by Josie Dennis
Questions burned within her, but she wouldn’t press him for answers. She wanted to know only one thing. What he believed she wanted him to give her and how soon he would do it.
“You’re in time for supper,” she said. “The family is already in the dining room.”
His jaw tightened. “I plan to eat in my room tonight, Diana. I have to see to a few things if I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. An evening spent with a table full of Holbrooks is not something I need right now.”
Her throat tightened as she focused on the only phrase that affected her. “You’re leaving. Again.” Oh, it was like a repeat of that last morning just days earlier!
“The Earl of Hawksfell has invited me to stay for a while. I find I can’t resist the prospect.”
“But why so soon? You’ve only just returned.”
“I’ve had a hell of a few days, Diana.” He turned away and began to climb the stairs. “Please don’t press me.”
Diana fumed for a few long moments, then chased him up the stairs. “Why do you hate us so much, Derek?”
He stopped at the landing and faced her. His dark Hawk eyes looked almost sad. “I don’t hate any of you. I just don’t want to be the center of a Holbrook dinner conversation again.”
He turned away and walked toward his room. His words struck her. He was right. The blasted Holbrooks, male and female, old and young, seemed fascinated by all things Hawk. It had been that way since he’d come to the hall, but she’d never really paid much attention. She’d only wanted to be near him, not to know everything about his cursed family’s past. To think that he lumped her into that group of gossipmongers cut her.
She descended the stairs slowly and headed for the dining room. She could hear her family talking and laughing, meaning the men had already imbibed generously on her late father’s wine. As she entered the room she saw there were eight Holbrooks dining tonight. Her mother’s eyes stabbed at her.
“Where’s Derek, dear?” she asked. “I’d heard he came home not too long ago.”
“He’s eating in his room,” Diana answered.
Silence met that statement then the room erupted with stories and suppositions that scorched her ears and curled her toes. She couldn’t handle this tonight. Holding a hand over her mouth, she made a retching sound that shut up the group of Holbrooks.
“Are you all right, Diana?” Betsy Holbrook, her second cousin, asked her.
“My stomach is a bit ill,” Diana lied. “Mother, please forgive me.”
She didn’t give anyone time to worry more over her phantom stomachache. As she left the room, she could hear the conversation begin to buzz again. She knew she wasn’t the subject. No. They talked about hunting and riding, parties and pairings. And Hawks, of course. Always Hawks.
Chapter 5
The following day Derek continued to avoid her. At least it felt like that to Diana. He’d been taciturn at breakfast and left the breakfast room without another word. What had happened on his visit to his estate? She knew he didn’t like going there. She always saw the resignation preceding a trip and the tension on his face when he returned. To leave so soon upon returning worried her. She felt she was losing him and couldn’t bear to think of her life without him in it.
She slumped into a chair set in one dark corner of the parlor, tapping the toe of one shoe on the fine carpet. If her mother saw her posture she’d screech. It didn’t matter. The afternoon was waning and it would soon be time for supper. Would Derek stay away again? He was leaving tomorrow. She just had to see him tonight.
“Our Hawk cousin kept himself to his room last night, I take it?” one of her male cousins, maybe Eddie, asked.
“Hardly his room,” another man said, probably Harry.
Their shared laughter spoke of something dark and naughty. She lifted her legs and curved into the back of the chair. She knew they couldn’t see her but by the way her heart was pounding she feared they would hear her.
“I heard he fucked the new parlormaid last week,” Eddie said.
“The one with the big tits?” Harry asked.
Eddie made a sound of agreement.
“Ah, I wouldn’t mind a piece of her myself,” Harry said.
“Heard he licked her pussy until she screamed then fucked her hard from behind.”
“God, man!” Harry moaned. “How the devil did you hear that?”
“I listen, cousin. Hang around outside the servants’ hall and you’ll hear all sorts of things.”
They went on to speculate about how many times Derek took her, if the girl sucked his cock, and other possibilities she could hardly fathom. He took her hard from behind? What could that mean? Oh, was that one of the things he believed she was asking for?
Her center began to tingle. She saw it in her mind, the image fuzzy but enticing nevertheless. Derek’s strong hands gripping her hips as his long, hard Hawk cock pounded into her swollen, weeping pussy. She bit her lip to keep in a groan.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she hugged herself until the madness passed. Her cousins soon left the parlor, saying something about riding or shooting, and she was alone again with her wanton thoughts. It was a pity she couldn’t beg off of dining with the family again tonight. Derek would be there, too. He wouldn’t stay away two nights in a row. He hated the gossip but apparently he knew they talked about him whether he was there or not. As for her, she would just have to sit there, knowing Eddie and Harry and probably most of her Holbrook relatives knew more about Derek than she ever would.
Well, he might be leaving tomorrow but she would learn whatever she could tonight.
* * * *
Derek sat in his room, alone as usual. He sipped his brandy and stared into the fire. He was leaving for Hawksfell Manor in the morning, and he wondered just what would meet him there. No doubt the earl himself was imposing and imperious. From what little Grantley had said about him, the earl put himself squarely in the business of any Hawks in the vicinity of his estate. He was a high-handed nobleman. Evan had told him that the few Hawks he’d met while working there were now happily settled. Derek blew out a breath.
“Not bloody likely,” he grumbled.
He felt like his skin was stretched too tight tonight. Like his blood was hot and pulsing. He wasn’t horny, exactly. He was sure he could rouse interest if he went up to the attics again. He didn’t want to fuck some nameless maid or anonymous footman tonight, though. He wanted Diana, plain and simple. He smirked. There was nothing plain or simple about it, though.
She’d pestered him upon his homecoming yesterday and stared daggers at him at dinner tonight. She was hurt he was leaving again, but that was just her misfortune. He had to get away. Being with Evan the other night, feeling a connection beyond the sexual, made him ache for something more from Diana as well. He couldn’t take her, though. He’d have to marry her, for God’s sake. He couldn’t do that. She’d end up like his mother.
He drained his glass of brandy and set it on the table beside the chair. He might as well go to bed and think toward his escape in the morning. He stood and began to untie the belt on his dressing gown. A knock on the door stilled him.
“Come,” he called, certain it was his valet.
To his shock, Diana stepped into his room. She was wearing a whisper-thin wrapper, the fabric draped lovingly over her curves. His mouth went dry.
“Diana,” he choked out.
She closed the door and turned the lock. “You’re leaving tomorrow, Derek. Again.”
He stared at her deep blue eyes as she stepped closer. He could smell her, that sweet, tart orange-blossom scent, and his cock twitched. He tightened the belt of his dressing gown.
“You can’t be here,” he said.
She waved a hand in what he guessed was a show of bravado. “And yet I am.”
If he didn’t know every nuance of her from endless study, he might have missed the trembling of her fingers. “What do you want, Diana?”
She loosened the belt of her wrapper, and he
glimpsed the gossamer-thin nightgown she wore. She was bloody beautiful, even though he could only glimpse the dips and valleys of her incredible body.
“I want you to give me what I’ve been asking for.”
He nearly swallowed his tongue. Almost of its own accord, his hand shot out to grab her arm. She was warm beneath his touch. “Do you even know what that is, love?”
Her eyes widened at the endearment. He never said that word to anyone before, but apparently she thought it was just a part of love play. Or whatever the hell this was between them.
She shrugged and leaned into him. “I guess I want whatever you did with that maid the other night.”
His mouth dropped open. “What do you know of that?”
“Then it’s true?”
He raked his fingers through his hair, his eyes sliding from her lovely face to settle on her impressive cleavage. “Yes.”
“Harry and Eddie were talking about it,” she said.
He brought his eyes back to her face. “They told you what they’d heard?”
She giggled, to his surprise. “No! They were talking and didn’t see me in the parlor.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “You were hiding behind a curtain, no doubt.”
“In a chair, actually.”
He cupped her face. “What did they tell you?” He kissed her cheek, her throat. “Did they tell you I fucked her?”
She trembled, her hands running over his shoulders and back. “They said you licked her…pussy.”
“I did.” He lifted his head to stare deep into her eyes. “I licked her pussy and made her scream.”
Her pupils dilated, and his cock grew fully hard. He wanted her so much his balls ached. His mouth watered now, eager for a taste of her. Only her.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I want to lick your pussy, Diana.”
She gasped. “Derek!”
“I’ll settle for a kiss, though.” He rubbed his lips over hers. “For now.”
She gasped again but he covered her mouth with his. His kiss was wild, firing every nerve with the need to possess her. She moaned and rubbed against him. He cupped her breast through her thin nightgown, finding her nipple and pinching lightly.
“Do you like that, Diana?” he asked as he buried his face in her neck.
She nodded, throwing her head back as she thrust her breasts at him. He couldn’t ignore the implied invitation. He untied her nightgown and spread the material. Her breasts were as lovely as he’d imagined, round and pale with deep rose nipples. He bent his head and closed his mouth over one delectable nub.
“Oh, my!” She clutched at his head, her body going weak in his arms.
He turned and lowered her onto the chair near the fireplace. He continued to lick and suck at her breasts, alternatingly pinching and twisting her taut nipples as she writhed beneath him. Her arms were thrown over her head, and her face wore an expression of surrender. He knew he could have her right now. He could spread her legs and fuck her and tie himself to a woman whose heart he’d trample and leave for dead.
He could never do that. As he kissed her belly, so near her pussy he could almost taste her, he decided he could at least make good on his promise. He’d lick her pussy, all right. He’d tongue-fuck her until she screamed her release.
Spreading her legs wide, he stared at the prettiest pussy he’d ever seen. Dark curls, damp already, surrounded pink plump lips. He glanced up to find her eyes hot on him.
“Derek,” she whispered.
He offered her a quick smile then fell on her. Her cunt was sweet and tart, just like her. She bucked and moaned, cupping her breasts as he ate her. She couldn’t know what that position did to him. She couldn’t realize that the sight of her delicate hands squeezing her breasts and nipples drove him close to the edge. It was pure instinct. Pure, delightful instinct.
First one, then two fingers moved in and out of her tight passage. She bit her lip, arching wildly as he held her thighs firmly apart now. He circled her clit with his tongue then nibbled on the nub. She began to keen softly. When he began to drive his tongue in and out of her cunt she let out a scream sure to leave Eddie and Harry talking tomorrow. Their cousins left his mind as she came against his tongue, her sweet nectar flooding his mouth as he buried his face in her pussy.
He sat back, taking in great gulps of air as he fought to keep down his Hawk beast. Her legs were still splayed, her pussy wet and pulsing as she slowly recovered from her orgasm.
“Derek,” she breathed, running her fingers through her wild hair. “Oh, that was marvelous.”
He grunted and came to his feet. “Go, Diana.”
She opened her eyes and stared up at him. Her every defense was down. She was primed and ready for a ride, but he wasn’t the man to give her one.
“Take me, Derek,” she said. “Fuck me hard.”
His mouth dropped open. “What did you say?”
“Eddie and Harry said that you—”
“Enough about those two dolts!” He turned away, hissing as his dressing gown brushed over his swollen cock. “You need to go.”
She stood and wrapped her thin garments around her body. “Why?”
He shook his head and turned from her. “Diana, please.”
“You don’t want me, do you?” she asked.
He closed his eyes, said a silent prayer, and faced her again. “I want you.” He untied his dressing gown and let it fall open. “Can’t you see how much I want you?”
Her eyes fell on his cock and a drop of liquid pearled on its head. He often cursed his Hawk cock, but at a moment like this he was proud of his endowments. The look of hungry appreciation on Diana’s face almost made him come.
* * * *
Diana stared at Derek’s cock. It was long and thick and just as lovely as she’d heard the staff say over the years.
“Derek, you’re beautiful.”
He just stared at her, and she knew she had to do something. She fell to her knees, wrapped both hands around his shaft, and squeezed gently.
“Diana,” he bit out. “You’re killing me.”
She breathed in and smiled. “Mmm, Derek. Your scent is delicious. Spicy and hot. How do you taste?”
He closed his eyes as his hands fisted. “I can’t say I have any idea.”
Her tongue flicked out to taste the drop of cream on his cock’s broad head. More spice and heat. She’d so loved what he’d done to her with his mouth tonight. Why not return the favor?
“Well, if you won’t take me,” she said, giving his cock a long lick that made him shudder. “I’ll just take you.”
She closed her lips around the tip. He was almost too big for her mouth, but she did her best. Licking and sucking and stroking with her fingers soon had him thrusting toward her. He filled her mouth now, moaning his pleasure as he threw his head back. She watched him as she drove him mad. The muscles in his chest and neck were tight and rigid.
“Damn, I’m going to come,” he rasped.
Come? That must be what he’d made her do just minutes ago. She could make him surrender like that? She smiled to herself then sucked him deep into her mouth.
“God!” He thrust again then exploded.
He flooded her mouth with his cream. It was as delicious as his scent. As delectable as his kiss. She sat back on her heels and grinned up at him. This was power. This was passion. She watched as he slowly recovered and favored her with a soft light shining in his dark Hawk eyes. This was love.
He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “You didn’t have to do that.”
She cuddled against his magnificent chest, rubbing her nose against him. “I wanted to make you…come.”
His low laugh rumbled against her cheek. “You certainly did.”
She reveled in this closeness. Was he like this with his other lovers? Did he lose that prickly persona she’d come to expect and hate a little bit, even for a moment with them? She prayed it wasn’t so. She couldn’t bear to know that he could be so t
ender toward all those maids and grooms he’d had.
“I loved what you did to me, Derek,” she admitted on a whisper.
“You taste delicious, you know.” He kissed the top of her head. “I daresay I’ll miss you.”
“No, you won’t.”
He pulled back, lifting her chin with his fingers until he met her gaze. “Why do you say that? Because of what I said the last time I left?”
That was one reason, but not the real reason he wouldn’t miss her. She’d made a decision this afternoon, and now was as good a time as any to let him know of her plans.
“You won’t miss me because I’m coming with you.”
Chapter 6
Derek sat ramrod stiff in the car beside Diana. How the hell had he gotten into this mess? He’d been shocked by her assertion last night. When he could get his muddled mind around it, that was. She’d sucked him off, for God’s sake! She’d gotten down on her pretty dimpled knees and taken him deep in her mouth until he’d come so hard he thought he’d pass out.
“It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?” she asked.
He slid her a glance. She looked quite smug sitting there in her traveling clothes. The feathers on her little hat, something made of blue velvet the color of her eyes, bobbed as she hummed a little tune to herself.
“Just lovely,” he grumbled.
He’d been shocked this morning when she’d been waiting for him in the entry. Her portmanteaux had been stacked beside her as she drew on her gloves, her boots tapping a little chorus on the tile floor as she’d met his gaze straight on.
“I still can’t believe your mother allowed you to come with me.”
She shrugged and wriggled on the seat. “Mother believes I’ll meet eligible men at Hawksfell Manor.” She turned a cheeky grin up at him. “She believes you’re the perfect chaperone! If she only knew what you and I—”
