Read Online Lady Laugherty's Loves by Laurel Bennett - Free Book Online Page A

approached them both and tugged
on her husband’s sleeve. “May I borrow you for a few moments, while
Ellis settles in?” He narrowed his eyes at her. “I’d like to
discuss the seating arrangements with you for dinner.”
    “Oh, whatever you decide is fine with
me,” he said, quite effectively dismissing her, just before he bent
and kissed her softly. “I want to show Ellis the stables before it
gets dark.”
    “You mean you want to boast over your
most recently purchased piece of horse flesh,” Ellis
teased.
    “That, too,” Avery chuckled as they
walked away together.
    Olivia escaped as quickly as she could
and ran for the master’s chambers. She shoved the door shut and
leaned heavily against it. Good Lord. Her husband’s best friend had
kissed her and held her scandalously close. And her husband didn’t
seem perturbed by it at all.
    ***
    “You should be ashamed,” Avery said to
Ellis as they wandered toward the stables.  There was no new
horseflesh, not a single equine specimen that could make Avery
dismiss his houseguests and his wife to head for the stables. Yet
the very thought of Ellis’ lips against Olivia’s had him scurrying
for a quiet place where they could talk.
    Ellis chuckled. “I feared she would
slap me there for a moment.”
    “She would never do that. She’s much
too proper.”
    “So, you brought me here to share your
proper English wife?” Ellis clucked at him.
    “Only if she’s willing.” He’d never
ask her to do anything she didn’t want to do. But he did want to
see what unfolded if the situation came up. “I have missed you,” he
admitted. “It hasn’t been the same without you.”
    “Yes, but then you had to go and fall
in love. And marry. The best friend of the groom doesn’t typically
get to share the wedding night. No matter how much he might want
to.”
    “Do you think you could love her?” He
had to know. He’d not whore Olivia out. Nor would he ask her to put
herself into a temporary situation that could rock the very
foundation of their marriage.
    “I think I fell in love with her the
around the same time you did.  But you had the advantage of a
title to offer her, and I had none.”
    Avery had always assumed that to be
the case, yet he’d always been afraid to ask. He didn’t want to
ruin either relationship. He and Avery had both been presented to
Olivia at her come-out. And she’d shown both of them her favor.
Yet, in the end, it was Avery she’d gravitated toward. He was damn
glad of it, but there was something missing in their relationship.
He had a feeling that something was his best friend.
    ***
    Ellis’ blood was still pumping hard
within his veins, not to mention his cock. When he’d pulled Olivia
to him and smelled her sweet scent, he’d fought with himself not to
scare her by kissing her soundly. He could still feel the round
fullness of her breasts against his chest, her lips on
his.
    “Explain to me what you’d like to see
come of all this?” He needed to know exactly where he stood. Would
he always be a third? Would it always be Olivia and Avery, while
Ellis was invited into their bed on occasion?
    Avery shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe
nothing. It’s up to her.”
    He nodded slowly. He’d take the chance
that something wonderful would come of it.
    “She’s probably up in her room, making
sure it’s presentable for you,” Avery hinted with a gleam in his
eye.
    “So how do you want to approach this?”
He really didn’t want to muck it all up.
    “I say we do what comes
naturally.”  He shrugged again. 
    “Will you be offended if I
approach her alone to see where I stand?” Please say no.
    “Why would I be?” Avery’s eyebrows
drew together.
    Apparently, his cousin wanted this
threesome to be a real relationship. As long as they were all on
the same page…
    “I believe I’ll go and check on my
accommodations.”
    A smile broke across Avery’s
face.  “One of the servants can show you to your new