Seduce Me Please

by Nichole Matthews

  22 August

  WELL, SHE MOST CERTAINLY wouldn’t call it the wedding of the season, but it was quite close and it was a definite triumph. She was now known as the lady who tamed the earl, which suited her perfectly fine. Even if outrageous rumors abounded that she had to resort to—shall we say—extreme measures to capture his attentions.

  If only Society knew what those extreme measures truly were.

  Piper smiled as she straightened her mother’s diamond tiara which rested lovingly atop her glossy brown curls. The bruises across her face had faded over the past few weeks and only her glowing countenance remained. The woman she saw in the mirror was luminous, a true reflection of the love that swelled her heart to near bursting. She preened in front of the freestanding cheval glass situated in the corner of the antechamber, glad that she had a moment alone to catch her breath before reentering the chaos in the other room.

  Planting her palms flat against the door, she pushed. Her face glowing with an indescribable incandescence as she walked into his library, now their library, which at that moment was full of friends and family eager to celebrate their recent nuptials.

  Taking a moment to look about the room, she smiled at Poppy who sat near the fireplace; Declan standing watch like a sentry next to her. His hand rested protectively on her shoulder.

  Scanning the crowd further, she spied Auntie Adele and Lady Rockwell sitting with their heads pressed close together, looking like two cats that got the cream when strong arms captured her from behind, surprising her, surrounding her with his warmth. Hot breath wafted over her ear as his huskily whispered words floated on the air. “You’ve cast a spell over me since the day I first laid eyes on you.”

  Twisting in his grasp, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Her eyes flickered to his chest and then back up, considering the hungry, possessive look mirrored in his eyes. Without warning, a smile caught the corners of her mouth and a sparkle settled in her eyes. “C’était le coup de foudre.” She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in his essence. “I was struck by lightning, as well.”

  He chuckled before leaning down, until they were separated by a fraction of air. “Moi aussi.” Then he framed her face with both his hands, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. “Lady Rockwell.” His mouth descended, capturing hers, open and hot and demanding.

  EPILOGUE

  Ain’t love grand?

  Piper’s Journal

  18 December

  PIPER HALTED IN HER READING, to look up over the top of her spectacles, when the heat of his stare penetrated her awareness.

  “What are you doing, Lord Rockwell?”

  She couldn’t hide the smile that spread over her face when she took note of the desire obvious in his amber eyes. Realizing she would get no more reading done tonight, she marked her page with a red grosgrain ribbon and shut the book. Laying it gently on the table beside the large leather chair she was sitting in before lowering her legs to the floor, she supposed in a more ladylike fashion, but Graydon never minded. He liked to see her comfortable. At ease in making his home her home.

  “I happen to be looking at my wife,” he stated emphatically.

  Piper’s brow arched the tiniest fraction, a faint teasing smile played upon her lips. “You’re supposed to be reading.” The glow of the firelight enhanced his already golden handsomeness.

  His head tilted slightly. “I am reading, dear wife.” He smirked, lifting his book that had been sitting unread in his lap; cover out to emphasize the task

  “You must have chosen a difficult subject.” She glanced at the few turned pages. “It doesn’t appear as if you’ve made much headway, Husband.”

  “I must confess that today I am finding your presence more than a little distracting, dear Wife.” His color heightened, he smiled. She had been beautiful before, but now she was breathtaking, ripe—glowing—flawless. This was exactly what Hawksley had spoken of, the wonders of finding a good wife. She without a doubt changed his life. Turned what he had always assumed would be a mundane existence into an exciting adventure. He would never understand his father. His inability to find contentment was unfathomable, especially now that he knew love.

  Piper shook her head. “Graydon?”

  The sweet sound of Piper’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “I know you didn’t get very far with your Literary Club this season, Piper.” A guilty smile spread on his face. “Are you upset that I interrupted your plans?”

  With a shake of her head, Piper looked down, her hand splayed protectively over the slight swell of her belly. “How could I be upset? Look what we’ve done.”

  He stood, all but forgetting the book that lay in his lap, letting it fall to the floor with a soft thud. The very air around them abruptly charged with a burning awareness.

  Moving the short distance to stand in front of her, he sank to his knees. Golden lights danced in his eyes as she watched them roam hungrily over her, stopping at her belly. Slowly he lowered his head gently pressing a soft kiss to where their babe rested, protected in her womb. His hands splayed on either side of her expanding waist. “I need no other entertainments. Watching you will always be more than enough to occupy my mind.”

  Piper sighed. “This is more than enough.” She threaded her fingers through the silken tendrils of his hair, watching as some fell over his forehead, clasping his cheek firmly against her body.

  Graydon lifted his head to look at her, his eyes burning. “Our own exclusive literary club.”

  ………………………..

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Nichole Matthews resides in Tennessee with her husband, their two dogs, two parakeets, two turtles, a rabbit, and a beta fish. A devoted reader of romance novels since she was a teenager, she is happy to make her passion for reading a career.

  You can contact Nichole Matthews at readnicholematthews@gmail.com

  Or become a friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nicholematthewsauthor