Authors: Nichole Matthews
Piper’s hand flew to her mouth again, a wild panic flared in her eyes, she held her breath.
“
Listen carefully, sweetheart.” He cleared his throat. “I haven’t offered anyone a
carte blanche
.” The words left his mouth as if he loathed them. His gaze settled on her lips. Stepping forward he grasped her hand, squeezing it. “How can you think I would offer someone
carte blanche
when all I can think about is you?” His gaze searched her face. “I like you a lot.”
Her soft mouth made the perfect little O. “You l—l—like me a lot?” She stammered, watching the lines deepen next to his mouth the knot in her stomach eased a fraction.
“
Yes,” he murmured, one eyebrow cocked, before his grin turned into a full-fledged smile. “I told you that I’ve dreamed of you for years, yet you still believe me capable of taking your innocence one night and offering
carte blanche
to another woman the next day?”
“
You probably say that to all the ladies you are trying to seduce?” She whispered.
“
Do you trust me to be honest with you?”
“
I do trust you,” she quickly responded, startled because the words were true. Piper finally smiled, her shoulders fell, slumping with relief.
“
What do you mean trying to seduce?” His mouth quirked up in a lopsided grin. “I would hope after what we shared last night, it would be completely obvious where my feelings lie?” His gaze devoured her, from her head all the way down to her toes.
She threw up her hands in bafflement. “But you do this type of
thing
all the time, Graydon!” Her stomach clenched with anxiety.
“
I won’t deny that I have been with other women. I have never claimed to be a monk.” He crossed his arms, his hot gaze boring into her. “But I don’t do
this
all the time,” he echoed, stepping closer. His hands framed her face. “You’re the first.”
“
Oh,” she whispered.
“
No other woman besides my family has been in
my
house or in
my
library and especially not in
my
bedroom.” He offered her a reassuring smile.
Her eyelids fluttered closed when he gently brushed the back of his hand over her cheek, his knuckles softly skimming over her skin causing her body to hum with desire.
Her body slowly relaxed into his, her arms snuck under his coat to tighten around his lean waist. She leaned into him and felt the heaviness of his erection pressing into her belly through their clothes.
He kissed the top of her head, tucking her snugly in the crook of his arm, rubbing soft circles over her back.
She looked up to see the satisfied grin on his face before he lowered his head at the exact moment she rose on her tiptoes to meet him. His lips pressed hot and hungry against her mouth, a soothing balm to her wounded spirit. The taste of him was an elixir bringing every nerve in her body to life, and now she was definitely remembering last night as the unmistakable flare of intense desire spread throughout her body.
Graydon pulled her closer, nearly crushing her in his eagerness. Forcing up his head, he stared down at her. “God, I want you,” he muttered, taking her mouth, his tongue plunged forcefully into her warmth, demanding her full participation.
She slid her hands up over his shoulders, wrapping her arms around his neck burying her fingers in his hair, the silken strands wrapping around her skin; she stretched up and opened her mouth for him. Angling her lips, she forced the kiss deeper, fanning the flames licking between them.
He kissed her, deeply, the intense masculine taste of him and brandy filling her mouth, overwhelming her senses, sending her blood thrumming through her veins with a dizzying, frenzied demand. She raised her arms and laid her palm against his jaw stroking over the hint of coarse stubble covering his skin.
His mouth never leaving hers, his hands lowered, his fingers flexed about her waist. Lifting her off the ground, he gently placed her on the edge of his massive mahogany desk, her hips anchored between his hands. He drew his lips from hers, tracing kisses down her elegant neck. She arched her head back so he could lick the thudding pulse at the base of her throat. Letting his hands slide down, around, he closed them about the globes of her bottom, kneading her firm flesh, rocking his already throbbing cock into the cradle of her hot, pulsing flesh.
Piper inhaled sharply, the sensations of Graydon’s mouth on her skin…his hands…his breath…dragging her fingertips all the way down his spine she gripped his waist tightly, holding on with every ounce of strength she possessed.
Every muscle went rigid beneath her caress; the impact of her touch was jarring. He sucked in his breath, longing to feel her sweet touch against his naked skin, but now was not the time or the place.
“
Piper,” he spoke her name in a hoarse rasp. “You’re perfect,” he muttered thickly.
She gasped, but didn’t pull away entranced by the sensual haze that wreathed them when he released his hold on her to kneel in front of her on the floor.
He ran his hands down her thighs, over her knees slowly down until his long fingers reached beneath the edge of her skirt to encircle her ankles. He then changed direction and let his hands lightly skim over her silk covered legs until he put his hands over her knees and pushed her legs open.
“
Ah,” he breathed. The scent of her arousal coiled through his very fiber, feeding his most primal need. Slowly he slid his hands to the front of her thighs, touching her bare skin, spreading them wide. His fingers moved, touching her intimately, and she felt a flash of pleasure. She was hot and damp and ready for him and he gave her no mercy, his long fingers sliding into her with hot, delicious friction. She was gloriously wet. She was tight, very tight. He withdrew his fingers, leaning in to nuzzle the hollow between her legs, ruffling the nest of dark curls that hid her fully from view, with his hot breath. Tugging her forward until her plump, pink wetness was in reach of his mouth.
“
What—what are you doing?” She cried out in confusion.
“
I have to taste you.”
She held her breath, but unable to control her squirming hips while his hands and mouth roamed over her sensitized skin. “Graydon,” she moaned unable to say more. Finally. She felt his tongue rasp against her skin, tracing her swollen flesh, parting her softness to taste her, his tongue danced over her, flicking with rapid strokes. She closed her eyes, absorbed in the touch, the feel of his mouth, letting herself feel each stroke of his agile tongue. “Oh, God, Gray.” She moistened her lips, all but melting as she leaned back on her elbows her breath expelling rapidly. “Scandalous…”
He glanced up at her, and she saw his wicked smile and without a single word he spread her even wider, nuzzling the moist, sensitive folds as his tongue found her entrance and thrust deep into her sex, opening her with his mouth to feast on her eagerly, to taste her fully, the taste of her flooding him as he tormented her with his teeth and tongue.
“
Please,” she whispered. Scraping her fingers into his hair, encouraging him to continue his adulation, arching wildly, her frantic movements increased the delight until she cried out as an explosion ripped through her, she shattered, fell back panting, uttering little cries of pleasure. Her hands landed palm-down on the desk, limp.
Rising, he undid his fall, releasing the rigid, throbbing length of his sex from the already uncomfortable confines of his trousers, lifting one of her knees, then the other, his palm tracing over her ribbon garters down her silk covered legs once again until his fingers clamped around her ankles. Lifting her feet he unlaced her kid half-boots and tossed them to the floor before planting her stocking-clad feet flat on the top of the desk. Hooking his hands behind her knees, he tugged her even closer to the edge of the desk.
He leaned over her, running his hand from her collarbone down the valley of her breasts until his hand splayed across her belly. He could feel her stomach jump as quivers of anticipation leapt under his palm. He was ready to bury himself inside her, his hand guiding the head of his erection into her plump cleft, her swollen flesh surrounding his erection as he sank himself deep in one powerful thrust.
Piper cried out, her entire body softening and opening to take him, to sheath him inside her. She shook her head from side to side, pressing her feet flat on the desk, arching her back as she cried out, squeezing him, her muscle tightening at his invasion.
He cupped her muslin-covered breasts, moving his thumbs over the hardening nipples, muslin and flesh sliding back and forth in delicious friction. His mouth closed hotly around one cotton-covered nipple sending a surge of response lower down, between her legs. He tugged down her bodice, her soft pink puckered nipples exposed to his hungry eyes. He dipped his head and put his mouth on her breast, sucking her nipple into his mouth at the same time he thrust into her slow and hard, each slow, steady tug of his mouth at her breast keeping perfect time with each stroke of his staff.
Graydon thrust into her slow and hard, watching the way she bit her lip and clenched her hands.
Dark waves washed over Piper as throbbing spasms of completion radiated out from inside her. His strokes quickened as her legs wrapped around his hips. She pressed herself into his engorged length, feeling the bright pressure building, tightening until it came to a crashing end as waves of pleasure rippled deep within her.
“
God.” The word came out a breathless shudder before her fractured cry of pleasure threatened to summon his whole house.
Graydon captured her cries with a long, hard and deep kiss. He devoured her with his mouth, absorbing her essence. His tongue was deep in her mouth, ravishing, probing, hot and unrelenting. Even her fantastic climax not enough to assuage his incredible hunger for her.
He filled her, drove deep within her one last time, and then he went still, groaning as his liquid heat filled her. Struggling to take in air, he fought to clear his wits.
“
Piper,” his voice was ragged; his lungs were still too tight, his head dropped, resting on her stomach.
She could feel the harshness of his breathing, could feel his chest rise and fall. She sucked in a breath, then took slow even drags of air in an attempt to slow her own heartbeat.
Both jumped when a quick knock interrupted them.
Graydon cursed. “Yes?” His lips twitched.
“
Lady Rockwell and your sisters have arrived, my lord.” Wells answered anxiously through the door.
Piper emitted a soft gasp pushing up to a seated position, a flush staining her cheeks.
Grinning at Piper, he gave a helpless shrug. “See them to the Green Salon.” He replied, humor warmed his voice. He shoved his shirt into his trousers before he fastened them.
Piper tried unsuccessfully to stifle a giggle so Graydon assisted by fastening his mouth atop hers keeping the kiss light—teasing, tantalizing. Lifting his head, he grinned at her again.
“
Yes, my lord.”
He tugged down her skirt, then straightened her bodice. Extending his hand to her, he helped her down from the desk.
Piper sighed, she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her.
Then turning her hand over on his palm, he raised it to his lips, pressing a warm kiss to her wrist. He held her hand to his cheek and found himself grinning like a fool. “Sweetheart, I’ll meet you at Almack’s tomorrow night.”
“
You are actually going to enter the
seventh heaven of the fashionable world
?” She stared fascinated, her right hand pressed to her heart. “You’re going to cause the patrons to have an apoplexy.”
He burst into laughter, stunning her with the rich, husky sound.
“
I’m surprised your voucher has not yet been revoked?”
“
My darling, haven’t you heard? I’m a dying breed. I’m relatively young, wildly attractive,” He raised his brow comically. “a peer of the realm, and obscenely rich, my voucher will never be revoked.”
“
You left out shamefully arrogant.”
“
Of course that is implied.” Tenderly, he brushed a finger across her lips. “Follow my lead.” He lowered his head, brushed her lips with his a final time before opening the door and peeking into the hallway to make sure the way was clear.
His long, warm fingers slid around her wrist, closed over her rapidly beating pulse as they slipped into the hallway, scurrying to the front door, snatching her pelisse and parasol from a waiting footman, she slipped out before anyone spied her.
Graydon caught himself staring at the closed door for what seemed like hours.
Perfect
. She was perfect. She challenged him. She made him feel alive. She made him long for the unmentionable.
Returning to his library for a moment to compose himself, he caught a glimpse of a folded piece of paper lying on the floor.
Be very careful.
I’m watching you.
W
“
Fuck!” He growled, stuffing the note in his pocket. “Well’s!”