Authors: Nichole Matthews
A tremor shook her body and she sighed softly. She kissed him back, stretching up on her toes, her arms wound around his neck, holding on with a firm grip as her fingertips swept to the back of his neck she leaned into him, melted against him. Her soft breasts pressed into the hardness of his chest. The expensive silver buttons of his waistcoat bit into her sensitized flesh through the thin muslin of her delicate powder blue high-waisted dress.
His arms went around her waist, brought her up against him. The kiss was slow and hot and deep. His tongue was in her mouth, teasing, tasting, exploring.
She let him explore slowly for a moment, gliding against the slickness of her mouth, moaning she coaxed him deeper.
His lust for her exploded through him. His hands roamed possessively over her back, her bottom and hips, molding the contours of her body to his.
Piper arched her back, pressing against the bulge against her lower stomach, unable to mistake his desire.
He gently pulled away, regarding her closely. “
Merde
!” Exercising his willpower to the utmost, he gritted his teeth and pushed her gently away.
“
You will be missed.” He met her eyes, lifting a finger to trace a path down her nose.
Her nose crinkled, but she nodded. “I suppose you may escort me back to my party.”
“
I don’t want to risk your reputation,” he said, quelling his lustful urges. Pressing his palm against the small of her back, he directed her towards the crowd. Stopping behind her booth, he pulled her once more into his arms. His hot gaze burned through her. Reaching for her hand, he brought her fingers to his lips and brushed her knuckles in a provocative kiss before pushing her away.
………………………………
He paused in the shadows of the trees watching as Rockwell escorted his mysterious lady through the crowd. Frustration warring with his common sense, he thought of all the ways he could kill him. A smile, if you could call it that, tipped up the corners of his mouth.
He was making very little headway with Rockwell, and it was frustrating him.
Was it possible that he didn’t know?
“
Impossible,”
he muttered under his breath.
He was boiling with rage. Each day his anger wasn’t appeased it became more and more difficult for him to sit still and watch
him
sail through life with nary a care in the world. To never have to wonder where his next meal would come from or if he would be shivering in the bitter cold as he tried to sleep. Or to long for the company of a beautiful woman and not have her shrink away with repulsion from your kiss.
Well, he was going to have to up the stakes. Make it impossible for him to refuse to play the game.
He was given no choice but to endure life’s bitter hardships.
Let’s see how well
Lord High and Mighty
handles pain and suffering.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It takes an extremely clever woman to capture a skittish man. Or so I’ve heard…
Piper’s journal
23 July
DAYS PASSED WITHOUT EVEN A GLIMPSE OF ROCKWELL. Two balls, one musicale and a breakfast. Nothing, not a single glimpse.
She felt foolish. He had advised her that he had to attend to business, but now she was feeling abandoned. It was all so confusing.
Alone—together, to be alone once again. A feeling of absolute isolation had permeated her very being. No matter the crowd, she was feeling desperately alone. She had even neglected her work on the literary club. Her interest interrupted by her unhealthy infatuation with
him
. She was unquestionably looking forward to seeing him again even if she were in trousers. His scent, his laugh, his touch.
“
Once again you are putting me in a very difficult position,” Chester whined. “I can’t believe you allowed me to agree to this meeting! Why didn’t you stop me! When I received a
personal
message from Rockwell this morning verifying that we would both be meeting him at Tattersall’s, nearly collapsed. He even offered to send ‘round his carriage!” His eyes were wide with anxiousness and wonder.
Her eyebrows snapped together. “I’ve put you in a difficult position? Damnation Chester, you’re going to wear out the pavement.” Piper rolled her eyes. “Chester, how did I put you in a very difficult position? I tried to stop you. I tried to remind you that
George Smith
wasn’t a real
person
. But you are so infatuated with Lord Rockwell; it was as if I hadn’t spoken a word.”
She glared intensely at her cousin, standing with her hands planted firmly on her hips; a frustrated look was evident in her stormy blue eyes. “I don’t know what has you so upset?” She glanced down, gesturing to her person. “I’m the one wearing trousers again today. In broad daylight no less. At
Tattersall’s
of all places, for goodness sakes! Every gentleman worth his salt is here today. Lord Lansdowne is auctioning off one of his prized mounts to pay down his debts and there is not a single gentleman who isn’t drooling in anticipation that they will soon be the new owner. The whole of England will be here today and I am going to be run off to the continent or worse, America!” She flushed with anger. “But of course, I am concerned with
your
feelings. How are
you
feeling today Chester? I hope
you
are not too uncomfortable, not once today have you thought of my comfort.” Her sarcastic tone was finally met by Chester’s ears. “All because
you
are flattered that
Rock
invited
you
to share this momentous occasion and
you
cannot bear to be out of
Rock’s
presence for more than five whole minutes? You are wearing me out, Chester!” she practically screeched at her cousin. “I swear if you say one more thing, just one more thing, I will draw your cork!”
“
Tsk, tsk, Piper, your language has turned quite atrocious.” Chester smothered a chuckle with his gloved hand. “Very unlady like, indeed.”
“
Well, I’m not a lady today, am I?” Piper growled, stomping her feet in the process.
Standing near, he assessed her more closely, his eyes going wide. She froze as she heard a familiar voice rumble close to her left ear. “Ah…there both you
gentlemen
are.” Inclining his head with what appeared to Piper as a hint of mischief in his smile. I had not realized we were dancing a jig at this auction today?” Humorously referring to her stomping fit.
“
Good afternoon, my lord,” Piper said, pulling her shoulders back. “
Ahem
…there was a bee…” Piper deepened her voice, willing the flush she could feel from spreading to her already overheated cheeks.
He studied her through narrowed eyes. He being the notorious rake that he was rumored to be, surprised that he had not immediately seen her for what she was, a woman. He would know those eyes anywhere, her scent, her voice...he leaned forward with interest, allowing his hard muscular chest to deliberately brush against her shoulder, his whole body tightening in response. Every one of his instincts cried out to draw her closer, to pull her close against him, to gather her softness against his hardness.
Piper was immediately conscious of his body pressed tightly against her, she shifted her bottom. Completely exhilarated and frustrated with the whole situation, Piper forgot her timidity. “My lord,” she grunted, inclining her head acerbically, wriggling her bottom once again.
Biting back a grin and a groan, but unable to hide the humor in his amber eyes as they ran languidly over her body Graydon replied, “My ears were burning quite heatedly. Did I hear my name taken in vain?” Leaning even closer, she could feel his warm breath as he whispered for her only, “I’m very glad you were able to make it today. I’ve had an intense longing to see you again,
George
.” He drawled his voice little more than a whisper. He had to fight the urge to lick her neck. He was burning with hunger for the taste of her sweetness.
Her eyes flew wide open and a slow stain of color spread across her skin as all the air vanished from her lungs. She stiffened at his closeness and his words. She lost the battle with the color seeping into her cheeks, her color heightened as her blue eyes came up, sharp. Confusion was apparent on her face. “Whatever are you talking about, Lord Rockwell?” she gritted back to him completely flummoxed by his actions. Suddenly stifling in the courtyard, not even a hint of a breeze stirred the air. She pulled at her collar in an attempt to cool herself and ease her jumpiness.
“
You’ll ruin your cravat if you don’t stop fussing,” he reminded her with a chuckle. “It looks as if your valet spent an inordinate amount of time tying that intricate knot.”
“
Yes, of course—of course.” She tried to step away, to put more distance between them, but now with her back nearly pressed to one of the brick walls she was well and truly trapped. She nearly jumped as she felt his large, warm hand skim down her back and cup her bottom. She squeaked out an ‘oh!’ sucking in a deep breath. She took another deep breath and tried to appear calm. Her voice died in her throat. He was in front of her, his big muscular body pressed against her breast. She swallowed. His body touched hers, like a flash of fire.
His wolfish smile that screamed danger spread across his face as he said in a husky whisper, “I’ve never known a man’s arse to look so good in a pair of buckskins, so round, so voluptuous for such a young man.” Pinching her cheek then running a hand caressingly over her bottom once more before he stepped away. This jest he was playing on Piper had his body reacting with primal male hunger, hardening with instant lust the minute he laid eyes on her. He felt his blood thickening in his veins and he had an almost undeniable urge to trap her against the wall and kiss her senseless. Crowd be damned. His penetrating look took on a frowning expression of bewilderment. What of his reputation if he were caught kissing a young gentleman? He almost chuckled aloud thinking of what his mother would say.
Once again, she tried to put distance between them, but he stopped her. His hands left a trail of fire as they moved down her arms.
Piper’s eyes widened with shock, her delicate features shadowed. “M-m-my lord?” She expelled a shaky breath and looked around, sure that his alarming attentions had been noticed. She was surprised that he would try something so outrageous in such a public place. “What are you doing?” she hissed, attempting another tactic. “Take your hands off of me!” She looked straight at him with her brows furrowed. “What are you doing, my lord?” She was clearly still puzzled. He was such a shockingly handsome man with a formidable reputation as a womanizer. “What about all the rumors…” She stopped herself before she finished her thought squeezing her eyes shut.
He has to know! I’ve read about such things, but I would have never dreamed that Lord Rockwell was…I don’t know…a molly? My dumb luck. The man I’m attracted to secretly attracted to other men? Perhaps that was why he tried so hard to soil his reputation?
Piper groaned audibly.
How dreadfully disappointed she was.
Graydon knew what he was doing was so wrong, but he was determined to shock her. He thought his plan was quite brilliant. His broad, muscled chest rising and falling with quick breaths as his hooded eyes roamed suggestively over her figure, lazily perusing every inch. “I’m sure there are quite a few things that you do not know about me on such short an acquaintance.” He shrugged a broad shoulder and motioned for a footman to bring him a drink.
She slowly backed out of his reach, her eyes narrowed, moving restlessly around the courtyard; she was forced to stop suddenly when she backed into something. Glancing quickly over her shoulder, she let out a deep breath when she realized she had backed into her cousin. Turning suddenly she exhaled a deep breath when she looked into Chester’s eyes. Piper tugged unconsciously on her ear as a sudden pounding began in her head.
“
Whoa, Pi…George!” Chester glared at her as she caught his almost slip. “My valet will be quite upset if you scuff my new boots.” Looking up his eyes met Graydon’s, “My lord,” bowing elegantly, “Fine day for a sale.” His eyes gleamed with excitement. “You are planning on bidding today?”
“
Portland,” He acknowledged, nodding his head. “I might.” Graydon’s eyes never left Piper. “I’ve recently met someone who loves to ride. I was thinking of adding an extra mare to my stables for future use.”
“
A new lady friend, Rockwell?” Chester grinned.
“
Perhaps.” His eyes seemed to glow more brightly as he looked deeply into Piper’s eyes.
“
Well that don’t surprise me,” Chester returned. “You’ve always had the finest ladies on your arm,” he said absently, looking around all goggle-eyed. He was content to be standing next to Lord Rockwell himself.