jasper’s here.”
Gavin froze as tension snapped through Holly’s body.Of course. So, ithadbeen Jasper who he saw the other day at White’s. Gavin had meant to tell Holly about possibly seeing her brother, but he had become distracted.
“I’ll…” Holly started, her voice breaking. “I’ll be right out.”
They heard Katrina walk away, and Gavin watched Holly with piqued interest as she pushed back the covers and began rushing about the room to dress. For his part, he was slow to get out of bed.
“He’s probably been tossed out of Eton,” Holly said, quickly pulling on her drawers and bringing her short stays over her head. She turned her back to Gavin, prompting him to tie them. He stepped forward to do so, quietly enjoying the somewhat domesticated task of helping his wife dress. “I hope he’s all right.” Gavin paused in his task, and noticing his hesitation, she turned her head. “Is something wrong?”
Gavin sighed, finished tying her stays, and turned her around.
“I thought I saw him the other day. At White’s.”
“Saw who?”
“Your brother.”
Holly frowned.
“At White’s? No, that’s impossible. He doesn’t have a membership and he doesn’t know anyone who is a member there.”
Gavin shook his head.
“I’m not so sure about that. I was sitting with Combe and Trembley around noon when a fight broke out—”
“A fight?”
“Yes, and the floor manager was about to toss him out when he broke free of his would-be captors and ran out.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I had intended to, but it must have slipped my mind.”
