It seemed that the Hawks who came to visit the Earl of Hawksfell found true love or something or other. He didn’t really hold much to the theory of love, despite the earl’s apparently happy marriage. His parents had certainly never been happy on the farm. Oh, they’d seemed content but he’d never seen any passion there. More than once he wondered if he’d been left at the farm by fairies. Yes, he had his mother’s blonde hair and blue eyes but in mood and temperament he’d always felt out of place.
Here at the manor, though? Here he felt in his element. He was poised to take over the position of first footman, once William vacated it sometime in the near future. William was also involved with a Hawk man, along with the pretty little former parlor maid Posy. Yet another woman put out of his own reach, not that he’d really had chance with either Posy or Lily. No, both those girls had seemed immune to his particular brand of charm. This one, however, seemed ready for a tumble.
“I’m waiting for Mr. Carstairs’ orders, Ivy,” he said, letting his eyes run over her, taking in her crisp uniform and pristine apron. The little lace cap on top of her head was straight and her hair was neat and tidy. “Not all of us have such an undemanding employer.”
Ivy shrugged, an obvious gesture that drew her blouse tight against her ample breasts. “It’s true Lady Hawksfell doesn’t like to be fussed over.” Her eyes ran over the front of his trousers and his body began to react. “I’m content to watch you standing at attention, as it were.”
He waited for the rush of heat the exchange should bring. For his heart to pound as his blood rushed to his cock. It wouldn’t take much to make himself respond to her. She was lovely and built for pleasure. That was certain. Did he want to start up something with another servant, though? For the first time in his memory he didn’t believe so.
He glanced down the hallway and saw that no one was about. He was in the bachelor’s wing, seeing that the rooms were ready for another Hawk to visit within the next few days. These rooms were far from the family bedrooms though, which confirmed his supposition that Ivy was ready for a ride. Not only did she have no business in this part of the house but they were far from any other servants at this time of day. Stepping away from the wall at his back, he came to stand very close to her.
She swayed toward him and placed a hand on his arm. “These rooms are vacant, Cabot.” She licked her full lips. “The manor has no visitors at present.”
He let his body brush against hers. “Never say you want a tumble, Ivy.”
“With you?” Her eyes flared. “Oh, I’ve heard you give a woman a good ride.”
That comment stilled him. She’d heard about him, then. From whom? He’d pleased a good many of the maids and a few of the grooms over the past two years. Though after the business with the earl’s particular rules of employment, he didn’t believe anyone would speak of such matters. Not now that the earl was happily married and no longer needed release from his staff.
“You’ve heard?” He braced his hands on either side of her head and leaned close. “From whom?”
She shrugged, her cheeks going pink. “Not heard, precisely. No one would tell me anything about what goes on at the manor.”
“What went on,” he corrected automatically.
He immediately regretted his words. Interest showed in her big brown eyes.
“What went on, Cabot?” she asked, breathless.
He thought for a way out. God, maybe he should just fuck her to shut her up. He felt loyalty to the earl for giving him this position with no experience. He knew he’d been hired because he was tall and considered handsome, as a good footman in a great house should be. If he’d had to please the earl before that business ended, he didn’t want anyone speaking of it. Certainly not this pert maid so newly come to Hawksfell.
“Go below to see if Mrs. Holmes needs your help, then,” he said. He softened the dismissal with another smile. “You’ll find Mrs. Holmes a caring housekeeper and a gentle woman.” And a person who doesn’t pass or allow gossip in the servants hall.
Ivy nodded even as she blinked in confusion. “She is kind.”
He just stepped away, straightening his jacket. “I’ll see you after dinner service, Ivy.”
She nodded, her eyes downcast now. “Indeed.” With that she left for the stairs down to the servants hall.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he headed in the opposite direction. He could have taken her into one of the guest rooms along this corridor and fucked her until she couldn’t walk straight. It would have shut her inquisitive mouth and eased his own frustrations. As he passed through the family wing and went down the main stairs to the ground floor, he thought about the past months since the earl’s marriage.
More than one damn Hawk had come to the manor, some with their lovers in tow, some with their minds set on stealing one or another member of the earl’s loyal staff. Even as he thought that he knew he wasn’t being fair in the assessment, however. Over the past months quite a few marriages had taken place with a Hawk man at the center. One or the other of that Hawk’s lovers did prove to be a maid or footman, though. It was passing strange. He’d never imagined servants could mingle with people of quality. Yet all he’d seen suggested they’d found love here.
“Love,” he muttered as he reached the servants hall.
“What’s that, Cabot?” Mr. Carstairs asked.
The stout butler was imposing and still frightened Cabot a little bit. “Nothing, Mr. Carstairs.”
“I take it the rooms in the bachelor wing are readied?”
“Yes, Mr. Carstairs. How is this Hawk related to the earl?”
Most of the Hawks were cousins but there was the time the earl’s previously unknown half brother came to stay. He was now Posy’s husband, actually.
The butler bristled, his round face going a little red. “It is not our place to inquire, Cabot.”
Cabot kept his expression even and the butler eased in his rigidity.
“It seems another Hawk cousin is indeed coming for a visit, however,” Mr. Carstairs finished.
For some reason, the confirmation made Cabot feel out of sorts.
“The rooms are ready, Mr. Carstairs,” he said.
The butler nodded. “Good, good. I don’t know if he will arrive alone, however.” His lips thinned. “I believe I’ll have one of the maids see to the rooms near the family wing as well.”
Cabot’s brows rose. A woman was coming as well? He knew he couldn’t ask that question of Mr. Carstairs. The man would turn apoplectic at such open curiosity. Instead, he just nodded and went to see about dinner service. His mind was churning, though. Was this newest Hawk coming alone? The last one came with his friend in tow, and both men had swept Lily off her delicate feet. Fucked her, too. Hard and often before making an honest woman of her.
He didn’t fault Lily one bit for succumbing to Graham Hawk’s raw sexuality. He himself had been attracted to all of the Hawks who visited. He was able to admit that to himself. They were all of them much like the earl himself. Big and strong with those compellingly dark Hawk eyes. No doubt all would fall under this new Hawk’s spell upon his arrival, whether he brought a gentleman or a lady with him or arrived alone.
Cabot went to the long table in the common room and settled into a chair. What was it to him if they got up to something?
“Let them fuck Ivy,” he grumbled.
He would just focus on his work and put all thoughts of sex and Hawks out of his mind.
* * * *
Victor sat before the fire the next afternoon, mulling over the response he’d sent to the Earl of Hawksfell. He’d decided to accept the man’s offer and, in a flash of foolishness, added that he wouldn’t be arriving alone. He was going to ask Violet to accompany him. His gut told him it was a big mistake to take her along, yet his heart ached when he thought of her alone in this big house. The memory of the hurt in those gorgeous violet eyes of hers still cut him. “No place else to go,” she’d said. As much as he longed to get away from the
temptation she posed every day, he couldn’t leave her here.
He hadn’t broached the subject yet, however. He suspected that, deep down, his motives were less pure on that count. Perhaps if he got her away from Ralston House he could find a way to indulge in a few fantasies without ruining her. Maybe kissing her some more or touching her pussy to make her come. His Hawk beast swiftly rose and he cursed.
“Not again,” he muttered.
“What is that, Victor?” Violet asked.
He breathed in, letting her scent waft over him from the doorway. “Nothing, Violet.”
She tilted her blonde head, a gesture of innocence that nonetheless had a pull for him of which he was certain she was unaware.
“Are you off for Hawksfell, then?” she asked.
He heard a note of sadness in her voice and straightened. “Sit, Violet,” he said, waving to the chair opposite.
Her long lashes fluttered but she did as he bade. She folded her hands in her lap. “What is it?”
He took in a breath and stared into her eyes for a heartbeat. “I want you to come to Hawksfell Manor with me.”
Her lovely mouth gaped open. “You want…” More lash fluttering followed and a stain of pink spread over her cheeks. “You want me to come with you?”
“I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone.” It was all he would admit to. “This house is too damned quiet.”
She bit her lip for a moment and then her eyes lit with obvious delight at the prospect. “Oh, I hear the manor is most impressive!” She clasped her hands. “Are you certain they won’t mind an unexpected guest? I wouldn’t want to intrude on your family visit.”
He shook his head. “I’ve already let them know that you’re coming with me. Besides, it’s hardly a family visit.”
She eyed him, then nodded. “They are your family, Victor.”
He sneered. “Hawks.”
To his shock she rose and joined him on the chair. She was a small thing, but there was still hardly room for her to squeeze in next to his big body. Her ass slid over his hip as she settled beside him and took one of his hands in hers. Her fingers felt fragile clasped to his large ones.
“They are your family, Victor. Perhaps this visit will do you some good.”
He studied her face then let his gaze dip down to her décolletage. Her bosom was plump and rosy and he could glimpse the enticing shadow between her breasts. His beast stirred again and he squeezed her hand.
“Some good, Violet?” he asked, bringing his face to hers. “Do you believe I at least deserve that?”
Her eyes were deep dark purple now. Her tongue flicked out to wet her luscious lips and he leaned closer still.
“Victor…”
He kissed her again. It was like yesterday but so much more. Plunging his tongue into her sweet mouth, he took what he wanted. She whimpered, then moaned softly. There was no mistaking the pleasure in that sound. It was all the invitation he needed.
“God, Violet.” He dragged his lips over her smooth cheek and down to her throat.
A stroke of his tongue at the base revealed the flutter of her pulse. She turned in the chair, and her breasts rubbed against his chest as she reached up to grab onto his shoulders. He’d never touched her before, aside from that first brief kiss, but his fingers itched to stroke her. His urgency was great enough to make up for any fumbling at the back of her dress. He’d never had to undress a woman whose corset laced in the back. Hell, he’d never undressed any of the maids he’d fucked either.
He managed to loosen her corset enough to ease it away from her breasts and before she could do more than gasp he tugged down her chemise and had her bared to his eyes.
She was beautiful. Her breasts were round and white and topped with rosy pink nipples. His mouth watered. He bent his head and breathed in her scent. Then he closed his mouth over one bud and sucked hard.
“Oh, my!” she cried, clutching at his head.
He licked and teethed her as his hand found its way up under her skirt. She froze for an instant, then parted her smooth thighs just enough to let him sneak two fingers very near her pussy. Her drawers were damp and he could feel her heat.
“You’re wet,” he marveled aloud. “God, you’re wet and hot.”
He was seized with a wildness as he stroked her as deep and hard as he dared. Her little moans of delight told him she was close, and when he pinched her clit she cried out. Placing his mouth on hers, he kissed her as he drove her over the edge. Her juices soaked his fingers as she trembled in his arms.
He eased away from her and slowly withdrew his hand from under her skirt. He was shaking now, his cock about to burst if he didn’t find release soon. She, on the other hand, was languid against the arm of the chair, a look of bliss on her face.
“Oh, Victor.” Her eyes opened and she gazed at him. “What you did to me…”
Her breasts were still bare and bore faint red marks from the bristles on his jaw. He longed for another taste. “I hadn’t meant to.”
She must have heard the pain in his voice despite his effort to restrain it. Her brow furrowed over worried eyes.
Pulling up the bodice of her dress, she leaned toward him. “What’s wrong?” Her hand inadvertently touched his shaft and he winced. She dropped her gaze to his trousers, her eyes going wide. “Your cock.”
His mouth dropped open. “How do you know about such things?”
She shrugged, her eyes never leaving his crotch. “I’d heard about you, Victor.” She met his gaze then. “About your needs.”
He wasn’t going to discuss his dark needs with this innocent girl. As he started to rise, she placed her hand on his cock and he realized she might not be as innocent as he thought. “Violet!”
His buttons gave way easily and she reached inside to grasp him. He hissed at the sensation of her fingers on his skin.
“Let me ease you, Victor,” she said, her face serious. “Oh, you are as large as they say.”
“H–how do you know…?” He closed his eyes and swallowed a groan as she stroked him. “How the hell do you know how to ease me?”
She laughed softly and he opened his eyes. She was blushing as she awkwardly, and very effectively, rubbed the head of his cock. “Don’t you know one of the best features of living in a large house, Victor?”
He swallowed again and shook his head.
She stroked him long and slow. “The gossip.”
He wrapped his hand around hers, giving up any resistance to letting her release him. He needed to come and he couldn’t do it alone.
“Let me show you the particulars,” he bit out.
She stared down at him and licked her lips and he did groan at last. He was going to explode any moment now. Again and again their hands moved over his shaft, her soft fingers between his own hand and his flesh. Just a few more strokes and then he came with a shout, trembling against her as he spilled his seed on his trousers.
“Oh, my,” she said as she had earlier.
He blew out a breath and removed her hand from him. Tucking his cock back in his pants, he withdrew a handkerchief and wiped up as best he could. Sliding his gaze to hers, he waited for the revulsion to strike her. To his surprise she smiled.
“You’re better now,” she said.
He stood. “Yes, I’ve recovered.”
“Recovered?” She blinked up at him. “It’s not a malady, Victor.”
“Isn’t it?” He ran his fingers through his hair and turned away. “I can’t control myself, Violet. Apparently my damned Hawk lusts are so high I let my dear cousin give me pleasure.”
“Dear?” Her voice held a hope he couldn’t let her foster.
“You’d be wise to stay away from me,” he said. “For my part, I promise to never touch you again.”
Her skirts rustled as she came to her feet. “Never?”
He couldn’t look at her. She’d have that expression of adoration she’d worn after he gave her what he knew for certain was her first orgasm. She was alrea
dy dependent on him. He wouldn’t have her fancying herself in love with him, too.
“Go, Violet. Ready your things for tomorrow.”
“Then you still wish for me to come with you to Hawksfell Manor?”
Her voice was tremulous and he cursed himself. He couldn’t cause her even more pain tonight. He faced her at last. Her clothes were rumpled, her hair mussed and her eyes huge in her flushed and lovely face.
“I said you’d be accompanying me, didn’t I?” he asked her a little too sharply.
She gave a shaky nod and hurried from the room.
“Damn it.” He sank down into the chair once more. The scent of their sex mingled and he couldn’t help but breathe in deeply.
And now he was going to meet his Hawk relatives with her in tow. He cursed.
“What the hell have I done?”
Chapter 3
“Another Hawk is to arrive,” Ivy said, her voice trembling with obvious excitement.
Cabot kept his features even as he stepped away from her to find his place in line with the other servants assembled on the drive. The day was bitter cold but they were all to meet the arriving guests as was expected. At least the wind wasn’t blowing on this side of the house and the sun was bright.
Mr. Carstairs and Mrs. Holmes were at the front of the line, followed by Grayson, Lord Hawksfell’s valet. Ivy stood beside him as Lady Hawksfell’s maid. Cabot was a bit farther down the line as footman but he still had an unobstructed view of the fine motor making its way toward the manor.
As it rolled smoothly to a stop on the drive, he felt a flicker of excitement. Yes, this was another Hawk. Yes, this was another man no doubt gifted and cursed as all the Hawks were. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t interested in this one, though.
The chauffeur jumped out of the car and opened the back door. A slight figure stepped out, wrapped in a fine cloak. Cabot could glimpse a shapely figure beneath, however. He had a talent for spotting a pair of fine breasts despite any cover. The woman lifted her head and her hood fell back, revealing hair as blonde as his own. Her face was exquisite, an oval dominated by large dark blue eyes. He stared at her exposed throat, seeing the smooth taut skin. For an instant he wondered if he placed his face in the hollow of her throat would she smell as sweet as she looked.
Victor's Vow [Lords of Hawksfell Manor 6] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Page 2