R. Mathewson - Truce: The Historic Neighbor from Hell

              “Are you? What’s wrong with you shutting that door?” He made it to the front of the desk when she stormed up to him, holding up his knife.

              “Guess where I found this?”

              He shrugged. “I haven’t a clue,” he said as he reached for it, but before he could take it, she dropped it in her gown pocket.

              “For the past three weeks I’ve been haunted by a ghost,” she announced.

Hmm, she couldn’t be talking about him, because he’d been crawling into her bed for the past four weeks. Of course she might not realize that he’d been doing it for that long. It was probably best not to correct her on the time frame, he decided.

              “Oh?” he asked in a bored tone.

              “Mmhmm, seems I have a ghost crawling into bed with me. Odd, isn’t it?”

              “I would say so. You would think the ghost would have better options.”

              She slapped him somewhat hard on his shoulder. “Ow!”

              “Good! Now explain to me why you’ve been coming to my room!”

              A knock at the door was their only warning that they were about to be caught. “Hide!” he hissed.

              She threw him a furious look before she scrambled to do just that since being found alone with him in a closed room was not an option. Throwing him one last glare, she quickly moved around the desk and ducked beneath it before he could stop her.

              “Not there!” he hissed.

              Elizabeth ignored him and crawled under the desk. With an irritated groan he sat down in the chair and moved his legs beneath the desk. This desk really was large, he mused. He was a tall man and his legs were situated comfortably beneath the desk and he could barely feel her. He knew that she was there of course. He could practically feel the rage pouring off her. She was effectively trapped now, he thought with a small grin, liking his advantage probably more than he should.

              “Come in,” he said, pretending to be working.

              James walked in. “I thought I’d find you here.”

              “What can I do for you? Come to learn how to run an estate?” he joked, chuckling at his brother’s horrified expression.

              It always amused him that his brother, who was the heir, lived the life of a second son. He didn’t take anything seriously, had absolutely no interests in learning how to run the estate that he would one day inherit and he spent all of his time with women, cards and living with absolutely no purpose. James was living the life that Robert should be pursuing, but it just wasn’t in him. He liked running his own estate, working up a sweat and creating things with his hands. He’d never fit in with society or in his family. He didn’t act like the son of an Earl and probably never would. He liked being his own man. He just wished that it wasn’t so damn lonely sometimes.

              James paled. “Good lord no! I’ll hire someone for that.” The way James said that like he would need an estate manager soon caught Robert’s attention.

              “What’s going on?” he asked cautiously.

              James sat in the chair in front of the desk, throwing an ankle across his knee. “I’m getting married.”

              “Oh?” Dread filled him instantly. “Who?”

              “Who do you think?”

              “Just tell me.”

              “Lady Elizabeth, you dolt. Who else have I been courting for the past month?”

              Elizabeth shifted and moved closer to the opening to listen. The desk was so thick that it muffled some of the sounds. She pushed between Robert’s legs and waited. He spread his legs for her automatically so that she could sit comfortably.

              “Did you ask Elizabeth yet?” Robert asked. She could feel the tension in his body.

              James chuckled. “No, I’ve asked her father and he approved. All that’s left is to ask the lady herself.”

              “Do you love her?” Robert asked. He had to know.

              James laughed harder at that. “No! Can you imagine? I don’t even love my mistress!”

              Robert had to stop himself from wincing. She was digging her nails into his legs. He reached down and gently pushed her hands off his legs quickly, hoping that James hadn’t noticed the movement.

              “If she says yes, are you going quit your mistress?” he asked, more for her sake than his.

              James chuckled. “Very funny. Give up Andrea? You’re crazy. I had to wait out three other men to get her. No, I’ll keep her on the side.”

              “What about Elizabeth?” Robert asked. Elizabeth was wondering that as well. Not that she was going through with it. She wasn’t. James was like a brother to her now. It would simply be too disturbing to marry him.

              He shrugged. “I’ll get her with an heir and spare, of course. I don’t mind having her warm my bed when the mood strikes. You have to admit that she is quite beautiful.”

              “Not really,” Robert muttered. “Ow!”

              “Are you okay?” James asked.

              Robert put his finger in his mouth. “Paper cut,” he muttered. His knee was throbbing. Damn, she was a strong little thing.

              “I hate those,” James said with distaste.

              “So do I,” he said acidly.

              “I still don’t understand why you would settle on her,” he said in a disgusted tone. He needed James to bury himself in front of Elizabeth. It would save him a lot of legwork later. He was not going to simply sit around and allow James to marry his minx.

* * *

              Oh, she was going to maim the man. He actually had the audacity to talk about her like this? James she didn’t care about, but for Robert to act like she was nothing irritated her. She looked around the small space. Damn it, there was nothing she could do to him here. Well, not true, she did have the knife, but that was a bit much. She looked back at him and smiled. There was something that she could do to make him lose that pompous attitude that he was using at her expense.

* * *

              Every muscle in his body froze. “What are you doing?” he demanded tightly, admittedly terrified of the minx hiding beneath the desk.

              James looked back from the small sideboard. “Getting a drink. Do you want one?”

              “Please!” he said more to Elizabeth than to James. She had his pants undone and his manhood pulled out. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and sent a silent prayer to God, vowing to turn his life around for good if she didn’t use his knife to unman him. His eyes flew open when she stroked him.

              “Are you okay?” James asked as he placed a glass of whiskey in front of him.

              “Very good, thank you.” He picked the glass up and gulped it. Nothing in life could have prepared him for this turn of events. He had to keep James in here talking, otherwise his minx might stop and he definitely did not want that.

              “I-I don’t understand, if you find Elizabeth beautiful, why do you need Andrea?” Was it always this hard to talk? He couldn’t remember.

              James laughed knowingly. “I guess you wouldn’t know since you live like a monk up at that estate of yours. I’ll explain with four little words, she uses her mouth.” He winked and sat back.

              “Really? I’ve never had that done.” Until now. His hands gripped the desk as Elizabeth decided the idea had merit enough to test it out. Her hot, wet mouth enclosed over the tip of his erection. If he died at this moment, he could honestly say that he’d lived a happy and fulfilling life.

* * *

              This was different and very exciting. She would never have thought to do this if James hadn’t mentioned it. It was easier than using her hand, which she still used since it was helpful. She decided to make this into a game and see how far she could take it into her mouth to drive him crazy. This should teach him. She hoped he was embarrassing himself at the moment. Unfortunately it was also stirring up that same need that had left her desperate for him that night in the orangery. Robert’s hand came down and gently cupped her cheek, urging her to continue.

* * *

              James needed to keep talking or he would kill him. “Your wife would probably do that as well,” he said, hoping James would go off on a long explanation while he enjoyed Elizabeth’s ministrations.

              He snorted. “Good luck with that. Women like Elizabeth are frigid in bed. No man wants to remain faithful to that. Can you imagine spending the rest of your life bedding a woman that refuses to remove her nightgown or even move? God it’s boring. She just lies there waiting for you to finish and go to your room. No thanks. I’ll keep my mistresses, whores and lovers.”

              With great effort he spoke. “So again, why marry Elizabeth? I know she has a small estate, but there are other heiresses out there with more money and land.”

              James shook his head. “No, I like her. She’s a good girl. She’s beautiful, but I don’t think I have to worry about her cuckolding me. She’s too nice. Plus, I think that story about the small estate is nonsense.”

              “You don’t think she has any money?” he asked while he caressed her cheek. He lowered himself in the chair to make it easier for her.