Seduce Me Please (26 page)

Tilting her head, Piper’s eyes narrowed as she watched Rockwell shifting uncomfortably on the ground. “Are you quite certain you’re comfortable, my lord?” She fixed him with a questioning look. “If not, I’m sure we could find more agreeable surroundings for our
tête-à-tête.
” She inclined her head towards the terrace where groupings of cushioned seats had been artfully arranged for added comfort.

“
That won’t be necessary, my lady. I cannot think of any other surrounding I would prefer.” Graydon flashed a wicked grin. “Believe me when I say, that this hard earth beneath me has nothing to do with any discomfiture I might currently be experiencing.”

Suddenly a shy grin appeared on Piper’s lips, her cheeks turning pink when she realized that he was not speaking of the ground beneath them both. Her eyes searched his, clearing her throat. “You are teasing me, my lord.” Her voice trailed away.

“
I am not.” Looking up, Graydon was relieved to see a clear opportunity to deliberately change the subject. “I hadn’t realized
your
aunt and
my
mother were such intimate acquaintances.”

“
I was unaware as well.” Piper glanced over her shoulder, “My aunt never spoke of a friendship with your mother, but everyone mingles with everyone at this function. It’s hardly surprising they would take a moment to acknowledge one another.”

“
They do appear quite chummy.” A faint smile quirked up his lips, his voice then dropped to whisper. “They look to be conspiring.”

“
What could they possibly be conspiring about?” Piper’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the two women sitting on the terrace, their heads pressed close together. “Now that you mention it, my lord, they do appear to be sharing some sort of intimacy. Should we be worried?”

“
Whatever could it be?” He winked at her, shooting her a knowing look.

“
Oh, for pity’s sake.” She swiveled her head to examine the two women once again. “Surely not!” She was going to have a long chat with Auntie Adele.

“
I can believe it,” he said before switching to his side. “My mother is beyond desperate to see me wed.” He pulled a long blade of grass and stuck it between his teeth, one corner of his lips tipped up in a grin. “I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

She cast him a sidelong look; a mock troubled frown puckered her brow. “I’m appalled. Surely they are not conspiring about the two of us?”

He plucked the blade of grass from his mouth as a genuine smile appeared. “I have you know, Lady Piper, I’m considered quite the catch.”

“
Balderdash!” She leaned across and swatted him with her ivory-handled fan. Watching as the wind ruffled lazily through his golden hair; giving him a boyish, yet rakishly disheveled appearance.

“
I hate to spoil your opinion of me, but all I say is true.” His voice lowered once again to a whisper. “I’d be more than happy to show you what a catch I truly am.” His gaze fairly glowed with molten heat as he reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers.

She raised one brow and assumed a haughty expression. “You’re a devil, my lord.” She breathed; laughter in her eyes.

He was enjoying himself, but if he ever stopped thinking with his cock he might keep himself out of trouble. Oh, but she was a beauty. And with the sun a halo behind her head, she appeared an angel to his devil. And he felt like being a devil today. “You have no idea how much of a devil I can be.” His thumb rubbed idly across the back of her hand.

She flashed him a heated look, licking her dry lips.

His eyes darkened with need as he watched her pink tongue flick out to moisten her lips. “Oh, that can’t be good.” Graydon said, his flippancy seemed forced.

Piper turned around to spot Miss Harris and Esme joining his mother and her aunt at their wrought-iron table on the terrace. Bright smiles on their faces and cool glasses of lemonade in their hands. Her gaze drifted back to Rockwell, a question in her eyes.

He grimaced. “My sister and my mother together.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Along with my aunt and my companion.”

A warm smile took hold, transforming Graydon’s entire face. “I like your aunt. She is a very wise and special woman.”

“
That comment, Lord Rockwell, makes me quite nervous.”

Dropping her hand, he settled as far away from her as possible. Replacing his wicked grin with what he hoped would pass for a staid and proper expression. “Perhaps we should speak of more innocuous subjects.” Then he proceeded to make her giggle with sensational tales of his boyhood. Spinning what Piper could only imagine were wild yarns for her entertainment alone.

…………………………………………
..

Sometime later, Lady Rockwell and Lady Peregrine sat in companionable silence on the terrace sipping their cool glasses of lemonade; the corners of their mouths lifted with the hint of a smile, the gossiping ladies surrounding them all but forgotten.

Lady Rockwell winked at Lady Peregrine, then watched as an unadulterated smile spread across her only son’s face.
Thank heavens!

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I know I should stop, but I cannot. Not only am I completely infatuated with Rockwell, I’m desperate to see his orrery. It will be my little secret and he will be none the wiser.

Piper’s journal

5 August

“
MY WORD,” PIPER UTTERED, her cheeks puffed out as she expelled her pent up breath. She stared up at Rockwell’s imposing home on Curzon Street. Six imposing stories of brick and stone, what did he need all this room for? This wasn’t even his families’ mansion; this was his private abode. “I truly must go home.” There was no way she was going into his home alone. She couldn’t trust herself, but just as she turned to go, the door was opened by his silver haired butler.

“
Mr. Smith, I presume.” He held out his hand to accept her hat and overcoat. “Lord Rockwell will be with you in a moment.” He led her down the hall.

Piper paced in what appeared to be Rockwell’s study walking in circles around the room but not really seeing anything. She was so nervous; she could feel a drop of sweat sliding down her spine.
Why am I here?
But she knew why she was there. She wanted to take him up on his challenge. She wanted to truly see how much of a devil he truly was. Now if only she could figure out how to seduce
him
, the biggest rake in all of London, even though she was currently dressed as a man. Gnawing on her bottom lip, she tapped her chin and continued her worried pacing, pondering the dilemma she found herself embroiled in.

She shouldn’t be here, then again maybe she should. Maybe this was her destiny?

“
You don’t seem yourself today,
George
.”

Piper nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice, turning she saw Rockwell lounging in the doorway a mischievous light glowing in his eyes.

“
I’m not for sure what you mean?” She swallowed nervously.

“
You seem a little restless.”

“
Not at all, my lord.” For the first time, she was truly alone with the man and she was dressed in men’s attire. Did that truly matter? She was almost positive he knew she was a woman. Did he realize that he was torturing them both by dragging out her charade?

He straightened, folding his arms across his chest, studying George through penetrating amber-gold eyes. “There’s something I believe you will find very interesting in my library,
George
.”

“
What could I possibly find interesting in your library?” She questioned even though she couldn’t stop the intrigue from reflecting in her tone. Her little spectacles slipped down the bridge of her nose and she nudged them up again. “I can only guess ‘tis full of dull books. What need have I to view more of those?”

“
Come now, George.” Graydon ran his hand over his square jaw, missing nothing of his guest’s distress. “No interest at all?” He grinned. “Not an inkling of yearning?” He held his fingers up to measure the need.

“
None, whatsoever, my lord,” she said defensively, shaking her head; her arms crossed in a protective gesture over her chest. She tried to relax. She tried to act normal, but the excited tingling in her core only enhanced her nervousness tenfold.

“
I don’t believe you, but that is neither here nor there.” Graydon studied Piper for one long, thoughtful moment, shrugging. “Indulge me.” Stepping out into the hall, he gestured towards a door that stood open leaving her little choice.

Ushering her through the door of his study, down the hall and into his library which housed all of his private collections, he steered her into his own private sanctuary. No one came in here, save his immediate family. He couldn’t keep his younger sisters out even if he tried and he definitely wanted to remember
George
here. That thought set his blood pounding, and a heavy ache to settle hotly in his loins. Honestly, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. His whole body craved release. He felt ready to explode.

The wary look she was giving him did little to soothe his throbbing cock. Did she even know that he had been walking around painfully aroused for weeks? He had no doubt that she wanted him, but she was also much too innocent to know what to ask for. She was the most unbelievably desirable minx, especially when garbed in fitted men’s trousers. She was wreaking havoc on what little self-control remained, which wasn’t saying much.

Piper took a quick survey of her surroundings, finding she was standing in the dark, extremely masculine room, exactly what she would have expected from him. Stuffed to overflowing, the lingering smell of cigar smoke permeated the room, and the dark paneled walls leant an air of mystery about the place creating pockets of deep shadows.

Walking further into the room she stopped at one of the end tables and turned over the book lying on top. Turning around she looked up into Graydon’s eyes. “
Frankenstein?
”

“
I’m finding the story rather intriguing.” He stated. “Have you by chance read it?”

“
I have.” She pulled on her ear nervously. “What did you want to show me?”

“
Would you care for a drink, George?” Graydon asked, closing the door softly behind them. He bit back a smile when Piper froze at the sound of the metallic click of the key in the lock, its sound echoing loudly in the quiet of the night.

“
N-n-no, thank you,” she managed.

As he advanced towards her, her trembling increased. Slowly she backed up until she bumped into one of the ladders propped against the shelves. He prowled towards her, laying one hand above her on the bookcase and gave her a long hard look. “I’m in an exceedingly poor temper this evening.” He said thickly, his nostrils flaring.

“
W—w—why is that, my lord?” She said hoarsely, her lashes dropped, hiding her eyes as she nervously caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

Suddenly his other hand came up on the bookcase on the other side of her head, trapping her.

She took an involuntary step backward, but further retreat was made impossible by the heavy shelf of books at her back. All the air vanished from her lungs, her hand pushed against his chest in an attempt to keep enough space between them, but he was immoveable. With her hand pressed against him, she could feel the coiled strength in every rigid muscle beneath her palm.

“
Is everything all right, my lord?” She managed, before she was sure her nervousness would overtake her rational mind. She was becoming light-headed, she was not going to faint. She wouldn’t allow it.

His stare intensified. “I’m in a poor temper because I am at a loss on how to tell my mother that I am extremely attracted to a young man.” He took a step closer with a mystified look in his eyes. “This has never happened to me before. I’ve never been attracted to a man—ever. I am perplexed. I had no idea this tendency ran through my blood. I’m known for my voracious sexual appetites, but never this.” His fingers brushed the curls at her nape sending shivers down her spine. “This will be a first for me, but you are the one. No matter male or female. My mother will be disappointed of course, but she’ll get over it. When you first smiled I knew there could be no one else for me, except for you.” Taking another step closer he kneed her thighs apart. “I’ll let you leave here right now the way you came, nothing lost. But with feelings like this, I couldn’t imagine wasting another day wondering what could be.” His regard was raw, hungry.

“
My lord,” Piper’s eyes widened in astonishment her cheeks flushed, “What maggot have you gotten into your head?” She was squirming, causing delicious friction for his already throbbing erection. This little game excited him too much.

“
You don’t have to call me my lord anymore. I think we’ve moved past all this stiff formality, don’t you think so,
George
? Call me Graydon. I’m dying to hear my name fall from your lips.” His smile seemed amused. Raising his hand, he ran his finger across her bottom lip.