Who’s Ready to Play

Anna hears the slam of the door after he enters, followed by the hard stomp of his boots. She hopes he’s in a good humor, otherwise this might not go so well.

“Sir, you have a visitor.”

A silence follows that has her stomach in knots. “A visitor?”

His voice is as smooth and posh as she remembers, each syllable heavily enunciated and precise. The sound of it has her biting her lip before she catches herself.

“A lady. She wouldn’t give her name. I’ve left her in the drawing room.”

His light chuckle echos in the entryway and carries down the hall to her. So a good mood, then.

“Are you sure this lady is here for me, and not Mrs. Hall?”

More steps until the maid stops him yet again. “No, sir, she specifically asked for you.”

She can see him in her mind’s eye, head tilting and brows furrowing in a curious line as he tries to think of who this strange caller might be. Then the doors open, and it’s a physical ache not to run up and wrap her arms around him. She tightens her shoulders against the impulse.

“Anna,” Robert questions, eyes wide with disbelief, standing suddenly straighter and frozen in place, like he’s afraid to come closer or she might disappear. There’s a long pause where neither move, and his eyes rove over her, drinking her in like a man who’d been dying of thirst.

It leaves her tongue tied, not expecting this level of emotion from him. Finally, she finds her voice, and she applauds herself internally for how it doesn’t waver in the slightest. “I’m sorry to show up without warning.”

Robert gives a friendly scoff, waving a hand as he dares to step closer. “I’d heard Marriott returned to London months ago. Hester was certain we’d never see you again.”

“I wanted to come,” she tries to explain. “It’s just... I’ve been busy.”

“Busy.” He repeats it in a way that says he doesn’t believe it, but that it was ok, she deserving whatever sort of time she needed.

“Helping John get acclimated to Eton,” she adds. It’s the truth, though John was more than happy to see her go, excited to be on his own for the first time.

A look of happy surprise crosses Robert’s face, and knowing what she does now, she’s charmed despite herself. She attempts to hide it to no avail.

“He’s gone to school, then?”

She sighs a bit melodramatically with a teasing air. “I realized that it was unfair, not allowing him to be around his peers.”

A self-satisfied grin slides across his face. “I wonder who gave you that idea?”

She returns his smile, despite its arrogance, both of them laughing together before another awkward silence is cast between them. She wishes it weren’t this way, but she’s no idea how to fix it.

“Would you like some tea,” he inquires, breaking the silence, his fingers raking nervously through his hair.

It’s such a ridiculous thing to ask, given their history. So formal. “You don’t often take visitors, do you?”

He huffs out an embarrassed laugh, blushing as he searches for relief in the rug. “Is it so obvious?”

She doesn’t answer, allowing him to come to his own conclusion. She likes this, making him be the one to feel unsure for once.

Clearing his throat, he takes a step closer. Though still too far. “Hester and I are not the most popular couple in London.”

She feigns shock at the reveal. “I can’t imagine why. You’re both so... normal.”

His dark brows raise with humor. He’s obviously starting to enjoy this game, beginning to saunter forward slowly. “Very much so.”

His eyes narrow as they sweep up and down her body in a way that makes her feel as if she’s standing bare before him. And knowing that he’s seen and touched parts of her that only his wife has before, makes her shiver at the memory of their touches.

“We, like any well-bred couple, share many similarities.” While his eyes continue to undress her, his body language becomes more confident - in control - and she, a quivering mess. “Riding, hunting, a certain frustrating little governess.”

Her chest heaves at the lack of air, her skin feeling too hot and needy after all these months without them. She needs to regain the upper hand here.

“Stop,” she commands, voice shaky but sure. And he does so immediately, at first confused before embarrassed, believing he’s read her wrong, even taking a step back. But that’s not it at all, and she tries on her own self-satisfied smirk.

She reaches into her reticule to produce a folded sheet of paper, heart thumping as she holds it up with pride.

Robert stops cold in all movements, eyes zeroing in on her ace. Not daring to believe.

He swallows hard. “What is that,” he breathes heavily.

She takes a moment to enjoy this victory, the way his hands tremble and his eyes glaze over with hope.

“A deed,” she whispers calmly, though excitement sizzles within her, “with a coat of arms, picturing an elephant.”

His jaw actually drops, lips parting as he shakes his head in pure amazement. “How...”

She shrugs with nonchalance, inhaling deep as she tries to rein in her own emotions. “You’d be amazed what one can accomplish when not being bullied into it.”

He licks his dry lips, eyes closing as if it were too much to believe. “Of course you found it.” He looks at her again and his expression as her near jumping into his arms. “You of all people. You’re brilliant.”

“Really,” she asks impishly. “I recall someone telling me I was stupid.”

He bites his tongue, scoffing at her, a mix of pride for her and humility for himself on his handsome face. “Going to **** me forever with that?”

“Oh, only whenever it gives me the upper hand.”

He breaks out into a sudden laugh, so unlike him she almost gasps. “I’m the stupid one,” he declares, “for ever thinking it of you.”

She nods cooly, accepting the apology of sorts. “And unattractive?”

He gives a sly grin. “Is me wanting to bend you over this chair and ravish you, an answer?”

She has **** but to let the silence draw out, every step he comes closer stealing more of her ability to come up with a snarky response.

“Perhaps,” she finally responds before he can touch her. “But I have questions.”

Her body gives its own kind of sigh when Robert cups her cheek, fingers sliding into her hair until his hold on her strong, thumb caressing the soft skin in front of her ear making her shiver.

“And I will answer every single one of them with honesty,” he says, hot breath fanning across her face. He pecks lightly at the corner of her mouth, trailing his chaste kisses up her jaw and around her ear, biting the lobe gently. “While I am fucking you.”