Authors: Nichole Matthews
She tapped her chin in thought, tilting her head to one side as if she were studying him. “Then I believe I should be able to count myself somewhat of an expert on the subject. I should have the ability to spot one from a mile away.” She squared her shoulders and timidly closed the short distance between them, her hands fisted in her shirt. “And my conclusion still remains the same; I don’t think you a bastard at all.”
He chuckled, all the while wondering how she would react if she knew that she was exposing herself to his hungry eyes with her nervous hands fisted in his shirt? He also wondered if she knew how dangerous her innocent seduction truly was.
Tension rippled between them in the quiet of his chambers until she finally stood before him. Her bottom lip caught innocently between her teeth.
She stopped in front of him, very close to him, and her gaze moved instinctively to his mouth. “I think you are loving, kind, and brilliant.”
Being in his room made her feel daring and bold, her blue eyes were wide with wonder. Just as in her room, there were half-dozen books sitting on his nightstand along with a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles.
In here she met the true Earl of Rockwell, not the façade he manifested for Society.
Smoothing her palms over his hair roughened chest, she marveled at the impossible strength beneath her hands. Leaning forward she placed a tender kiss above his heart, inhaling his masculinity, absorbing his warmth. Greedily she reached for the closures on his trousers, releasing his fall, watching his eyes darken at her boldness.
His mouth only a few inches from her own, “My innocent seductress,” he said in a rough whisper before he leaned in and kissed her. Graydon smiled against her mouth.
Her eyes closed. She made a tiny humming sound as she wiggled against him.
He reached for her; drawing her to him, gripping her thighs, kneading them with his hot hands, running up and over the globes of her bare bottom. Raising her shirt, he drew it up, over her head. She raised her arms, slid them free.
He lifted her until she was able to wrap her legs around his waist,carrying her backwards to the bed. Depositing her on the edge, following her down, one knee on either side of her hips he pressed her back deep into the mattress.
Passion surrounded them as their gazes clashed.
Her lashes flickered. “I’m beginning to enjoy this season more and more.” Her voice was a mere whisper.
He chuckled and looked genuinely amused. The feel of her body beneath his was soft and warm and intensely feminine and perfect. “God,” he muttered. “What you do to me defies explanation.” His body shook with raw need. “You torture me.” His hands started at her throat and worked their way down until he cupped her exquisite breast, his fingers wrapped over their soft curves. His thumb circled her nipple, flicking at it until she cried out in pleasure. “You’re the most beautiful woman in England.”
She smiled down at him, her brow lifted. “Just England?” She asked airily, feeling suddenly very naughty.
“
Well, I haven’t traveled
everywhere
as of yet.”
Piper gurgled with laughter as she stayed stretched out on the bed, gazing up at him.
He bent his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth, then his teeth scraped across the sensitive nub. Glancing into her face, “I’ve heard there are amazingly beautiful women in India with black flowing hair…” He chuckled when she hit him across the shoulder.
“
Oh, I, uh…” She panted, her fists curled deep into the silk coverlet. Her breasts rose and fell with each rapid breathe, arching her back; her dark rose nipples highlighted by her alabaster skin thrust forward pouting in anticipation. He covered them with his palms, kneading until she begged and he heard her plea, moving to the other nipple, lavishing just as much attention there.
He backed off the bed and with a few impatient flicks of his wrists and a quick tug, he shoved his trousers down to free his rigid manhood. He kicked them away before climbing back up next to her, leaning over to kiss her mouth, roughly. Plunging his tongue deep into her until her tongue met his and mated. Her warm, moist mouth tasted so good he soaked it all in.
“
Please,” she begged unabashedly, lolling her head from side to side.
His palms slid up and down her hips before slowly easing one hand between her thighs, sliding up the inside of her legs pushing her thighs apart to cup her mound.
She gasped into his mouth, meeting his passionate demands. The muscles of her stomach jumped when he began combing through the damp curls shielding her sleek wetness spreading it around. Her breathing quickened further and her legs fell open even more as his nimble fingers stroked her pulsing warmth heightening her arousal.
“
Oh, God.” His caress was rough and warm. Her body trembled with need, her cleft slick and hot.
“
I want you, Gray.” Her voice a husky, sensual rasp as she lay back helplessly across his bed, her bare body very white against the blue coverlet as his fingers created a delicious friction over her heated flesh, swollen and slick.
“
It’s too soon.” He panted. “You’ll be sore.” Graydon cleared his gruff throat; he was already hot and painfully aroused, his fingers hovering over her entrance.
“
Graydon.” She managed to say in a breathless rasp, her pink tongue darting out moistening her suddenly dry lips.
Parting her folds to delve inside, her body tightened unbearably as he stroked. A wave of delight built deep in her loins when she laid her hands, palms flat, on the hard planes of his chest and slowly eased them down his ridged stomach along the trail of hair leading to his erect penis, then stopping. A deeper flush flared in her cheeks. Her awkward smile disarmed him.
“
Please touch me,” he growled in a voice that barely sounded like his own, grasping her hand he guided her fingers to his erection. Groaning, he closed his eyes and tried to think of anything but her small hand wrapped around his manhood.
Piper’s eyes widened, her small hand wrapped tightly around the velvety soft, steel shaft jutting from between his thighs, it jumped, throbbing against her hand. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth when he seemingly grew larger beneath her very touch. Eagerly exploring the feel of it, heard his sharp intake of breath and a strangled moan as sensations jolted through him. She was thrilled at his response to her explorations, to know that he was as eager for her touch.
“
Piper,” he breathed her name, his eyes glinting when he caught her hand and gently removed her hand from his throbbing flesh. “Stop, I cannot last much longer.” He was on fire, his blood running hot, his rock hard flesh aching with the agonizing need to be inside her tight sheath, to be one with her.
She lay beneath him, once again flesh met flesh and sparks turned into a raging inferno. Her body strung so tight she thought she might explode when he pressed against her making sure she felt the hot ridge of his arousal, his breath ragged as he ran his hands down her back dipping into the indention at her waist to up her bottom.
“
Hurry,” she managed her voice weak with a surge of passionate need. A tremor shook her body, her eyes closed and she sighed deeply as he finally eased into her.
She arched up as Graydon entered her, winding her legs around him to take him deeper.
He reveled in her eagerness as he began to stroke her, and her hips met his in a desperate tempo, rising up in quest of every inch of him.
There was no reason, no thought as he buried himself deeply. “Look at me Piper.”
She opened her eyes, fixing her gaze on his, tilting her hips to encourage his driving need. Raising her hands, she set them on his shoulders, circling his shoulders, tracing every muscle, every inch of skin over his hips until she gripped the taut flesh of his backside. “You are the most beautiful man in all of England,” she murmured touching her tongue to his nipples.
He jerked at the touch of her tongue hearing himself cry out.
“
Do you like that, Graydon?” She whispered, licking and nipping at his beaded nipple again.
“
God, yes.” He smiled down at her, the sound of his name an endearment from her lips. His eyes roamed her face fixing themselves on her lips before taking her mouth in a long, slow kiss. His hips rocked slowly against her then more quickly, his thrusts becoming stronger. Angling his hips to press deeper, rubbing against her pleasure nub, the thrust of his hips forcing her deeper into the mattress.
Piper’s breathing grew even more ragged at the same time his thrusts grew more intense, suddenly she felt her inner muscles beginning to clench involuntarily about him, clinging, her nails digging into his arms, savoring each wave of delicious pleasure that washed over her when Graydon threw back his head with a roar, driving into her.
“
Christ,” he breathed, seconds before he collapsed in her arms.
…
.………………………….
Quietly Piper slipped back into her clothes, trying her best to not wake him. With a bright smile she slipped out into the dawn.
………………………………………
..
I saw who left your house this morning. What do you suppose will happen to her if the ton finds out? She will be ruined.
W
CHAPTER TWENTY
I will never be the same again. There is nothing save death that could remove those memories from my mind.
Piper’s journal
6 August
“
I MUST SEE MY SISTER, IMMEDIATELY,” Piper anxiously requested of Harris, Poppy’s butler. “She’s in the breakfast parlor, my lady.”
Poppy looked at her sister in surprise when Piper walked into the breakfast parlor.
“
I must speak with you immediately.” Piper skidded to a halt when she spied Hawksley sitting behind his freshly ironed newspaper. “Hawksley!”
Declan lowered his paper. “Good morning, Piper. To what do we owe the pleasure of your early morning visit?”
Poppy turned to her husband, “Darling, do you mind?”
Folding his paper he stood with a smile. “Of course not, love.” Leaning down he kissed her forehead. “I expect full details later,” he whispered in her ear.
She smiled up at him. “Of course.”
“
Have you had breakfast yet, Piper?” Poppy asked, looking at her through narrowed eyes. She took a sip of her morning chocolate
“
No. But I don’t think I can.” She sat across from her twin and poured a cup of chocolate.
Poppy continued, looking at her with narrowed eyes. “Well?”
She met Poppy’s gaze from across the table, her heart quickened and her cheeks heated. “I spent the night with Rockwell,” she whispered. Piper didn’t think her sister’s eyes could get any larger.
Poppy blinked as if amazed. “I’m not sure if I heard you correctly, Piper.”
After glancing at the door, she repeated what she had said, “I spent the night with Rockwell.”
Poppy’s cup rattled when she sat it down on the saucer. A dark spot stained the cloth where her chocolate had sloshed over the rim. “Did he take advantage of you, Piper?”
“
No!” She cried, before lowering her voice. “No, of course not!” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “I went to his house. He didn’t force me to do anything.”
Poppy blinked. “Is he going to marry you?” She tipped her head to one side and frowned.
“
He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask.” Piper’s blue eyes held a challenging gleam. “But I know he likes me. “ She knew how difficult it was to understand. Rockwell hadn’t shown any inclination or interest towards marriage in the past, but this was real—she knew it.
“
How do you know that he wasn’t just using you?”
She rewarded her sister with a triumphant lift of her chin. “Because he told me.”
Poppy groaned.
…………………………………
Later that same afternoon, Piper stood across the street, under the gray cloud covered sky gaping in what most would consider an embarrassing manner had she not had the discreet cover of her white parasol with lavender ribbons flapping in the slight breeze to hide her face.
Slipping her spectacles from her reticule, she had them perched on her nose just in time to watch in annoyance as
Lady Caroline Carleton breezily exited from the front door of Graydon’s townhouse, as if she strolled daintily from his home daily.
A rumble of thunder interrupted her angry glare across the street. Looking up, she watched the cloud cover increase in expectation of rain. Perfect. All she needed was to look like an
angry
drowned rat.
The perfectly timed rumble of thunder punctuated the confusion bubbling up in her. The crumpled note she clutched in her fisted hand was all but forgotten when she spied his
amoureux
exiting happily from his private abode
.
Ooh…no he doesn’t!
With a huff, Piper quickly made her way across the street and banged unceremoniously with the knocker, whipping her spectacles from her nose just as the door was opened.