Authors: Nichole Matthews
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, there was nothing she could do but let him continue in the direction he seemed to be heading. She took a large swallow of the arrack-punch hoping that Perceval’s strong blend would numb her senses. It was moments such as this that Piper praised the tutelage of Miss Harris, because the good manners she instilled were the only reason she was not currently making a fool of herself while in this very public place.
Piper tried in vain to tug her fingers free, but he wouldn’t let go.
Taking another gulp of punch, she scanned the crowd looking for someone—anyone remotely familiar, halting when she saw
him
. Piper grinned. He grinned back with a wink. He actually winked. Life was odd. She knew there were doors that were open and doors that were closed and by her estimation this door had just been opened wide by fate. A nervous fluttering arose in her stomach, time stood still, she didn’t have time to be practical, she would lose her nerve if she didn’t act now.
“…
and that is why I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me to see the…”
Standing abruptly, she jerked her hand free, nearly toppling over her chair in her haste. “I fear you must excuse me…” She set her cup down on the side table with a clank.
Fulton stared after her with his mouth hanging open when she snatched her cloak from the back of her chair and dashed from the booth running headlong into the crowd her slipper-clad feet gliding effortless over the ground until she was stopped by his hard body. Big, golden, and amused.
The impact sent a jolt of awareness sizzling through him. “What do we have here?” He chuckled. The feel of her soft, supple body pressed against him flooded his mind with erotic images. Her naked, him naked. Silk or satin, it mattered not to him. Her tiny hands wrapped around his…well, that settled that. He obviously didn’t have all his mental faculties.
At the sound of his deep voice, excitement flared inside her, her heart slammed against her chest and she knew she had made the correct decision.
“
Thank heavens!”
Piper exclaimed her blue eyes were wide with wonder.
Graydon plucked the azure taffeta cloak from her limp fingers and gently draped the fine material over her shoulders looping the strings, lifting the hood to cover her brunette curls in order to make her unrecognizable. “I should be the one thanking heaven,” he rumbled. “For I have captured one of its angels.” Tenderly, he brushed his finger across her lip.
Piper blushed. “What is this fascination we seem to be having with angels and demons?” She glanced at his face; only to find his gaze intense and unwavering. She stopped breathing, her lips parted, the tip of her tongue skated over her lower lip.
His eyes darkened. His hand at her waist, curved over the swell of her hip as he turned her and guided her towards a darkened path. “Perhaps you were sent to curb my wicked ways?”
She hesitated for the briefest of moments before she laced her fingers through his. “Why would I want to do anything of the sort, they are what drew me to you to begin with.”
“
Then let us waste no more time talking.” She didn’t think it was possible for his gaze to darken any further. But his eyes fairly glowed molten.
“
Of course.” Her voice was husky, warm, rich.
“
Follow me,” he growled, dragging her through the crowded path, she stumbled after him heedless of the noise and chaos surrounding them; desperate to go anywhere he led. She was in trouble—deep trouble. Parker was going to kill her. He specifically warned her to curb her reckless behavior, at least until after she was under someone else’s protection.
Breathless and excited they wound their way through the gardens, down the long shadowed walkways where with each corner they turned, the paths became darker and quieter, until at last they came to a secluded alcove in the hedges, the moon and stars barely reaching the paths depths. He tugged until she sat next to him on the stone bench, facing him.
Startled, she almost jumped when she landed on the cold bench, but instead she flashed him a brilliant smile. “You could have just asked me to accompany you, my lord,” she said with a hint of deviltry, between deep breaths. “Resorting to these caveman tactics was unnecessary.”
His amber eyes bore into hers. “
You
could have just point blank asked me to meet you here this morning and I would have been waiting on pins and needles,” he confessed. He was already hard, painfully so. She had aroused everything in him the moment he caught her grin through the crowd.
Drawing in a deep breath, she asked, “Why must you tease me so?” For three years she had fantasized about Lord Rockwell. She had pictured their courtship, their wedding, their children playing at his country estate, and to now be sitting tucked up close to his warm body was almost too much for her to bear. An anxious fluttering arose in the pit of her stomach. “I’m angry with you.” She met his gaze straight on.
He looked at her, his brows lifted in question. “How have I offended you, Piper?”
She hesitated a second, before responding, “Did Lady Caroline’s new purchase please you?”
Graydon’s eyes clouded, “I don’t know what you are speaking of?”
“
Lady Caroline made sure I was aware of your…
relationship
.” She drew in a deep breath and then continued. “It was obvious what she was speaking of…well, she didn’t have to spell everything out.”
Graydon looked at her solemnly. “Lady Caroline was mistaken.” He cupped her jaw. His hand brushed a tendril of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. She had the biggest blue eyes he’d ever seen and he felt as if he were drowning in their endless depths. She made him forget everything he’d lost or had longed for. She fulfilled his deepest, darkest desires. Not just the physical, but emotional as well. “When I touch you, my entire body ignites.” He buried his face in her neck, his heated breath trailing a path of fire to her ear. “Please believe me.”
“
I believe you.” She tried to control the flames of desire that shot down her neck, her head lolled back to give him better access to her sensitive flesh. She cleared her throat. “You’re a fraud, my lord.” Silence punctuated her statement.
He lifted his head, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
She laughed, and he laughed with her. “Yes, a fraud.”
He admired her directness. “You are different from any other woman I know.”
“
In what way?” She asked in a soft voice.
“
In every way.” He grinned, a charming smile meant to disarm her, and it worked. In fact, he had mastered it.
“
You are absolutely different then the façade you show the world.” She shot him a look from beneath her lashes. “You care. You care about your family and friends. I can see it in your eyes when you speak of them.”
“
Are you accusing me of being a sentimental fool?” Her simple words stirred him. “I care about my mother and my sisters, true.” He looked at her sharply, his eyelids narrowed. “My father left me with little choice,” he said defensively slapping his well-manicured hand on his knee.
“
You are a kind man.” She reached over and patted his hand with affection. “What do you mean?”
He blinked at her. “Piper, you’re not naïve.” He paused a beat. “You’ve been out for many years now, I’m sure it has not escaped you the multitude of rumors surrounding my family. My father’s countless infidelities and his public cruelty towards my mother have been a constant thorn in my side.” He didn’t want to talk about his family, especially his father at a time like this. He wanted to concentrate on the creaminess of her white skin. The delightful flush across her cheeks, the sweet puffs of air coming from her erratic breath. He flipped his hand, capturing hers. His finger drawing lazy circled on her palm.
“
I have heard a few rumors,” she replied neutrally.
“
My mother did not deserve to be ostracized by Society because of my father’s reckless behavior and neither do my sisters.” He never spoke of his father, but something in Piper’s spirit eased his discomfiture and allowed him to share this difficult part of his life with her.
She raised her brows. “That is exactly what I meant. You are a very kind man, an affectionate brother, and an extremely devoted son, but I wouldn’t dream of telling another soul.” She held her finger to her lips and whispered. “It will be our own little secret.”
His eyes dilated as he watched her pucker her soft pink lips. “You minx,” he murmured, surprised to find his hand shaking as he reached for her hand, lifting her to a standing position. He knew better than to complicate his life, but her warm curves settled into the cradle of his thighs when he wrapped his arms tightly around her. Her head fit perfectly in the curve of his arm and he realized it was definitely too late. For the first time in his adult life hope sprang up inside him. She was imprisoning him in a growing web of enchantment and he was realizing he wasn’t as strong as he thought.
Tenderly he brushed his fingers across her lips.
Piper pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to quash the butterflies rioting there, blinking in surprise, unnaturally deprived of speech. She stood uncertainly in his embrace, considering the hungry, possessive look in his eyes. Her tongue darted out nervously, moistening her dry lips.
Was she deriving more pleasure from this encounter because it was forbidden, or because it was him? Or both? She was becoming a hedonistic wanton; all of her repressed wildness no longer hidden behind her spectacles and books. She had this feeling that he knew that about her and liked it immensely.
Graydon glanced around to reassure himself that they were ignored before he lifted his hand to cup her jaw and bent his head to hers. “Why?” he asked in a hoarse whisper, then capturing her lips in the briefest of kisses before they were interrupted.
“
Good evening to you, my lord.” The rough, gravelly voice announced.
“
Stay behind me,” he warned before turning back to the intruder.
Anger flared in Graydon’s eyes, hard and bright. “What are you doing here?” he snarled.
She shivered at the iciness of his tone, but felt protected from the stranger by his body.
“
I spied you sneaking off in the darkness and thought I could perhaps have a word in private?”
“
As you can see, Whitman, we are far from private. I am not alone,” Graydon spoke quietly but his tone was hard. Suddenly pieces were falling into place. ‘W’, Was Whitman ‘W’? And if so, why? He had only recently become acquainted with the man.
Whitman? Why would he need to speak with Rockwell? Craning her neck, Piper tried to peer around Rockwell’s wide shoulders but it was too dark to make out anything but the red tip of his cigar, the foul odor drifting to her nostrils.
Whitman’s eyes narrowed and with a brusque nod, he said, “I suggest that you make time and soon.” Pivoting, he left.
Graydon muttered a curse before he turned back around, dragging a hand roughly through his hair.
“
What was that all about?” Wariness crept into her eyes. Whitman gave her goose bumps, and not because of the cold, but because there was something about him that frightened her. She shivered, rubbing her arms to relieve the chill that crept up her spine.
“
I have no idea,” he said evenly. “But I will find out soon enough.”
She stared him straight in the eye. Not blinking. Watching as a play of emotions skittered across his face. “He assisted Poppy and I the day you found us at Weston’s.”
Graydon’s spine stiffened. “What could have possibly happened where you would have need of assistance from Whitman?”
“
It was truly nothing,” Piper said abruptly, lowering her eyes quickly.
“
Piper,” he questioned, his eyes narrowed. “I can tell you’re prevaricating.” He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
“
Someone pushed me from behind, and I stumbled.” Piper glanced at Graydon from beneath her lashes. “Mr. Whitman happened to be nearby and offered use of his carriage, that is all.”
“
Why didn’t you tell me you had been assaulted in the streets?” Graydon rubbed a hand over his face.
“
It seemed so trivial. A simple accident. A child in the street knocked me down.” She shivered at his concern. Wondering if she should be more watchful.
“
Be careful around Whitman, Piper. There’s something about him I don’t like.” He stared back at her for a moment, those amber eyes burning into hers before they started roaming over her features as if memorizing them, until his gaze finally settled on her lips. His strong hand rose to cup her face, his thumb making slow circles over her jaw. Jerking his hands away, he growled in frustration. “I’m tired of touching you with these infernal gloves covering my hand.” Putting the tip of his finger in his mouth he pulled the finger of his glove loose with his teeth before tugging his hand free and working on the other one. “Your skin feels like silk and I want to touch it again.” His voice was husky with desire. Stuffing the gloves in his pocket, he raised his hands and cupped her face.
Piper tilted her head against his hand, rubbing her cheek against his skin. Her senses soared with each caress. She shut her eyes and inhaled his scent.
“
So soft.” Graydon leaned down with a burning look. “Piper,” he breathed her name against her lips before his mouth once again seized hers in a dizzying kiss.