“Cream?” he rasped, nibbling on Colin’s ear.
“Drawer in the bedside table,” Colin whispered back.
Graham nodded. He remembered now. They’d taken one of the maids at the same time and Colin had eased into her ass with the aid of a floral-scented cream. He gave Colin’s neck a nip, earning a throaty laugh from his friend, and made for the table. The little jar was inside, and Graham put a generous amount on his fingers.
He came back to Colin, holding him with one arm around his chest as he drove two fingers into his ass. Colin moaned again.
“I can’t go easy tonight, I’m afraid,” Graham said.
Colin nodded again. “Please, Graham.”
Moving his fingers faster now, Graham felt him relax. He positioned his cock between his taut cheeks. The friction was delicious, and he couldn’t wait to get inside him. He withdrew his fingers and eased the head of his cock at his hole. Closing his eyes, he pushed inside.
“Graham!” Colin pressed back, taking all of him.
Graham grunted something, he wasn’t sure, then began to thrust. He prided himself on the fact that a benefit of his Hawk curse was that he could fuck forever, but tonight he was dangerously close to climax after a few strokes. Clenching his jaw tight, he held on to Colin and moved faster. It was heaven and he could feel himself beginning to lose his lauded control. He vaguely heard Colin’s shouts of pleasure before he exploded inside him. They shook together, Graham trembling until he was spent.
Graham withdrew, and they collapsed on the bed as they had at the inn, but Colin was still tense. Opening one eye, he saw that he hadn’t come. Well, of course he hadn’t. Graham had taken everything and given nothing. That went against his rules.
“Come here,” he said.
Colin turned, coming to his knees as he faced him. He sat back on his heels and brushed his black hair off his brow. His eyes still held that heat.
“What?”
Graham tilted his chin toward Colin’s raging erection. Colin flushed then held himself.
“No,” Graham said, coming closer. “Let me.”
He took Colin’s cock in his mouth, easing up and down with the care he should have taken when he’d fucked him. Cupping Colin’s balls, he teased and licked before finally engulfing him in his mouth once more. Colin shouted his name again then came with a great shudder.
Colin fell back, a smile of bliss on his handsome face. “Capital,” he murmured.
Graham stretched out beside him. “That was a fun romp, to be sure.”
Colin stiffened and Graham cast him a glance. His brow was knit, and then he smiled. “Cracking good.”
Graham was seized with the need to say something more, but for the life of him he couldn’t think of a blessed thing. He’d never felt tongue-tied around Colin, so he pushed aside his unease and stretched out on his back. He pillowed his head on his hands.
“So you’ll come to Hawksfell Manor with me?” he asked.
After a moment, Colin mirrored his posture. “If you truly wish it.”
Graham couldn’t meet his gaze, but he nodded. “I do.”
“Then we shall have great fun in the Hawks’ roost.”
Graham released a breath he hadn’t been aware he’d been holding. He knew they would rouse themselves after a few minutes. Perhaps Colin would ring for a maid to join them later. Perhaps they would just retire to the fire in the parlor downstairs. It didn’t matter how they spent the rest of the evening, really.
All that mattered was that they never discuss what they’d just shared or how unsettled it made Graham feel.
“Do cease vexing me, Cabot.” Lily took a breath as she straightened Lady Hawksfell’s chamber. “I have work to do.”
“But another Hawk arrives today, Lily. Surely you’re curious.”
Lily shook her head and faced the footman. “And why should I be?”
Cabot winked. “I saw how you eyed the earl’s brother a few months back. I bet you wanted to see if the Hawk curse was true.”
Lily swallowed a retort. She had indeed wondered just that. Any of that business with the earl and his staff occurred well before she’d come here, and her mind had lots of time to wander here at the manor. She wasn’t going to entertain those rumors with Cabot, though.
“You need to stop talking about the earl and his relatives, Cabot. You’re going to get sacked.”
Cabot stepped closer. “It’s all true, you know. Even your precious Mosley has had a taste of the Hawk lusts.”
Lily tamped down her reaction to the notion of the handsome chauffeur with that latest Hawk relative to come to the manor. She didn’t quite know what men could do together, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that the notion got her juices flowing and her blood hot.
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Cabot laughed. “I can see it, Lily. Your pretty white skin is flushed a lovely pink.”
“Get out of the countess’s room and leave me be, Cabot,” she bit out.
Cabot shrugged one shoulder of his meticulously-kept livery jacket. “Fine, then. I just wanted you to prepare yourself for the earl’s newest visitor.”
He finally left her to her thoughts. Lily couldn’t ignore the truth in some of Cabot’s words. She
had
been thinking about the Hawk arriving today. There was little doubt he would be frightfully handsome. Blessed and cursed, the Hawks were. Within her earshot, Lady Hawksfell and Mr. Crowley had teased the earl about opening the manor to yet another one, but even Lily knew the earl felt an obligation. According to Cabot’s well-formed and mobile mouth, ever since the earl married he’d invited many Hawks to his home. She didn’t know what drove him, but it wasn’t her place to wonder was it?
She left the countess’s room and headed back down to the servants’ hall. As she entered the common room, Mrs. Holmes stopped her.
“Guests, Lily.” Mrs. Holmes smoothed her apron and patted her hair. “The earl’s cousin is approaching on the drive.”
Lily mimicked the housekeeper’s motions and straightened her appearance by touch. She was needed out front on the drive with the other servants to welcome their newest visitor. “Yes, Mrs. Holmes.”
Mrs. Holmes flashed a quick smile then shook her head. “I daresay there are more Hawks in Yorkshire than heather on the moors.”
With that, the older woman left Lily to hurry up and out the front door. An impressive motor approached, the late afternoon sun glinting off the fenders. Lily found her place next to the earl’s valet, Grayson. She idly noted he looked as finely turned out as Cabot and the other footman ever were. His gaze was fixed forward and his posture stiff. She mirrored his stance, grateful for the perpetuation of propriety in the sight line of both Mrs. Holmes and Mr. Carstairs, the butler. She valued this position and wouldn’t let Cabot’s teasing or her own foolish worries put it in jeopardy.
The sun was bright on this side of the house, thank goodness. There was little breeze, so it felt more crisp than cold on this November afternoon. She watched with deference but not much interest as the motor came to a quiet stop and the chauffeur stepped out. Yes, she was safe here at Hawksfell Manor. There was nothing or no one to change that situation. That resolve slipped as one of the prettiest men she’d ever seen stepped out onto the drive.
He had dark hair, perhaps as dark as the earl’s, but that was where the comparison ended. This couldn’t be the new Hawk! His features were finely wrought, and he was tall and well-built, but not nearly as large a man as all the Hawks she’d seen. His coat was of fine gray wool and spanned broad shoulders. He moved with grace as he straightened, flashing a polite smile at the assembled servants. Lily’s heart gave a flutter as his blue eyes ran over her. She caught his gaze and saw that his smile didn’t show in his eyes. No. In fact, he looked quite reserved. Sad, almost. She bit her lip and his brows rose. Oh, he was a risk she didn’t need to take.
“Ah, the fine manor and its staff,” said a deep voice.
Lily turned her attention to the large man stepping out behind the pretty one. Her heart increased its palpitations. Oh, this man in the long black coat was the Hawk most certainly. Those chiseled cheeks, that cleft chin, marked him as the earl’s cousin. His hair was sun streaked instead of dark and brushed carelessly back from his forehead, but there was no mistaking the dark Hawk eyes set in his breathtakingly handsome face. Her fluttering heart dropped clear to her stomach.
She gasped, drawing his attention as well. He threw a cheeky grin in her direction, and she saw that he smiled with his entire being. He was apparently as carefree as his companion was reserved. The contrast between the two virile men caused her breath to catch. Her body tingled, and her corset suddenly felt too tight. Despite the chill, beads of sweat popped out on her chest as she flushed.
“Welcome to Hawksfell Manor, my lord,” Carstairs said with a bow. “I am Carstairs, the butler.”
This new Hawk mimicked his bow, and Lily saw Mrs. Holmes hide a smile behind her hand. He was a charmer to be sure, and apparently no woman was immune.
“Graham Hawk, Mr. Carstairs,” he said. “Viscount Weston, actually. And this is my good friend Mr. Spencer.”
The butler bowed to the viscount’s friend. “The earl awaits you in his study. Will your chauffeur be staying at the manor?”
“He’s my chauffeur,” Mr. Spencer said. “And no, he’ll return to Spencer House directly.”
Lily thought about that for a moment. This Hawk’s good friend lived close enough to the manor to return? She knew his motor was quite fine. She could tell that from the knowledge she’d gained during her visits to the garage when she’d been infatuated with the earl’s last chauffeur. Mr. Spencer was obviously as well-heeled as any Hawk. Two extraordinarily attractive, wealthy men were to stay at the manor for an indeterminate amount of time. Men who were undoubtedly used to getting what they wanted when they wanted it. Her traitorous body heated. Their eyes ran over her body again and her drawers grew damp.
God save me.
“Will your men be joining you?” Carstairs asked.
The earl shook his head. “I’m afraid my valet is at Weston Park.”
“Mine is at Spencer House,” Mr. Spencer said.
Mr. Carstairs nodded. “If it will serve, Cabot can look after you both during your stay.”
He indicated the cocky footman, who straightened with a deferential expression on his face. The two visitors nodded their agreement, and Cabot threw a wink in her direction. Lily kept her face impassive even as the image of both lovely men in various stages of undress danced through her fevered mind.
They walked past her as Carstairs led them into the manor, and she caught a bit of their divergent scents. Mr. Spencer’s was fresh and hot, like mint tea. The viscount’s was more deeper, like the touch of spice with a touch of sweet. Both combined to set her head spinning. She must have swayed, for Grayson caught her elbow.
“Are you all right, Lily?” he asked in a low voice.
Her cheeks flaming, she nodded. “I slipped a bit on the gravel,” she said in answer.
Grayson nodded and released her, looking forward once again. Lily absently noticed that the rest of the servants filed back into the house behind Carstairs and Mrs. Holmes, and forced her own feet to move. She thanked the Lord she didn’t have to serve at table.
However could she bear to be close to two such men?
* * * *
Graham eyed the pretty maid as he walked past the line of Hawksfell servants. Her eyes were such an unusual shade of green, and when she’d bitten that full lower lip, he’d felt a flash of heat. Not since last night with Colin had he experienced such a swift rush of lust. He lowered his gaze and followed the butler into the manor.
Hawksfell was impressive, of tall sandstone walls and topped with a many-peaked slate roof. The earl was gifted with money, no doubt. Colin had said so, knowledge he’d gleaned from the gossip he’d heard over the years, but the evidence before him still surprised. Was the earl still plagued with their curse as well as their blessing?
As they walked further into the manor, Graham noticed that the maids who had stood so still on the drive now peeked around the corners at him and Colin. He didn’t see the green-eyed girl, though. He idly wondered how many of the maids, and the male servants for that matter, the earl had fucked over the years. Had he taken the very pretty green-eyed one?
“The earl awaits you in his study, my lord,” the butler said. “Mr. Spencer, I’ll have one of the footman show you to your room. The earl said to place you both in the bachelor wing.”
Colin met Graham’s gaze then nodded. Cabot, the man given to both of them for the length of their visit, indicated the wide staircase and Colin ascended. Graham felt relieved, and a bit guilty. The ride from Spencer House had been strained, even though he had done his level best to keep the mood light. Last night had been incredible, but he wouldn’t talk about it. Thankfully, Colin didn’t seem bent on exploring the topic, either.
“Viscount Weston, my lord,” Carstairs said, breaking through to Graham.
The butler stepped back, and Graham stepped into the Earl of Hawksfell’s study. It was a handsome room, masculine and as well-appointed as the bit of the manor he’d seen thus far. A large desk dominated the space, as did the tall man who stood when he entered.
“Viscount Weston,” the earl said with a slight smile.
Graham blinked. Aside from the hair, it was like looking in a mirror. “Lord Hawksfell.”
Carstairs closed the door as he left, and the earl waved toward the armchair facing the desk. “Sit, please. And call me Gabriel.”
Graham smiled. “Gabriel. Then you must call me Graham.”
Gabriel sat, and Graham did likewise.
“So another Hawk cousin has accepted my invitation.”
“I’ll admit I was curious to meet you, Gabriel. My friend Mr. Spencer told me of some interesting developments up here at the manor over the past few months.” He winked. “And something about the previous few years?”
Gabriel’s cheeks flushed, and then he shook his head. “I take it Mr. Spencer lives in the local environs?”
He smiled. “Not far, yes.”