One Night with Prince Charming (Aristocratic Grooms #2)(33)
Author: Anna DePalo

She chanced a glance at him. He looked every inch the lord of the manor in a tweed jacket and wool trousers.

“I’m becoming quite busy these days thanks to you, as you well know,” she returned lightly. “I received a call just before we left New York from another friend of yours seeking a wedding coordinator.”

Hawk smiled. “I’m hurrying them all to the altar for your sake.”

“I’m surprised that you didn’t spring for the ring and stage the proposal in this case.”

“If I could have, I would have,” he said with mock solemnity, “but my expertise lies in locating wedding veils and saving flower bouquets from canine bridal attendants.”

Pia laughed, even as she silently acknowledged all of Hawk’s help.

With the exception of Tamara’s, the weddings that she’d coordinated this past summer had been ones that she’d been contracted for before the Marquess of Easterbridge had crashed Belinda’s ill-fated ceremony. Since then, new business had come to her thanks mainly to Hawk.

She had a lot to thank him for, including arranging and paying for both their first-class tickets on a commercial flight from New York to London—though she knew in reality that had nothing to do with Lucy’s wedding.

She and Hawk came to a stop near some elaborately shaped hedges, and he turned to face her.

He reached out and caressed the line of her jaw, a smile touching his lips.

Pia’s senses awakened at his touch, even as time slowed and space narrowed, and her brain turned sluggish.

“D-don’t tell me,” Pia said, her voice slightly breathless, “that romantic assignations in the gardens are de rigueur.”

“If only it wasn’t November,” he murmured, his eyes crinkling. “Fortunately, there’s a bed nearby.”

Pia heated as Hawk ducked his head and touched his lips to hers.

She knew the bed to which he was referring. She’d slept in it last night.

Hawk’s bedchamber at Silderly Park was in an enormous suite, bigger than her apartment in New York. The suite was fronted by a sitting room, and the bedroom itself boasted a large four-poster bed, red-and-white wallpaper, and gold leaf detail on the molded ceiling.

Everything was fit for a duke.

Everything in Hawk’s house, in fact, was out of a fairy tale. Including its owner, Pia thought whimsically.

It was easy to be enthralled, especially for a romantic such as herself…and Pia reminded herself again to keep her feet planted on the ground.

Hawk linked his hand with hers, and Pia allowed him to turn them back in the direction of the house.

Though it was a good fifteen minutes before they arrived at his suite, they snuggled and exchanged the occasional kiss along the way, heedless of whom they might encounter.

In his bedroom, Hawk looked into her eyes as he undressed her, slowly and tenderly, bringing tears to Pia’s eyes.

They made love languorously, as if they had not a care in the world, but all the time.

Afterward, Pia lay in Hawk’s arms, and sighed with contentment.

“We really have to stop doing this,” she remarked.

“What?” Hawk glanced down at her. “Making love in the afternoon?”

“Yes, it’s decadent.”

“It’s the only indulgence I’m allowed these days,” Hawk protested. “And my BlackBerry is beeping nearby.”

Pia lifted her head and smiled at him. “I’m not used to it.”

He raised an eyebrow. “This is beyond your realm of expertise?”

“Oh, Hawk, haven’t you guessed?” she asked tentatively.

He stilled, searching her gaze.

“You’re my first and only lover.” She paused, and then added, “Th-there hasn’t been anyone else in the past three years.”

Hawk’s brows drew together in puzzlement. “You’re a desirable woman—”

Pia gave a small, self-conscious laugh, her heart bursting. “I-it wasn’t for lack of opportunity, b-but by choice.”

Hawk shifted so he was looking down at her as she lay back. “I don’t understand. You’ve taken the initiative…unlike what I remembered.”

“Books and videos,” she answered succinctly. “I wanted to educate myself.”

So I’d never run the risk of losing you again to lack of experience.

Hawk said nothing for a moment, and Pia gave him a tentative smile.

Hawk’s expression softened. “Ah, Pia.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “I’m honored.”

She arched into him, responding intuitively to his advance.

“So that’s why you weren’t on any protection when we were first intimate again that day after rock climbing,” he murmured.

Pia nodded. “There hadn’t been any need.”

“That day, you said three years was a long time,” Hawk mused. “I thought you were referring to how long it had been since we’d last been together. But you meant since the last time you’d had sex, too, didn’t you?”

Pia nodded again, and then her eyes crinkled. “Care to shorten the time between sex?”

Hawk gave a half groan, half laugh. “Ah, Pia. It’s going to be difficult to keep up with you.”

She gave him a quick kiss, her look mischievous. “Your performance has been off the charts so far. I thought—”

“Minx.” He silenced her with a kiss.

And after that, neither of them got out of bed for a long while.

Hawk knew he was in too deep.

It was déjà vu. Except the first time he hadn’t suspected that Pia was a virgin, and this time, he hadn’t divined that she’d only ever had one lover. Him.

He felt a rush of possessiveness. He hadn’t liked thinking of Pia with other men—learning things…things that he could teach her.

Blast it.

“What do you think, Hawk?”

Hawk met three pairs of expectant female eyes. His mother, his sister and Pia were sitting in the Green Room at Silderly Park discussing assorted wedding details. He’d assumed a position by the mantel, at a safe remove.

“What do you think about seating Baron Worling next to Princess Adelaide of Meznia at dinner?” his mother asked, repeating and elaborating her question.

Hawk knew there was some nuance that he should understand, otherwise his mother wouldn’t have bothered asking. But for the life of him, he couldn’t think what it was.

Was Baron Worling a poor conversationalist? Did Princess Adelaide believe the baron was beneath her notice? Or perhaps one of the baron’s poor ancestors had dueled to the death with a member of Princess Adelaide’s royal family?