“Touché, Lord Everley, good answer. I like being a challenge.” She smiled beautifully before licking her lips in a way that should be illegal.

I groaned and remembered how good her lips felt on my skin earlier—wrapped around me, kissing up the length of my—

“Did I distract you just now, Lord Everley?” she asked coyly, knowing full well what she was doing to me. Such a tarty tease. Later on, I’d show her just how distracted I was. Turnabout was fair play after all.

“I should let you know that Everley is my surname, not my title. No Lord Everley in Parliament.”

Her face lit up in surprise. “Is that what you do, Ivan? For a job? You’re a member of Parliament. In the House of Lords?”

She really had no idea was clearly apparent. “Why yes, I do sit in the House of Lords. I try my best to serve the nation in those areas I can be of some small help.”

“Jesus…” She looked shocked. “And you’re descended from the last czar of Russia, too.”

I suppose my creds did sound hideously pompous to someone like her, but nobody could change the circumstances of their birth. I’d lived with it for thirty-four years and it wasn’t going away until I was dead. “What did you think I did for work?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe ruling over the villagers in between all those state dinners that barons and dukes must have to attend. And maybe there should be some time in there for counting your piles of money, giving speeches to the historical society, and passing out the trophies at the local dog show?” She tilted her head at me and bit one side of her luscious bottom lip. I resisted the urge to stroke my finger across it and imagined replacing my finger with the tip of my cock instead. An even nicer image…

“Quite the job description you’ve given me. Sorry to disappoint, but I’ve never ruled over any villages, nor am I a member of any historical societies I know of. I do give the occasional speech but it’s always work related. I only attend a state dinner when I can find no excuse to get out of it, and I have to invest my money wisely so I can continue to live here instead of some dreadful hovel beneath my station,” I said absurdly. “Oh, and banks are the best place for the piles of money needing counting.” I grinned at her. “As a bonus, the bank will count it for you too.”

She laughed at my sarcasm. “This is unreal. You’re a politician.”

“It wasn’t a thing I aspired to, but rather an obligation of sorts handed down to me. But ironically, serving as a member of Parliament suited me far better than I ever thought it would,” I told her honestly.

“Oh, how so?” she asked with genuine interest. It was refreshing to be with a person who didn’t know anything about me, and who didn’t judge me based on my status or my past achievements. Another point in her favor from where I sat. I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight until I was certain she was hooked.