Seduce Me Please

by Nichole Matthews

  Rough hands grabbed Graydon by the shoulders pulling him off Whitman’s slumped body. “He’s out. He’s out,” Parker yelled. Graydon fought him for a few seconds before controlling his rage. “Hawk and Peyton are searching the house. Calm down. We’ll find her.”

  Graydon, his face still mottled red with rage, his breath coming in jagged spurts; braced his hands on his thighs, inhaling deeply.

  “I—could—have—killed—him—with—my—bare—hands,” his voice muffled by his position and his gasps for air. “I would have killed him.”

  Parker touched his back. “We’ll deal with them later.”

  “I can’t breathe without her, Parker.” Sucking in a deep breath, he forced himself to straighten. “I can’t…I have to find her,” he whispered as an intense knot of pain and love squeezed his chest tightly, almost suffocating him. The cesspool that he had called his life was no longer sufficient. The very idea of returning to the way it was before sickened him. He would be damned if he would lose her now.

  Not now, not ever.

  “I found her,” Declan’s muffled call came from below. “She’s locked in a room in the cellar.”

  Graydon flew out of the room and down the stairs. Reaching the solid wooden door,he called loudly, “Piper, can you hear me?” His voice tinged with panic.

  Piper’s heart flew to her throat at the sound of his voice. No matter the anger or the shouting, he had come for her. “Graydon?” she asked fuzzily, sure she was dreaming.

  “Piper, love,” he cried. “Sweetheart, I’m going to get you out. I swear it,” he choked out, his voice rough with emotion. “Move away from the door.” A few seconds later the door shook as he rammed his body against it.

  She sat up straight, her heart pounding in her chest when she realized that his voice was real and not a dream.

  “Hurry Ash,” Graydon called in a gruff voice. Grunting as his body slammed into the door once again. “She’s in here.” He waved to Parker from the darkened tunnel. “She’s safe, but I cannot budge the door alone.”

  The entire doorframe shook as both their bodies struck it and then there was the groan of splintering wood as they rammed it again.

  “Piper,” Parker yelled through the heavy door. “Are you all right?” The door shuddered under the next blow.

  “Peyton,” both men bellowed. “We need you!”

  A moment later Peyton ran to the door with a set of keys dangling from his fingers. He quickly tried each one until the lock clicked. The door bursting open as Graydon lunged into the room, Piper’s brothers and the Duke of Hawksley immediately following.

  Graydon narrowed his eyes in disgust. Nausea swamped him as he looked around the tiny unfurnished room before spotting Piper crouched weakly in the far corner. Her hair hung messily around her head in clumps, her eyes full of exhaustion, but she was still the loveliest woman he had ever beheld.

  Leaning down, he grabbed her around the waist hauling her into his arms. He rushed from the dark, dank room before gathering her roughly into a crushing embrace, his arms holding her tightly against his chest.

  The room erupted.

  “Quiet!” Graydon shouted. “Oh, my love.” He pressed kisses along her forehead, her cheek, her lips. “I thought I was going to die when I found out they took you.” His voice caught. He closed his eyes as he held her tighter, but gently at the same time. Thinking that if he got her close enough the fear of almost losing her would possibly retreat. He lowered her to the ground but held her tight, the vice around his chest, slowly easing.

  She stifled a sob because she didn’t want to cry, not now. She was too exhausted to cry, but she couldn’t stop, her lips quivered as tears gathered in her eyes.

  “I’m never going to let you go, my darling. You are going to marry me so that I can watch you night and day,” he said roughly. “And then you will never be out of my sight again. I will never let you out of my sight for the rest of my life.” Graydon carefully rubbed each shoulder, kneading his way over the muscles of her back and down her arms until she sighed. “My heart couldn’t bear it,” he whispered, rubbing his cheek against her hair, stroking her back.

  She pressed her face to his chest, eyes squeezed shut weeping quietly against him as as Graydon rocked her back and forth.

  “It sounds as if you are planning to lock me away in a tower, my lord?” her question muffled against his chest.

  “Never.” He emphatically shook his head. “I will tie your wrist with mine or I will chain you to my bed so that you will be with me always, but I would never lock you away. I couldn’t bear to be away from you.”

  “I fear you will quickly grow tired of me, Gray.” Piper risked a peek up at him. The adrenaline from her rescue was quickly fading. She felt as if her knees would not be able to hold her up much longer. “I fear I’m dull as dirt.”

  “Never.” Graydon snorted, brushing a strand of hair back from her face and lightly kissing her bruised cheek. “That is laughable.”

  “Have you already procured a special license, my lord?” Her attempt at humor almost lost due to the weariness from her nights spent in the dark, damp room, she leaned into him for extra support.

  “Surely you jest.” He looked down into her pale face, glad to see she had not lost her humor, before crushing her to him. “My mother would never forgive me if I married without all the pomp due my station.” He captured her lips in a kiss so sweet it turned her legs to jelly. He saved her any further embarrassment by tightening his arms around her and deepening the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to receive his kiss like a starved woman.

  Dragging his lips from hers, his long fingers cupped her cheek. “You will marry me because you want to, not because you are feeling coerced,” his voice quiet, yet firm. “For I cannot let you go.”

  “Je suis à toi pour tout,’ Piper managed to push the words through her dry, cracked lips.

  “I’m taking you home now.” He scooped her up in his arms, carrying her through the dark passageways up the stairs and out into the bright sunshine.

  “Tell me what happened?” she whispered tiredly. Her eyelids fluttered, days in the dark making it difficult to tolerate the bright light.

  “I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.” He carried her towards his phaeton, placing her gently on the seat next to him. The whole ride home he couldn’t stop thinking about how scared he had been. He couldn’t remember feeling any truer emotions at any other time in his life. That he had almost lost Piper was almost too much to stomach, but learning that he also had a brother was overwhelming, even if he was illegitimate. His father had been a bastard. No wonder Whitman had wanted to see him pay. He couldn’t say that he wouldn’t have felt exactly the same if their situations had been reversed.

  Glancing at Piper, he smiled. She was exhausted, leaning against his arm for cushion and no doubt support. He prayed no one saw them driving through the streets, especially with the condition she was in.

  They reached Ashford House to find Poppy waiting anxiously, pacing back and forth in the foyer. She ran towards him as he carried Piper through the front door. “Oh, Rockwell, is she well?” She cried her voice raspy with emotions, tears spilled down her pale cheeks.

  “Exhausted, but well, Your Grace,” he replied. “Where shall I take her?”

  “Bring tea and warm water to Piper’s room, Bertie,” Poppy ordered, making her way to the stairs. “Follow me.”

  He carried her upstairs and laid her gently on the freshly laundered linens scented with lavender, making sure to fluff her pillow before he positioned her head in the center. Stepping back from the bed, Graydon dug his hands into his pockets, pacing back and forth at the foot of Piper’s bed as Poppy gently washed the dirt from her face and hands. He didn’t know how to describe what his heart was doing. The tight feeling in his chest foreign and one he never wanted to feel again.

  “Rockwell, go home,” Poppy begged. “You will do her no good if you expire from exhaustion.” S
he sat down in a chair near Piper’s head and began mopping her brow with a cool cloth. “There is no fever, she is just tired. Let her sleep.”

  “No,” he croaked. “I promised I would never leave her again.” He scrubbed his hand over his stubbled jaw. “I cannot break that promise so quickly.” He wanted her safe. He knew logically those that threatened him were taken care of, but emotionally he wouldn’t stop worrying until she was awake. “Surely you understand.”

  “She will understand.” Poppy threw him a sympathetic smile. “And I understand.” Slowly standing, she patted the seat she had vacated. “I on the other hand must rest for this child’s sake.” She rubbed her distended belly tenderly. “You can watch over her while I’m resting.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace.” He produced a weak smile, before he caught up her hand and pressed his lips to her fingers.

  Poppy rested her hand on his shoulder. “It is obvious that you are going to be my brother very soon, is it possible you can stop ‘Your Gracing’ me?”

  “I would like that.” He managed.

  After Poppy’s departure, the only sound to be heard was Piper’s slow, easy breathing. God how he loved her. He wondered if when she woke, she would remember his declaration when he couldn’t remember if she had even answered him.

  He whispered, “Piper, I’m on my guard for the rest of the world, but with you I’ve bared my soul.” He leaned his forehead on the mattress and prayed. He prayed for anything and everything that had to do with Piper.

  “Graydon?” Came Piper’s raspy voice seemingly from a distance. She barely remembered the carriage ride home, but she couldn’t forget Graydon’s heroic rescue, she would never forget it. He’d saved her life. She knew that Fulton and Whitman had no intention of letting her survive, they were too far gone, too angry to be reasoned with. She believed they would have just let her waste away.

  He opened his eyes not realizing he had fallen asleep until the sound of her soft voice calling his name permeated his exhaustion. Lifting his head, he noticed Piper propped up on her elbows, her blue eyes looking back at him. “Piper. My love, how are you feeling.”

  She smiled, then groaned at the pain. Reaching up she gingerly touched the bruised and swollen flesh that surrounded her right eye, swallowing hard. “As well as can be expected.” Moaning, she lay back against her pillow. “I feel like I’ve been beaten up.” She chuckled weakly.

  The tightness in Graydon’s chest eased a bit at her wit. He sat up and took her hand in his, linking their fingers. “Truly, how are you feeling? He peered closely into her eyes, waiting for her response, grimacing as his eyes roamed over the large bluish, purple bruise surrounding her eye. “You don’t have to be strong now, Piper. You’re safe.” He released her hand and poured a glass of water, holding it to her lips to quench her thirst. He watched as her throat moved with each swallow.

  When she spoke, her voice was full of emotion. “I ache everywhere.” She winced. “I’m aching in places I didn’t know that I could, my skin even hurts.” She gripped his hand tightly when she noticed her attempt at humor fell short of the mark once again.

  Taking a wet cloth from the cool water he placed it lightly over her swollen eye. “I’m so sorry, my love. I’m sorry you were hurt because of me.” Graydon shuddered, his fear of almost losing her threatened to surface once again. “I’m sorry I didn’t take the threats seriously.”

  Piper lifted her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears. “It’s not your fault, Graydon. Those men had problems that you could not have foreseen.” The cooling cloth was beginning to make her head feel better. “I’m grateful you rescued me.”

  “Thank you for not blaming me.” He managed a weak smile. “I was sitting here all night blaming myself for the suffering you had to endure because of me.”

  “Tell me, why?” She tilted her face to his. “Why were Fulton and Whitman so angry with you? What had you ever done to them?”

  Graydon began the long tale, shocking Piper with his detail. “Whitman was a by-blow from one of my father’s numerous affairs and Fulton just so happens to be the father of Roberta Carlyle’s child.”

  Piper’s eyes widened, “How did they come to know of each other?”

  “That’s the remarkable part of the story.” Graydon ran his thumb in slow circles over the back of Piper’s hand. “Two men complaining of their so-called circumstances, met by chance in a pub drowning their mutual sorrows over watered-downed ale.”

  “Then the two of them plotted this elaborate scheme just to get back at you?” Piper shook her head with astonishment.

  “Roberta and Fulton had initially started the scheming.” He shrugged. “They thought if they could cuckold some rich man to be the father of their child, then they could run off together later with all the money. Very rudimentary scheme strictly hatched for greed’s sake. And Whitman just wanted me to pay for my father’s neglect, the son paying for the sins of the father, and all that.”

  “Most definitely a simple and direct plan.” Piper was pale, but her eyes smiled. “I’m glad this mess is over.”

  “Your brother is helping out right now. He locked them away in his cellar until I can decide what I want to do.” He frowned. “Not a very easy task. I cannot decide if they were just victims of tragic circumstances or truly bad men that need to be punished.”

  “Must you decide their fate today, Gray?” Piper looked at him for a long moment, watching from beneath her lashes. “You are a compassionate man. I know you will do what is right.”

  His gaze ran over her, hot and possessive. “There are some decisions that I feel cannot wait another day for an answer,” His voice deep.

  “Is that so?” She swallowed the air around them crackling with desire.

  Locking his gaze with hers, he touched her, sliding his finger down her jaw and over her mouth. “I don’t believe you truly answered me yesterday.”

  A puzzled look passed over Piper’s face. “I didn’t?” Piper eyed Graydon thoughtfully. “I was sure I made myself fairly clear.”

  Graydon grinned a little. “So when I insisted that you were going to marry me, you said…” he trailed off waiting for Piper to finish, rubbing his forehead as if to ease tension.

  She sighed. “After all of the dramatics over the past few days, I’m going to have to think about it.” She bit her lip forestalling her smile.

  He released her hand, rising partway from his chair. “You’ll t-t-think about it?” He just stared at her aware of a twisting sensation somewhere in his chest.

  Piper grimaced as she rose up on her right elbow, still sore from her ordeal, lifting her left hand to trail over the scruffiness of his unshaven jaw. “How could I refuse such a heartfelt declaration, especially one coming from such a catch? I should be flattered to have captured a man that hundreds possibly even thousands of women have tried to tame.”

  “Piper,” he growled, his gaze narrowed when he spotted the mischievous twinkle that appeared in her eyes.

  “Yes, Graydon?” she questioned with one eyebrow raised, her lips quirked.

  “I cannot believe you would tease me so, at such a time as this.” Relief shot through him. “And after I risked life and limb to see you rescued. Say you will marry me.” He captured her face in his hands. “If you do not marry me I vow that I will perish. Can you live with my demise on your conscience?” He looked down into her shimmering eyes. “Piper, will you please be my wife?” Then he kissed her. Kissed her so completely that she had to cling to him when he finished.

  “Yes, Graydon,” she replied with a watery chuckle. Tears shown, turning her eyes into shimmering pools. “I knew you were the one the very first time that I laid eyes on you.” She kissed his jaw, his cheek, his neck.

  He captured her chin, his gaze darkened when he saw that her eyes mirrored his love. His need. He watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek, he caught it with his lips before he lowered his mouth to hers again, capturing her lips, knowing at that moment it would take more than a l
ifetime for him to grow tired of the feel or the taste of her.

  She was his forever.

  Forever.

  His body tightened, his erection swelling requiring him to leash in his desire. She was not yet healed from her ordeal, and he would be damned if he harmed her in anyway.

  She reached up and cupped the curve of his jaw, kissing him back as fervently as he her. Her days trapped in the cramped cell gave her ample time to prioritize what she thought truly important for her future. And the most important aspect to her future she found was Graydon. She couldn’t imagine growing old without him by her side. Her husky laugh reverberated through his already tight body. “I love you, Graydon.” The words whispered into his mouth. She could feel the smile that spread across his lips at her whispered declaration.

  Graydon groaned against her mouth. “I love you too, Piper.” He claimed her mouth, devouring her. Hot, wet and full of raw need. Their tongues clashed, urgent and aroused. He slid his hands up to span her ribcage before cupping her breast through the thin fabric of her night-rail, her nipples puckering, poking into his palm.

  Streaks of pleasure shot directly to her pulsing core, her muscles clenched hard, as her ardent desire dampened her thighs. She felt shameless, writhing with frustration when suddenly; he dipped his head to suck one taut nipple into his mouth, tugging and biting.

  She cried out, shuddering at the decadent feel of his lips when he took more of her breast in his mouth.

  Lost in the sensation, neither heard the door open.

  “I see you’re feeling better, Piper.”

  Gasping, she pushed Graydon away, pulling the blanket up to shield her breast covered by the wet night-rail. Her cheeks flamed. Her breath, deep gulps. She looked up to find Parker propped against the doorframe. His brow raised a hint of a smile on his lips.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  What is it Shakespeare wrote? ‘The course of true love never did run smooth?’ Truly a man of great wisdom.

  Piper’s journal