One Night with Prince Charming (Aristocratic Grooms #2)(30)
Author: Anna DePalo

“Perhaps I should ask directly,” he said, playing along. “Will you nevertheless oblige me?”

Pia tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Mmm…”

Not waiting for a response, he stroked her leg, and then let his hand wander under the hem of her dress until it connected with her hip. Sliding her panties to one side, he caressed her intimately.

He watched as her eyes clouded with desire.

“I want to know every inch of you,” he murmured. “I want to taste your flavor and learn your scent.”

Pia’s eyelids drooped, and she gripped his arm hard.

“Pia?” he murmured when she still hadn’t said anything.

He scanned her face and watched her eyelashes flutter against her pale skin.

She wet her lips. “Oh, y-yes. I-I’ll oblige you.”

They were both so turned on, they could hardly speak.

“This is the most erotic exchange I’ve ever had,” she said as if she’d read his mind.

He had to have her. He kissed her, and then, removing his hand from under her dress, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet.

He headed with her toward the bedroom.

“Are we destined to make love in the afternoon?” she asked.

He glanced down at her, a smile hovering at his lips. “Anytime becomes you, princess.”

He stepped into her bedroom and deposited her on the bed, on top of her feminine white coverlet.

Straightening, he took a moment to let his eyes travel over her.

She looked up at him with desire. Her golden hair was spread out over the cover, and her lips were pink and wet from his kisses.

She was beautiful.

Pia parted her lips. “Oh, H-Hawk.”

He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.

When he opened them again, he said with helpless amusement, “Don’t say another word. I may go up in flames.”

He pulled off her shoes, raised the skirt of her dress and pulled down her panties.

Bending toward her again, he slid his hands up under her thighs to cup her bu**ocks and pull her toward him.

She was open for him as he leaned in and kissed first one inner thigh and then the other.

Pia quivered and then tensed as he finally laid his mouth against her. Moving at a leisurely pace, he darted and licked with his tongue, and in no time, the room was filled with the sounds of Pia’s gasps and moans.

“H-H-Hawk…o-oh!”

Pia tensed and let out a long moan, coming for him.

Only then did Hawk raise his head. She was so unbelievably responsive, he was fighting for control.

Holding her gaze, he undid his shirt and opened his pants, bothering to take off only his shoes. He removed protection from his pocket, sheathed himself and then leaned over her.

It didn’t get any more passionate than this, Hawk thought. Lovemaking immediately after work, and they were so randy, they couldn’t be bothered to eliminate more than the minimum of clothing.

He couldn’t remember being this turned on since he’d been a teenager just discovering sex.

For her part, it was clear that Pia could hardly wait. She slid her hands up his arms in a light caress and arched her body toward him.

They both sighed as he slid inside her.

Hawk fought for control as he felt it slipping. Pia was still as tight as the time he’d taken her virginity.

He could, Hawk thought, lose himself in her again and again.

And in the next moment, he did.

He slid in and out of her, bringing them both mindless pleasure. Coherent thought shut down, and his focus narrowed down to one goal.

He felt Pia gasp and spasm around him with a small cl**ax.

“That’s right,” he urged hoarsely.

“Hawk, oh, p-please…”

She didn’t have to beg. The moment she spoke, a mighty cl**ax shook him. And, dimly but with satisfaction, he was aware of Pia claiming her own peak once again.

With a hoarse groan, he thrust into her one final time, and then slumped against her.

Afterward, they lay on her bed, spent and relaxed. As Pia lay tucked against his side, he caressed her arm.

Since she appeared completely content, he decided to press his advantage.

“Come fishing and riding with me,” he said without preamble.

Pia stilled and then stifled a sudden laugh. “You do know how to approach a woman at the right moment.” She paused. “Isn’t that what we just did?”

He shook his head and responded drolly, “Not that kind.”

“Oh?”

“Come fishing and riding with me at Silderly Park in Oxford,” he said, naming his ancestral estate in England.

Pia tilted her head to glance up at him.

He knew what he was asking. This had nothing to do with Lucy’s wedding anymore. By visiting Silderly Park, Pia would be coming into the heart of who he was as a duke.

He’d made the request unexpectedly, and only belatedly realized how much her answer mattered.

“Yes.”

Her answer came out as a breathy whisper before she lowered her head back down to his shoulder.

He smiled slowly, relaxing. “Good.”

Pia was his, and he was going to make sure things remained so.

Ten

“The wedding invitations will go out next week,” Pia remarked, her comment meant to reassure in case it was necessary.

It was Monday afternoon, and she and Lucy were sitting in the parlor of Hawk’s Upper East Side town house. They were meeting over afternoon tea to discuss wedding details.

Most professional shows did not have performances on Monday nights, explaining why it was possible for Lucy to meet with Pia over tea today. Any other day of the week, Lucy might already have been preparing to head to work at this hour.

“Splendid,” Lucy said, smoothing her blond hair. “Derek will be happy to know that detail has been taken care of.”

It had been a pleasure to work with Hawk’s sister, Pia reflected, trying not to dwell on when Hawk might be arriving home.

Lucy and Derek had wanted a relatively simple wedding ceremony and reception, but one that nevertheless incorporated some nods to Lucy’s English ancestry and theater work.

Everything so far had gone smoothly. During previous consultations, the couple had settled on a photographer, band and florist with a minimum of fuss. And today she and Lucy had already discussed wedding music, readings and various ceremony logistics.

“Now the florist has a website,” Pia continued, “which you should consult, but in order to give you more ideas, I have my own book of photos from weddings that I’ve been involved with.”

She slid a scrapbook across the coffee table toward Lucy, and Hawk’s sister leaned forward and reached for it.