Authors: Nichole Matthews
“
How can I refuse such delightful urging? Esme is fifteen going on twenty-five and Olivia is thirteen, both chomping at the bit for their first season.” He blew out a deep breath. “I on the other hand would gladly keep them locked up safe in my house, if I could.” He glanced slyly at her. “I know exactly what they have to look forward to.”
“
Keeping them protected from rakehells such as yourself?” Piper shot him a sidelong glance.
Graydon smothered a sputter of laughter, but confirmed her statement with a nod. “They are great beauties and I fear that I will be in constant worry.” He allowed his shoulders to relax. “That must be my punishment for being a bane to my own father and mother.”
“
Are you working on endearing yourself to me my lord, or trying to scare me away?” Looking fixedly into his eyes her cheeks flushed, the words a breathy rush from her mouth. She lifted her chin to haughtily inform him. “I must warn you that I do not scare easily. I may get nervous, my lord, but not scared.”
“
Is that so?” He drawled in his slow, easy manner, reaching out a hand to lightly stroke her cheek with the back of one finger. His eyes strayed to her lightly parted lips, his heart beating wildly in his chest. He was fascinated with her innocence and her
joie de vivre
. He teasingly tapped his lean index finger on the tip of her nose.
“
Absolutely,” she said, boldly grinning at him.
His lips curved in a slow smile, leaning forward to narrow the distance between them, his eyes heavy-lidded with desire. Capturing her chin with his fingers, he noticed how her wide blue eyes never strayed from his descending mouth. “You are far too tempting for me to send scurrying away in fear.” He swooped down and gently pressed his lips to hers. He tried to put a tight leash on his desires as he claimed her mouth in a wet hot kiss. Yanking her into his arms, he held her pressed against his body. His intention was to only teach her a lesson. To warn her how dangerous the game she was playing was, but the moment his lips met hers, he was lost. He brushed her lips with his, lightly, enticingly, and then he ran his tongue sensually along the seam eliciting a soft gasp at the unknown sensation, coaxing her to part her lips, convincing her that there were untold pleasures to be had if she complied. He sipped from her lips an enticing elixir that threatened to intoxicate him. This was the taste. The flavor blended just for him. The passions within him spread with an almost overwhelming heat when his steely arm tightened about her waist holding her against him.
She sighed into his mouth. She knew she should push him away. She should be offended due to her maidenly virtue. But the taste of him spread through her like a fever, he was so powerfully male, intoxicatingly so. Delight bubbled up inside her veins threatening to overwhelm her senses. Her brain wreathed in a pleasurable fog as his hard demanding lips possessed. Her heart was pumping, her pulse pounding in places she didn’t even know it was supposed to. She had never dreamt that he could desire her as much as she did him. Her head was spinning as she let him slide his wicked tongue into the warm refuge of her mouth, stroking and dancing with her own. She had never allowed another man to kiss her before and she didn’t want any other man to touch her lips after. It was unbelievable. It was as if she had been struck by lightning. She sizzled.
Slanting his mouth over hers to gain better access, his arms wrapped around her pulling her flush against the hard lines of his body. Sparks flew as he drank from her tempting lips. Feeling her softness begin to melt into him, he knew he had to put a stop to this madness when a soft moan penetrated his haze of desire.
Graydon forced himself to set her away leaning his forehead against her curls, exhaling a harsh groan. He was in too much danger of losing control of himself. His breath came in harsh deep gulps and he tamped down his already raging desire. He yearned to taste deeply of her, but not here and not now. His need was already overwhelming his common sense. They were in the open, the possibility of being caught increased the longer they sat on this bench. He was not ready to throw himself or her on the altar.
Not yet.
Piper blinked. Her dazed gaze never left his face as she pressed a trembling hand to her racing heart.
He didn’t let her go immediately; he held her as tightly as before, staring fixedly at her lips, his thumb brushing lightly across their wet plumpness. Graydon looked at her, meeting her gaze, then he glanced carefully around the garden.
Leaning down to retrieve her discarded fan from the cobblestone walk beneath their feet. “The other guests…” His voice was still rough with desire.
All Piper could do was nod.
He paused to touch her cheek and inhale the fragrant scent that was Piper. Infatuated? He gave a sharp shake of his head as he realized he was acting like the greenest of green lads. Noticing that the music had stopped, with a smile he jumped to his feet holding out his hand, with a hoarseness to his voice, “Lady Piper.” He cleared his throat. “I believe our time together has ended, for now.” He smiled right at her. “Please allow me to return you to your companion.”
With wide eyes raised to his, Piper rose to her feet with a soft swish of silk, running her hands down her skirts to smooth any wrinkles that may have appeared.
He stood, his amber eyes ablaze, holding her fan dangling from his index finger.
Her hand shook as she raised it to snatch the fan from him.
He placed his index finger on her lips.
She momentarily closed her eyes and allowed the strong emotions swirling around them to wash over her. She never wanted to forget this moment. She would carry it as a treasure with her always.
As they were returning to the ballroom, Piper groaned when she noticed Lord Perceval talking quite animated with Miss Harris. “
Blast
,” she muttered under her breath.
“
An admirer?” Graydon inquired with a smirk as they drew closer.
She gave a small shrug, and quirked her eyebrow. “Of a sort. I try to stay out of his way. He’s not my cup of tea, but I truly do not want to hurt his feelings.”
“
We can always turn around and circle the ballroom once more,” Graydon suggested.
With shoulders back and her head held high Piper smiled. “I cannot avoid him forever,” she muttered. “No matter how much I would wish to.”
“
Well done,” Graydon responded in a whisper and squeezed her hand. “Talking to you has been…quite enlightening.” Bowing, he took possession of her hand and kissed it, a wicked twinkle in his eyes. “I look forward to our next encounter.” Turning to her companion he inclined his head, “Miss Harris, Gideon.”
Graydon raised his brow as he turned to Parker.
“
Chester,” Parker interjected. “I’ve heard that you have a cousin visiting from Devonshire.” He glanced at Rockwell before continuing, “I don’t believe I have met him before. A George Smith, if I’m not mistaken. You should bring him round to the club as a guest.”
Chester stammered as his eyes swung towards Piper, “Y-y-yes Ash. He is in London for only a few days. Very young, not doing much. Just a little sightseeing, that’s all, nothing too strenuous. I don’t believe he will have much time for the club. He will be leaving in three days’ time.”
“
No!” Graydon breathed rather dramatically. His hand pressed firmly to his chest. “Surely your cousin can spare a few extra days to tour Tattersall’s,” Graydon suggested. “I would be delighted to have the two of you accompany me a week from Monday,” he added, a stark challenge visible in his eyes. “I know any young lad would be quite interested in seeing all of that prime horseflesh.” He flashed a sly look at Piper. “In fact I won’t take no for an answer, I insist.”
“
Capital.” Chester flushed under the interest. “I will talk to him immediately. I’m sure he will be in rapture over the invitation.”
“
I’m sure he will be over the moon,” Graydon drawled with a wicked grin.
Looking at Chester through widened eyes, Piper gritted her teeth. “Chester, don’t we have plans for Monday next?”
“
Of course, of course,” Chester waved his hand dismissively. “We can postpone surely, Piper. I see you all the time. How often does one get to attend Tattersall’s with such an expert on horseflesh as Rockwell?”
Piper’s heart sank. She rolled her eyes with frustration, blowing out a breath of consternation. Great, one outing and Chester has already forgotten their ruse. “Yes, but you haven’t even asked George if he would like to attend with you yet.”
“
Who wouldn’t want to attend?” Chester asked in confusion. “Especially at the express wishes of Lord Rockwell? He would have to be a dunderhead.”
Lud
! Piper groaned audibly, nervously playing with a fold in the fabric of her white gown. “I’m sure he must be,” she muttered.
Graydon bit back a chuckle when he spied the annoyance that flashed in Piper’s eyes. Just as I suspected, Portland definitely didn’t come up with this little scheme. He has all but forgotten that his
cousin
is a fraud.
“
If you will excuse me,” Graydon said, acknowledging all in her group with a polite nod of his head. Grasping Piper’s hand he raised it to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. His heavy-lidded eyes lowered fractionally, almost in abject pleasure when his lips met her hand, his thumb absently rubbing sensuous circles over her the pulse point of her wrist.
She could feel the warmth of his breath through her glove and the pressure of his firm lips sent ravenous tingles of desire straight to her toes, making them curl in her satin slippers. “
À
bient
ôt j’espere.”
“
My lord,” Piper managed to reply, staring after him with a perplexed look on her face. Her heart was pounding, blood thumping through her veins. She suddenly realized that the flurry of activities she had been using to fill her days over the past few years, including her literary group, were just poor imitations of what life had to offer. For suddenly she felt truly alive.
“
I know you are fully aware of his reputation,” Miss Harris interrupted her dazed musings. “A reckless hedonist; remember the rumors from last season? Seymour mentioned it at our picnic this summer.”
Glancing at Miss Harris, “Fah, yes I am fully aware of the rumors that circulate carelessly throughout the
t
on.
” A look of censure on her face, “You know as well as I that half the rumors that we hear have no basis in truth. Take for example what we heard about Parker last season.” With her brow cocked. “Surely you don’t place truth in those rumors as well?”
“
Of course I don’t! You know that I believe your brother to be an honorable man, but I do not know anything about Lord Rockwell personally. What if the rumors about him are true? I just want you to take care.”
“
I would never deliberately put myself in harm’s way.” Piper’s eyes wandered around the ballroom, stopping when she spied Agnes Darlington, her dearest friend striding towards her. She was dragging one of their new acquaintances with her, Miss Kate Waverly. “Oh look, Agnes and Kate are on their way over.”
Agnes dressed in her usual gray attire and scraped back hair, caused Piper to shake her head in wonder. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to induce her friend to change her mode of dress. She was out to prove a point. Men were only interested in outward appearances. She was determined to find a man who would choose her for her true self without first capturing his attention with a tempting package.
“
Oh my goodness, Piper!” Agnes’ eyes were aglow with excitement. “We saw you walking out to the garden with Lord Rockwell and had to come and see you immediately upon your return.” Her words came out on a breathy sigh. “I wager you were all fluttery inside.” She leaned in to whisper for Piper’s ears only, “Did he make the connection? Did he mention anything about the literary club?”
Agnes of course, had been fully apprised of Piper’s masquerade and thought the whole situation dangerous, but exciting. “He didn’t say a word! He looked at me with a…I don’t know…strange look in his eyes, but nothing more.” She giggled into her white gloved hand. “He did remark that Parker mentioned my desire to begin a literary club and he actually appeared interested.”
With a frown. “Truly? Maybe he isn’t exactly what we thought?” She grinned widely. “How very intriguing.”
Glancing around to insure their privacy, Piper leaned towards Agnes and whispered, “I must speak with you privately later tonight.”
Agnes giggled, linking her arm with Piper’s. “This sounds titillating.”
“
Dear heavens.” Suddenly Kate grabbed Piper’s hand her brow puckered. “Do you know that attractive gentleman in the gold waistcoat to your left? He is staring a hole straight through you, Piper.”
Covertly looking about the room, Piper allowed her eyes to graze over the gentleman in question. She plied her fan gently to conceal her speech, “I’m sure I’ve never seen him before, but he is definitely looking our way. Are you certain he is not looking at you?” She grinned with a sparkle of humor in her eyes. “Perhaps he is longing to dance with you, Kate?”
“
Then you are quite mistaken,” Kate said with a wide grin. “His eyes haven’t left your figure all night. You’ve obviously done something to intrigue him.”