The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky (Montague Siblings, #1.5)

by Mackenzi Lee

as if I am the one behaving inappropriately by dropping a book, when it’s she who is shouting about my sex life.

“And it’s not the most romantic place—I stepped on a cockroach this morning when I got out of bed; did I tell you that?” “I know, I heard you scream. The pitch was remarkable.”

He makes the walk with such deliberate slowness that I’m almost sure he knows just how fantastic his ass looks in those wet breeches and is trying to use it as a siren song to lure me in after him.

“Yes, well, I’ve been rather occupied for most of my life with wanting only you.” “Oh, Perce.” I touched my forehead to his. “You’re so monogamous.”

Though lately Percy could sneeze and I’d be sporting a partial.

I’m ready to sail to England that minute to challenge Thomas Powell to a duel for the way he writes of Percy’s epilepsy, like it’s a burden to others.

And the list of my particular skills has been thoroughly exhausted in the last month: sunbathing and sleeping late and looking handsome while eating grapes.

When I start to moan about my legs being tired, Percy consents to carry me on his back the rest of the way to the flat.

No, don’t drag this out, get it over with! Having a drink in awkward pre-fornication silence will not make this better!

“No,” I say, and somehow it comes out both hoarse and shrill at the same time, like a songbird that has smoked too many cigars.

I’m going to be pressed to death like a witch, except instead of boulders it will be the weight of my own goddamn issues that kills me.

I lean back without thinking and dear God I almost let myself fall off the bed in hopes I will strike my head and in the resulting blackout, lose all memory that this ever happened. Perhaps I should drag Percy down after me, just to make certain we both forget.

“Please don’t make me talk about it. I hate talking about my feelings.” “Please. You have more feelings more vocally than any human on this earth.”