Free The Black Lotus (Night Flower) by Claire Warner

desirable," She purred the words as she walked further into the room.
    "Heaven forefend," Alistair rolled his eyes and replaced the dagger in his belt. "Don't you get enough of this empty flirting at your.." His mouth twisted into a grimace as he spoke. "parties."
     
    "Oh good gracious no," Justin smiled and winked at the blonde. "It helps make life bearable," He turned his gaze back to his brother and his smile froze. "Much as empty religious mouthing does for you," Alistair lunged forward, only to have his arm seized by Emily.
    "Enough," She hissed, her voice no longer playful, "This isn't why I travelled her e tonight," She glowered at Justin, who shrugged and leant back against the sideboard.
     
    "Why did you come here?" Alistair snarled, pulling his arm free and retreating to the far side of the table. "I thought you were cultivating another husband,"
     
    "Yes I heard you," She walked forward and sat on the sideboard. "I can cultivate my next match and still keep in touch with you two." Her fingers trailed onto Justin's upper arm. "We all need to stick together and besides you two are my favourites."
     
    "Maybe that's even true," Justin allowed her to stroke the back of his neck. "but you never come here without a good reason,"
     
    "Darling you wound me," Her fingers reached into his hair and he closed his eyes, savouring the sensation as she gently massaged his scalp. "Can you not just accept that I like your company?" She moved closer, her lips brushing his cheek. He shivered at the contact, familiarity not diluting the impact of her touch.
     
    "Oh I can accept it," He turned his head and felt her breath drift over his lips. “and I must admit that your company has a certain charm.” He could almost feel her smile as she reached forward.
     
    “I can’t believe you two.” Justin’s eyes snapped open and he turned to face Alistair. His brother’s face was crimson with pent up rage and he was spluttering incoherently. “Have you no shame?”
     
     
    “If this bothers you,” Emily noted with no small amusement, “then don’t look.” Her fingers slid across Justin’s face and she drew him closer. He wet his lips and leant in for a tender kiss. From the corner of his eye, he watched as his brother stomped towards the door and out of the room. Suppressing the desire to laugh, he held the kiss for a few more seconds before pulling back and away from Emily.
     
     
    “You’re a very bad girl. ” He noted, with a wry laugh. “What would you have done if he had stayed?”
     
     
    “Kissed you some more,” Her voice was matter of fact, a far cry from the kittenish seductive tones of earlier. “He wouldn’t have stayed.”
     
    “Surely there are easier and less obvious ways of getting me alone?” He returned to his chair and sat down.
     
     
    “Justin.” She chided, her lips pursing into a mockery of a pout. “I thought you liked my kisses,” 
     
     
    “Oh I do,” He levered his legs onto the table and relaxed, “but you only play like this when you want something, ” He raised his hand and beckoned her forward. “What do you want this time?”
     
     
    “I was thinking about this evening,” She reached the table and sat down, nonchalantly playing with the riding crop between her fingers, “and one part of it intrigued me above all the others.”
     
     
    “Oh?” Justin rested his head on the back of the chair and stared at her, “Which part?”
     
     
    “My darling Justin, you know which part,” The riding crop briefly tapped against his legs in gently chastisement.
     
    “You’re going to have to be specific; after all, it’s been a busy night.” With a smile, he leant forward and tugged the crop from her fingers. “And you can’t expect me to remember all of your amorous adventures.” He laid the whip across his knees and smoothed down his shirt.
     
     
    “Don’t be a bore my darling, ” Emily’s eyes flashed with annoyance and she nearly reached for the crop.