“You are going to play with me,” Scarlett said.
I growled. “Not like that. I mean naked. I want to play with you naked.” Fucking Scarlett King was my new favorite thing to do. The more sex we had, the better it got—and it had been pretty damn good to start off with. The fucking last night should have been recorded for a How to Have the Sex of Your Life training guide or something. We’d had sex after the bath and before dinner. And then after dinner. And then this morning I went down on her because she looked so sexy as she slept, I hadn’t been able to help myself.
She knew what I liked now. The drag of her nails on my back, over my cock. I knew how she enjoyed my tongue pressing on her clit and my thumb in her ass. And she enjoyed me talking a little bit dirty to her. I’d never considered that sex with someone I knew could be better because I’d bothered to get to know her. I’d always assumed that any positives of having been around a person longer would be outweighed by the negatives. But now that I thought about it, I couldn’t think of too many negatives of being around Scarlett.
“You’ve played with me naked enough. We have to go out into the world and interact with people with clothes on,” she said.
Okay, maybe her lack of willingness to have sex twenty-four hours a day was a negative.
“You’re such a spoilsport,” I replied, but couldn’t help but grin as she laughed at me.
As we got to the bottom of the stairs, the door opened and people flooded through. I’d have been happy to spend the day with just Scarlett, Darcy and Grandfather, but Scarlett was right, we needed to mingle. Much as I’d have preferred a simple wedding, something restricted to immediate family only would raise suspicion.
Scarlett withdrew her hand and ran toward the three people in the hall. I recognized one of the girls she greeted with a hug from the bar when I’d first met Scarlett. It was clear the sisters were close. Scarlett had spoken to her several times since we’d arrived in the UK.
This morning, my blow job got interrupted when Violet called to say they’d landed. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the girl.
“Ryder,” Scarlett called, beckoning me over as Frederick and Victoria arrived. As I’d rather speak to anyone but them, I took Scarlett’s outstretched hand. “You’ve met Violet.”
“Thank you so much for coming all this way,” I replied, kissing her on both cheeks.
“As if I was going to turn down a chance to come to England,” Violet said. She glanced at Scarlett, who was clearly giving her some kind of pointed look. “And my sister’s wedding, of course.”
“And this is my brother, Max, and Harper, his wife.”
After introductions were made, we all headed outside to the croquet lawn. I wrapped my arm around Scarlett’s waist as we walked. The leaves were still mainly green on the trees and the sky was a bright robin’s egg blue, unusual for this time of year. As we turned the corner, more people gathered by the lawn came into view. It looked like Darcy had invited everyone I’d ever known growing up. My sister should have talked to me first. No doubt, people wanted a look at the next Duchess of Fairfax. Except, Scarlett wouldn’t be, not really. And certainly not for long.
A line of buffet tables set with white tablecloths and silver bowls of covered food flanked the croquet lawn. Darcy had gone to a lot of effort. People milled about, clutching drinks and glancing over as our party walked toward them. Darcy hovered near Grandfather, who sat in a chair facing the lawn, chatting to my aunt and uncle while Darcy fussed over the buffet tables.
Lane stood behind one of the tables, pouring out Pimms into tall glasses.
“Are we pretending it’s summer?” I asked, tipping my head toward the drinks.
“I thought it would be a taste of England for our American friends,” he replied.
“The way you make it, Lane, we’ll all be passed out by tea time,” I said, scooping up two glasses, handing one to Scarlett.
He nodded. “Exactly my plan, sir.”
I guided Scarlett away from the table.
“What is this?” Scarlett held her glass up and inspected it. “And why is it garnished with salad?”
“Pimms, and it’s not like it comes with a salad bowl. It’s just cucumber. And some fruit.” I picked a slice of cucumber out of my drink and held it to her lips. “Try it.”
She took a bite and grinned as I popped the other half in my mouth.
“Look at you, so cute together,” a woman said from behind us. Scarlett and I turned as one. “It’s as if you’re made for each other.” Victoria grinned at us from beside Frederick. Victoria only smiled when she was being vicious. I wasn’t sure whether or not Scarlett had picked up on the jibe or whether or not she took Victoria at face value.
“Awww, thank you, Victoria. That’s what Ryder keeps saying—that we’re made for each other. I keep asking him where he left his stiff upper lip, but of course I love it when he says it.” She glanced up at me, grinning. “That dress is fabulous on you,” she said, turning her attention back to Victoria. “It really shows off your body fantastically.”
Victoria twitched, her smile slipping, just a fraction, as she tried to work out whether or not Scarlett was being sarcastic or genuine. “Thank you,” she muttered.
“You are so welcome. I’m sure you get a million compliments a day about your figure,” Scarlett said, glancing at Frederick.
Scarlett was a thousand times better than Victoria at pretending to be charming. Perhaps because she simply was charming. Still, Scarlett had clearly decided to kill Victoria with kindness.
My fiancée fucking rocked.
“I have the teams,” Darcy announced, waving some cards in the air. “Gather ’round.”
“You’re going to teach me?” Scarlett said as I handed her a mallet.
“Sure,” I said, bending to kiss her smiling mouth. I wasn’t sure I’d ever absentmindedly kissed a woman before. Certainly not just to have that additional connection, to feel closer to her. Kissing had always been a part of sex. But now we were pretending to be a couple, it seemed to be the natural thing to do.
“Your usual colors?” Darcy asked and I nodded.
“You want red or yellow?” I asked Scarlett, walking toward the starting point.
“You mean you can’t guess?” she replied. “I would have thought my name would give it away.”
I chuckled. “Of course, Miss King. I’ll take yellow. You toss.” Rummaging in my pocket, I pulled out a fifty pence piece.
“Who are we playing against?” Scarlett asked as we scanned the crowd from the center peg.
“Hopefully not Frederick and Victoria,” I replied, turning the silver coin between my fingers.
“Oh, I don’t know, that could be fun.”
“You’re crazy.” I pulled her close, circling my arms around her waist. “Victoria doesn’t know what to make of you at all.”