“Parker looks delightful with a baby in his arms,” Poppy said.
Persephone returned her attention back to the ladies.
“He does appear to be a natural,” Adele added.
Persephone nodded and stood to remove her now sleeping baby from Poppy’s arm. She turned to hand her over to Mrs. Collins, then sat back down. “I do hope Lord Seymour is not too upset.”
Chloé rolled her eyes. “It’s just a coat.”
Piper chimed in, “He has hundreds, if not thousands. He will survive.” She smiled.” His valet may not.”
Poppy looked around. “Did Peyton not accompany you?”
Persephone frowned. “He said he would be only a few hours behind us, but he never made it to Rosebriar, perhaps he had business to attend to before following.” She glanced towards Parker. “I’m sure he’ll arrive sometime this evening.”
At that precise moment Hawkley’s butler, Archibald entered. “Dinner, Your Grace.”
“Oh,” Persephone cried out. “We’ve not even changed from our travel attire.”
Poppy waved her hand. “I believe our easy camaraderie calls for an informal affair.” She paused. “Unless you would prefer to change?”
“I cannot bare to be away from you for a single second. Not this soon,” Piper cried.
Relief made Persephone smile as Parker reached out his hand and lifted her to her feet.
“If you can stand us in our dust, then I believe we can stand to dine that way.”
Persephone looked up into Parker’s eyes with a pleased grin on her face. She nodded in assent.
Persephone was once again surprised to find there was no particular order to the seating arrangements, except that Hawksley sat at the head of the table with his wife beside him like a king ruling over his kingdom.
Persephone couldn’t seem to remove the smile from her face as she listened to the teasing that flew back and forth between the friends.
“Hawksley,” Rockwell chimed in. “You’ve outdone yourself, my friend.”
The conversation faded as a long line of footman carried in several trays of food.
“We are eating family style this evening; I hope you do not mind?” Hawksley smiled as a fat goose, a tureen of creamy soup, and silver trays of cheese and sugared fruits were laid out in the center of the table. “We are in fact, all family at this table, are we not?”
Persephone glowed as he included her in his observation. “It all looks so delicious, Your Grace.” Persephone inhaled the heavenly scent of the roasted goose, roasted potatoes, mashed carrots and turnips, and finally warm chestnut soup
“Hawksley,” he reiterated, turning to Parker. “I believe your betrothed has not grown used to our informality.”
Parker shook his head. “She is learning.” He winked at her and she blushed prettily.
Rockwell sighed as he lifted a spoon of chestnut soup. “Hearty fare, Hawk.”
“I believe fitting after rescuing damsels in distress.”
“I don’t believe I was in distress, Hawksley,” Persephone cut in.
Poppy and Piper chuckled.
Adele reached over and patted her hand. “Do let the men parade around like peacocks, my dear.” She grinned. “It makes them ever so much more entertaining.”
The meal was topped off by a rich Christmas pudding and mulled wine before they all retired before the fire in the parlor.
The door flew open and in walked Peyton, a wide smile plastered across his face. “Where’s my nephew?” he called, striding swiftly towards the settee to buss Poppy’s forehead with a loud kiss.
Poppy rolled her eyes. “He is sleeping, Peyton.” She glanced at the clock on the mantle. “It is well past ten.”
“The night is still young.” He chuckled as he plopped down in one of the empty chairs.
“No, my son is young, you unrepentant reprobate.” Poppy’s eyes twinkled.
Peyton’s laugh didn’t quite reach his eyes so he looked down at his hands only looking up when a tumbler of amber liquid appeared in his line of sight. He looked up into Hawksley’s green eyes and said very quietly. “Thank you.”
“I believe you deserve a stiff drink.”
Parker lifted his glass in the air. “Top off mine while you’re in servant mode, Duke.”
Peyton turned haunted eyes towards Parker, stopping when his gaze caught on Persephone’s understanding green gaze. She mouthed the words, thank you. He was surprised to feel a blush steal across his cheeks.
Piper and Poppy looked at each other, then turned in time to witness a single tear slide down the side of Peyton’s face and the surreptitious swipe of his hand to eliminate the evidence.
***
Soon after dinner, Parker and Persephone strolled through the winter garden alone at an unhurried pace until they found the castle ruins Hawksley had erected in the back of his garden for Poppy. Parker tugged Persephone’s hand from her side and let it rest over his palm and pulled her to sit on the wrought iron bench. He covered hers with his other hand and rubbed his thumb idly across the back.
“I still feel so full of fear,” she admitted.
He pulled her into the crook of his arm and brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “I promise you that you will never have need to be afraid again.”
She laid her head on his shoulder and absorbed his warmth and strength. He leaned in close, touched her cheek, then nuzzled through her hair to her ear. “I love you, Persephone, marry me tomorrow.”
Her mouth fell open in shock. “Tomorrow?”
He smiled gently; reaching into his pocket he pulled out a hammered gold ring with a large ruby in the center and placed it on the ring finger of her left hand. “This ring belonged to my grandmother.”
Persephone gasped. “It’s beautiful.” She lifted her hand and the moonlight glinted off the gold. “We cannot just marry at the drop of a hat, Parker.”
“Why not?” He pulled the special license from the top inside pocket of his coat and waved it in front of her face.
“However did you manage that so quickly?”
He cocked his head and lifted his right eyebrow.
A thrill ran through her as she recalled his strength and bravery. “Of course, I forgot.” She smirked. “You, my lord, come from a very powerful family,” she spoke in a deep voice, mocking his previous statement.
“Yes I do.” He gripped her nape and leaned closer. “And do not forget it.” His voice sent spirals of pleasure through her. “And with the reputation my family has obtained for hasty marriages, I felt it necessary to keep one on hand.”
“Of course.” Persephone rolled her eyes.
“Quit stalling.” He was greedy for the taste of her. Then he pulled her close and kissed her, because he couldn’t take it anymore. Soft nibbling kisses that left her breathless. “Answer my question, Persephone,” he whispered against her lips.
“I have something that must be said before we can proceed.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
Parker’s brow furrowed in concern.
She winced when his brows drew together. “I’m far from poor.” A small worry line appeared between her brows.
“Good to know.” Parker let a slow, easy smile cross his face.
She gave him a deadpan stare surprised at his calm response.
“I do have one question, though.” Parker turned inquisitive eyes on her. “Why were you nearly starved to death when I found you?”
“I wasn’t certain I could contact my solicitor without alerting my uncle.”
“Intelligent and beautiful.” He laughed and shook his head. He played with her hair, letting his fingers sift through the softness of it. He tugged at one of the ends.
“You’re not upset that I didn’t inform you of my money?”
“Why should I be upset?” he questioned with a chuckle. “I have no need for your money.”
“Some men would not be so understanding.”
“I believe we’ve established that I’m not
cut from the same cloth as other men.”
Persephone couldn’t help the grin that tugged at her chin. “Demons have haunted my dreams for years, Parker.” She reached up and smoothed her hand over his jaw loving the feel of the growth of stubble against her palm. “You have banished them.”
“I pray that I never cause shadows to cloud your sparkling emerald eyes again.”
She turned her face up to the dark sky, the stars obscured by clouds. “It appears as if it might snow.” She snuggled closer to his side.
“Persephone,” Parker drawled out. He knew she was only teasing him, but still he needed to hear the words. “You are deliberately making me worry.”
Persephone pulled back and looked up into his eyes. Hers full of happiness. “Never, my lord,” she murmured.
He tugged her across the bridge into the small room. A wicked smile appeared when he spotted the small stove in the corner of the folly. Hawksley thought of everything. He knelt down and lit a fire in the stove, the small room immediately growing warm. “Perhaps you will allow me to persuade you, my lady?”
Persephone felt a warm trickle of heat flow down her body to pool in her womanly place at his words. She turned her eyes to him, her bottom lip captured by her teeth.
Parker watched as she slowly undid the top hooks of her pelisse and let the garment fall unheeded to the floor. “Perhaps.”
He took a moment to shrug out of his tightly-fitted coat and draped it over the chair sitting by the window. Then he removed his cravat, looping it around her neck pulling her to him. “I love your freckles.” He kissed her nose, cupping her face in his hands
Persephone scrubbed her hand over her nose as if to remove the offending spots as she leaned into his warmth. “Will Hawksley be disturbed that we are taking advantage of his secluded folly?”
“He is too engrossed with his wife and his child to even think twice on us.” Parker turned her around and began unlacing her dress. Watching as it fell down her arms. He leaned in and kissed the back of her neck, trailing his lips over her shoulders before pushing the dress over her hips to pool at her feet. Next he tugged at the lacing of her corset and heat flooded her inner thighs of all places as he pulled it from her body. He looked down at her; his eyes burned a deep blue in the glow of the small fire. He lowered his mouth, moving over hers, his tongue pressing past her lips to lick at her tongue as his long fingers curled around the aching softness of her breast. The rasp of her cotton chemise against her swollen peaks sent shoots of pleasure straight to her toes.
Parker’s mouth brushed over hers and she lifted up on her toes wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him back. His hands lowered to the hem of her chemise and her arms flew down to hold it in place. “Must you remove all my clothes?”
Parker leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her nose. “It is not necessary, love.” He stared deeply into her eyes, searchingly. “But I’ve been dying to see you unclothed once again.”
Persephone lowered her eyes. “My scars.”
He placed his forefinger under her chin and lifted. “You are nothing but beauty to me.” His voice rough. He kissed her forehead, brushing a few wisps of hair out of her eyes.
Persephone stared at him quietly, trying to read his expressions, his thoughts. Wanting to believe he meant every word. “Thank you.” A smile slowly stole across Persephone’s face. Parker could see her nervousness by the way her lip was clenched tightly between her teeth. She raised her arms over her head and he lifted the chemise and tossed it carelessly aside. He reached out to stroke her cheek the heat of her fierce blush against the pad of his fingertip. “See, I told you. Beautiful.”
She sighed at the feel of his soft touch.
He removed the remainder of his clothes, his vest, his shirt, his boots, and his trousers with no regard to their end, then he leaned over and gave her a hard, long kiss. “Tomorrow.”
Persephone giggled against his lips. “Parker,” she drawled out, stroking his cheek.
Parker kissed her slowly, then lifted her into his arms and laid her on the small daybed in the corner. He knelt in the cradle of her legs running his hands down her sides, over her hips until his fingers played in the damp red curls at the juncture of her thighs. “God, Persephone.” He closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath. He bent his head to kiss her. He traced over the carving over her hip. “I am sorry for what you were forced to endure.”
She pulled back and smiled, kissing his cheek softly. “Your heart is full of compassion.”
He nuzzled her neck, pushing aside the loose red curls that teased her nape, nibbling on her neck, kissing her ear, her cheek. “Tomorrow,” he repeated taking his time. He tasted her skin with hot, wet, open-mouthed kisses that aroused her.
“You are a persistent man, my lord.” She arched her back as his hot breath and wet mouth discovered a very sensitive area of her throat.
He groaned. “Not, my lording me, again.”
A slow grin started and spread until she almost laughed out loud. “I believe you should work at your powers of persuasion a bit more, my lord.”
Parker rolled his eyes.
“Five more minutes at least,” she said quite innocently.
“Five minutes?”
“I believe that should be sufficient time to conclude your persuasion.”
“You have no idea,” he muttered.
“Pardon?”
Parker hid his smile. “Five minutes it is.” He grabbed her around the waist and rolled over with her straddling his hips.
Persephone gasped as she felt his hardened manhood rising thick and long between them pressed against her aching mound. She rocked back and forth as heat spread through her.
Parker gripped her waist, his fingers flexing against her back. “Feel what you do to me, Persephone.” He smiled at her, but if he could look in a mirror he knew it probably looked more like a grimace.
Persephone reached out and smoothed the lines bracketing his mouth. She wriggled and he could feel her damp heat rotating against his groin. Parker reached down between their bodies and stroked her slick flesh with his finger. “I believe I have your answer, my love.”
“Do you?” She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his hands on her body.
He lifted her and she reached down and grasped his rigid length, positioning him at the opening of her body and slowly lowered herself until she was fully impaled on his straining flesh.
“Persephone.” His head fell back, his features taut with pleasure as he gripped her bottom more firmly with his hands, too overwhelmed with desire to do much of anything else.
Persephone paused; letting him stretch her, fill her, a shiver raced down her spine. She opened her eyes to find him watching her with a wicked smile on his face.
His hands roamed over her body. Her arms, over her shoulders, down her back until they gripped the soft globes of her bottom again.
“You are wasting your five minutes,” she teased.
He raised her until the knob of his cock rested just inside her entrance. “I better work fast.” She didn’t think his eyes could darken any more than they were, but they turned a rich midnight blue. Then he slammed her down, his cock nudging her womb and sending thick waves of pleasures to her core and he nearly climaxed when she began to move setting a delicious rhythm. She leaned over and placed her lips over his, plunging her tongue in his mouth desperate for his taste. At the same time his rough, hot palm rasped up her side until he molded it to her breast.
She arched her back as his calluses rubbed erotically over her distended nipple. His fingers closed over her rigid peak and pinched, rolling it between his finger and his thumb. She groaned into his mouth and he captured her breath as she lifted and lowered herself up and down his cock.
“You are killing me,” he growled at the same time he thrust up into her. She gasped. He lifted his head and closed his mouth around her nipple and sucked hard while simultaneously stroking the nub between her legs triggering a loud cry as her clim
ax overtook her.
Parker smiled thrusting up into her one, two, and three more times before he gave into his release. She fell against his chest snuggling deeper into his arms, listening as his erratic heartbeat began to slow and steady. She watched the flicker of firelight play across the walls of the folly. She smiled as his arms came tighter around her stroking his hand up and down her back. “Five minutes was more than enough.”
“Tomorrow,” he whispered.
“Hmm...,” she replied.
Parker brushed his lips across her forehead and he finally heard her murmur, tomorrow. He gathered her closer and smiled.
***
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Parker asked quietly when Peyton continued to be silent. “You had to know I would keep your secret. Instead you allowed me to think the worst.” He leaned forward in his chair with his hands gripping the arms.
Peyton blew out his breath. He knew how much he had hurt his brother. The raw edge in Parker’s voice cut deep. Deeper than any of the horrors he had witnessed over the past two years. “Know that it was not by choice.”
Parker studied him in silence for a long moment. “Never again will you cause me this much worry.”
Peyton eyed his older brother nodding solemnly.
“Come home after the wedding.” Parker stared back, his blue eyes steely with determination.
Peyton leveled a stare at his brother. “I can’t.”
Parker’s gaze narrowed and a frown marred the line of his mouth. “Why the hell not?” he demanded.
Peyton leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. His hands shook and it frustrated him. He gripped the arms of the chair to still them. How did he explain all that was running through his mind? He needed quiet. He didn’t want to think. And he definitely didn’t believe that he could be civil for much longer.
“Peyton?” Parker prompted when the silence grew longer. “Talk to me.” Helplessness and frustration swamped him at his brother’s silence. What could he do? He felt utterly powerless.
Peyton just sat there. Every once in a while something triggered in his brain and the sights, sounds and scents of the dungeon burst to the forefront of his senses and bile rose uncontrollably in his throat. Panic would set in and the loss of control and an unexplainable fear would surface at the most unpropitious times. How could he explain these reactions to his brother?
Rescue Me Please Page 27
