Daniel's Duty [Lords of Hawksfell Manor 10] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Josie Dennis

  Daniel shifted in his seat but added nothing to the conversation.

  “Daisy is Daniel’s ward,” the earl said.

  Michael Crowley’s brows rose. “His ward, eh? That is a tender duty to undertake, Daniel.”

  Daisy saw a smile teasing Michael’s mouth. No such expression dared touch Daniel’s face. That was certain.

  Matthew and his wife continued the conversation, but Daisy paid no real attention now that she wasn’t pressed to answer. They spoke of riding, of which she cared little. They spoke of hunting, of which she cared even less. Lady Hawksfell’s library was looking like the most viable way to pass her time while she waited for Daniel to finally make her his. She wriggled a bit in her chair. Oh, just the thought of what he’d done last evening made her drawers damp.

  “May I escort you into the parlor, Daisy?”

  She looked up to find Michael Crowley standing close. Nodding, she stood and took his elbow. As they made their way behind the other guests and family, he leaned closer.

  “You may get your Hawk yet,” he said.

  She nearly tripped over the edge of the fine carpet. “What did you say?”

  “You want your so-called guardian,” he said in a soft voice.

  “Oh, am I that transparent?”

  He grinned. “Not particularly, but I know what it’s like to fall for a Hawk.”

  This man loved Lord Hawksfell? She’d seen the affection clear among the three of them, but to think Michael Crowley in love with the earl?

  “Daniel insists that I must stay away from him,” she admitted on a whisper.

  “And you have a decidedly different notion?”

  She bit her lip and leaned closer. “I do.”

  Michael patted her arm. “Let your heart guide you, sweet Daisy.”

  She snorted. “My heart is a fool, I fear.”

  He shook his head. “A fool? Never that.”

  And with that, he left her at the entrance of the parlor and went to join the earl where he stood talking with Matthew and Daniel. They were so very beautiful, those Hawks. Despite Michael’s assertions, she was foolish to pine after Daniel.

  At that moment, Daniel turned his head a fraction and pinned her with his gaze. Oh, she was snared as surely as if he’d reached across the space dividing them and grabbed her in his strong arms. Her flesh grew hotter still, damp and tingling as she recalled his handsome face between her legs.

  “Oh.”

  Posy appeared at her side. “Are you all right, Daisy?”

  Daisy tried to recover herself. “Fine, Posy. Thank you. I fear I’m just a little bit tired.”

  “Then you should retire,” Lady Hawksfell put in from her position on the couch. “There will be plenty of time for us to chat over the next few days.”

  Daisy gave her a nod. “Thank you for dinner, Lord and Lady Hawksfell. I do believe I’ll find my bed.”

  The others made sounds of kindness and concern, but Daisy barely heard them. She’d seen Daniel’s eyes when she’d mentioned her bed. They’d sparked and heated, and she’d nearly expired there in the parlor.

  “Good night,” she said, quitting the space and climbing up the stairs to her lovely blue room.

  By the time she reached the gallery, she was seething. She wanted to shake Daniel and make him see that she didn’t need his protection, especially from her own mind. She’d seen his heat. She’d felt it in his kisses and caresses. She craved it.

  As she reached her room, she caught a glimpse of Vincent exiting a room further down the hall. Aha! That must be Daniel’s guest chamber. The footman walked toward her, his head down. Apparently he didn’t see her, so she stepped in front of him.

  “Oh!” He swiftly recovered, assuming his sober expression once more. “Forgive me, miss.”

  She placed a hand on his chest. Oh, he wasn’t as broad as Daniel, but she would wager he was as nicely built. “Nothing to forgive, Vincent.”

  They were alone in the hallway, so far away from where she knew the family rooms were. Besides that, all and sundry were still down in the parlor, along with Daniel. She leaned closer to Vincent.

  “You were in Lord Winthrop’s room, weren’t you?” she asked.

  He took a breath, then nodded. “Yes, miss.”

  “I take it the room is ready for him to retire?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ll help him undress, won’t you?”

  Vincent’s fair cheeks turned a little pink. “Yes.”

  She traced a finger over the buttons of his vest. “You’ve seen him, haven’t you? Daniel’s physique?”

  “Yes.” This time, Vincent’s voice was a bit rough.

  “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?”

  “That’s not for me to say.”

  “More about your ‘place,’ Vincent?”

  His lips thinned. “I’ll not be teased.”

  She pulled back. “I would never tease you. I know the pain of such treatment.”

  He ran his pretty blue gaze over her and, amazingly, her body reacted as it had to Daniel’s perusal.

  “Who would dare tease you?”

  “Daniel,” she whispered.

  Vincent’s sucked in a breath and urged her into the room.

  Chapter 5

  Vincent made certain no one was about before shutting the door. “You shouldn’t play at passion, miss.”

  “Oh, I’m not playing.” She leaned back against the door, placing her hands behind her.

  She had to know that her posture thrust her full breasts toward him. The skin of her décolletage appeared to be as soft as the silk of her dress.

  “You’re playing, all right.” He stepped very close to her. He caught the flutter of her pulse at the side of her slender neck. He could smell her again. Sweet flowers. “You’re playing with fire.”

  “Are you saying you’re attracted to me?”

  He stared at her for a beat. “Are you daft? You’re bloody beautiful.”

  She giggled. “You don’t sound like a proper first footman at the moment, Vincent.”

  He cursed softly and stepped back, brushing a hand over his impeccably-styled blond hair. “You’re playing, but I won’t play the fool.”

  He made a move toward the door, but she placed a hand on his chest. Tingles spread from the point of contact right straight to his cock.

  “Do you tease Lord Winthrop like this?” He had to know.

  She shook her head. “No. I went to his room and he ravished me all on his own.”

  He closed his eyes and groaned. “God, miss.”

  “Daisy,” she softly corrected.

  “Daisy,” he allowed.

  She dragged her hand down the front of him to the front of his trousers. “You’re surely as large as Daniel.”

  He’d seen Lord Winthrop this afternoon and he took the girl’s words as a compliment. The man was obviously hung like a horse.

  “You’ve been with him?”

  She stroked him and he moaned. “I touched him.”

  Vincent grasped her arms and pulled her closer. “And he touched you?”

  “Yes, Vincent.” She took her hand away from his throbbing flesh and placed them both on his chest. “He touched me. And he licked me.”

  “Christ.”

  “I want Daniel, Vincent.” Her fair brow puckered. “I don’t understand it, but I want you, too. How can that be?”

  “You’re frustrated, miss. That’s all.”

  “Daisy, and I am that.” She pressed against him and he felt every curve of her body. “But that’s not all. It’s you.”

  He brought his lips to hers for the briefest kiss, then buried his face in her neck. Her scent was thicker here, and he knew he was making a very big mistake. “I can’t take you, Daisy. I shouldn’t even be in here.”

  She purred against him. “Won’t you even kiss me, Vincent? On my…”

  He lifted his head to find her blushing the prettiest shade of pink. “Where, Daisy? On your pussy?”

 
“Daniel whispered that word last night. When he’d loved me.”

  Vincent squeezed his eyes shut. He could picture the strong, compelling Hawk bringing the delicate beauty to climax. He could also imagine tasting her pussy himself just to see if she was as sweet as he suspected.

  “He brought you to release?” he asked softly.

  “Yes. It was splendid. I want to feel that again.”

  He pressed his brow to hers, looking deep into her eyes. “I can’t do such a thing to you, Daisy.”

  “Because you’re a footman?” She puffed out a breath. “My father was the cousin of a viscount, Vincent. He had no title and neither do I.”

  “Nevertheless, you are Lord Winthrop’s—”

  “Lord Winthrop’s what? His ward? His companion? His bloody duty?”

  Vincent saw the hurt on her beautiful face and felt it to his core. “You love him.”

  Her face crumbled. “I do.”

  “Then you can’t mean what you said, Daisy. What you asked me to do.”

  “I love him, Vincent, but I wasn’t lying when I said I want you.” She kissed him then, a kiss of innocence laced with potent desire. “And I do want you. Kiss me.”

  He did. God help him, he did. He drove his tongue into her mouth and kissed her as deeply as he could manage. She clutched at him, pressing so close he could feel her breasts. He needed to touch her, and brought a hand to one breast. She was full and round and he kneaded her gently. Her nipple peaked against his palm and he shuddered.

  “You’re quite a package, Daisy.”

  She pulled back a hairsbreadth. “You’re serving as valet, Vincent. Help me take off this dress.”

  He reached behind her and deftly unfastened the back of her dress, easing it down her smooth arms until her elbows were caught tight at her slender waist. Her breasts beckoned through the fine fabric of her undergarments and he brought his mouth to one peak.

  “Vincent!”

  She arched and he bit down. She was his tender captive for the moment, so he eased the damp fabric away from her breasts. He found they were the prettiest he’d ever seen, round and pale with tight pink nipples.

  “Ah, Daisy.” One touch beneath her skirts had her moaning again.

  “Shh,” he said, bringing his mouth to hers. “I’ll ease you, sweetheart.”

  She was soaking wet against his fingers as he teased and pinched her clit. Lost in sensation, she was his. For the moment. He hadn’t felt such heat in so long. He wanted to taste her, but that indulgence wasn’t for him. He could please her, though. That he could do.

  With his hand fully on her pussy, he drove her swiftly toward orgasm. She arched again and he caught her cries with his kisses as she melted all over him. Taking his hand away from her clinging flesh, he brought his fingers to his lips and gave them a slow lick.

  “You’re so sweet, Daisy,” he rasped.

  Her eyes widened. “You tasted me, Vincent.”

  He kissed her again. She was so damn kissable. “As much as I dared, sweetheart.”

  She gave him a smile, a soft expression that made him feel as though they were the only two people in the world. Truthfully, they were not. She was not his. She belonged to Lord Winthrop, even though he was apparently too stubborn to take what she offered.

  “You loved me a little, didn’t you?”

  “I did.”

  “You made me feel so good.” She sighed.

  He straightened her clothes and she raised her now-freed arms to wrap them around his neck. It was more than he could take. He was hard and throbbing against her belly. “Easy.”

  She reached for him again. “It’s you who needs to be eased, Vincent.”

  He hissed out a breath, and then pulled her hand from him. “I can take care of myself.”

  “Oh.” She pouted for a moment. “Daniel cannot.”

  That was interesting. “Truly?”

  “Something to do with their curse.”

  Vincent wanted to know more, but now was not the time, and here, with Daisy rosy from her recent orgasm, was certainly not the place.

  “I must go,” he told her.

  “You made me feel so good,” she said again, “and more than just…Well, you know what I mean.”

  He could still taste her, and there she went and blushed again. “Good night, Daisy.”

  She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him sweetly. “Good night, Vincent.”

  He left her and stood in the hallway for several moments, breathing slowly in and out as he willed his blood to cool.

  * * * *

  Daniel came upon Vincent just outside what he now knew to be Daisy’s room. He looked slightly mussed, and when Daniel addressed him, his cheeks turned a bit pink.

  “Lord Winthrop.” He ran a hand over his blond hair. “Are you ready to retire?”

  “I was thinking about doing so.” He eyed Vincent again. His color was still high and his breath was fast. One quick glance at the front of his trousers showed he was in at least as much discomfort as Daniel himself. “What the devil ails you?”

  “N-nothing, my lord.”

  “Hardly.” He looked over at Daisy’s closed door and stepped closer. “You’ve been in Miss Jensen’s room?”

  “She…” He blew out a breath. “Ah, I cannot even form any sort of excuse at the moment.”

  Daniel turned to see the hallway was still empty, but who knew how long that condition would last? The heated glances between Gabriel and his wife, and his wife and Michael Crowley, for that matter, told him they would soon seek their beds as well.

  “Come into my room,” Daniel said.

  Vincent nodded and straightened. “Yes, my lord.”

  By the time they were both closed in Daniel’s guest room, it was obvious to him that something had transpired between Vincent and Daisy. Just what, he aimed to learn.

  “Did you fuck her?”

  Vincent’s eyes went wide. “Never!”

  Daniel leaned closer. “I suppose I can believe that. You’re still hard in your trousers.”

  Vincent covered his eyes with one hand. “I am, but I kissed her, my lord. I…pleased her.”

  “Did you?” Daniel could picture the two blond beauties entwined in her pretty blue room and he welcomed the rush of heat to his shaft. “Tell me what you did.”

  Vincent faced him. “My lord?”

  Daniel cursed softly. “Damn it, man. You’ve had your fingers in my ward’s pussy. I think you can call me Daniel, for God’s sake.”

  “How did you know?”

  “I can smell her on you. She’s sweet, isn’t she?”

  “Yes.” He waited a beat. “She loves you.”

  Vincent’s words shocked him. “Never say she told you that!”

  “She did.”

  “She’s deluded. It’s passion she feels. That’s all.”

  Vincent shrugged. “So you say.”

  “Did she touch you?” Daniel asked.

  “No.” Vincent ran his gaze over Daniel and he stifled a shudder. “She touched you, though. She told me.”

  “She did indeed. Her touch was perfect.”

  “She had to ease you, she said. Something about your curse.”

  Daniel nodded. “I can’t ease myself.”

  Vincent stepped closer. “Do you need me to ease you?”

  “I wouldn’t put you in that position.”

  “You didn’t answer my question, Daniel.”

  His name on Vincent’s lips was pleasing for a reason he couldn’t fathom. “No. I didn’t.”

  “Then let me at least undress you.” Vincent removed Daniel’s jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. “That’s my duty.”

  “Duty.” Daniel bit out the word. “Damn duty.”

  Vincent had him out of his trousers without another word. His touch was different from Daisy’s, strong and sure, and a little bit rough. He watched as the man’s fingers played over his throbbing flesh.

  “You’re beautiful, Daniel.” He gave a long stroke. “It
’s no wonder Daisy is so enamored. You’re huge.”

  Daniel let his head fall back as Vincent worked him. “You’re touch is magic. Like hers.” He groaned. “Ah, yes.”

  Vincent kissed him then. Daniel could taste Daisy on him as their tongues tangled. He worked Vincent’s cock free of his trousers and shifted to slide his hands over the man’s ass. He was firm and round and Daniel ran his finger teasingly around his hole.

  “Daniel,” Vincent breathed.

  His shirt joined Daniel’s on the floor and the touch of skin on skin fired them both. Vincent was beautifully made, leanly muscled and warm. He pressed his cock against Vincent’s hard belly, thrusting until he was ready to burst. His pulse raced and his breath hitched, and he had to fuck him.

  “Take me inside, Vincent.”

  “Y-yes.” Vincent turned in his arms and reached for the dressing table. He swiftly opened a drawer and withdrew a small jar. “Use this cream, Daniel. I saw it here earlier.”

  Daniel took the jar and braced Vincent’s arms on the dresser. “Damn, you have a beautiful ass.” He breathed in deeply, drawing the man’s fresh scent into his lungs. “It’ll be rough, Vincent. I’m sorry.”

  “Please, Daniel.” He sounded as far gone as Daniel. “Please.”

  A smear of the creamy white balm on his cock’s head made him hiss out a breath, but with one step closer, Daniel slid deep inside of him. Vincent was tight and right, and the cream eased Daniel’s way. Their moans mingled as their bodies did.

  He reached around as he moved, grasping Vincent’s shaft in his hand. “You’re impressive as well,” he managed to say, pulling and squeezing just as Vincent had done to him.

  Vincent groaned in answer. Gripping his narrow hips, Daniel pumped in and out as they both began to shudder. Daniel’s orgasm screamed toward him and he felt Vincent’s begin. More thrusts. More groans. He was on fire and couldn’t last one more moment.

  Vincent shivered against him and Daniel came with a shout. He poured himself into Vincent as Vincent climaxed, bucking against him as Daniel wrung him dry with his hand.

  He held Vincent close with one arm, bracing the other on the dresser. He covered one of Vincent’s hands with his own and dropped a kiss on the back of his neck. They stood together for several long moments, breathing in rhythm and sharing the bliss of release as the sweat cooled on their bodies.