Hawksfell Manor 04: Derek's Dare (12 page)

“Can you feel me inside you, Diana?” Derek asked, his voice rough.

He stretched her, filled her, and she had never felt anything like it. “Oh, Derek…”

He moved slowly in and out of her. Pleasure spiked through her, and she grabbed onto Evan tighter. Her clit began to burn, her pussy to throb, as she longed for something more.

“Evan, touch me,” she gasped.

He used his cock to stroke her, but it wasn’t enough.

“Please, Evan!”

“Yes, love,” he rasped.

He reached a hand between her legs and pinched her clit. She cried out, the sensations so sharp. She was close. So very close to coming, she could scarcely breathe.

“Your cock, Evan.” She squeezed her eyes shut and wriggled in his lap. “I need your cock in my pussy!”

He shifted, holding his cock right at the very spot she needed it. “You’re dripping wet, Diana.” He moved the head back and forth and she yelped. “I can’t wait to feel you sliding up and down my shaft.”

“I’ll hold still,” Derek said, his voice strained. “I’m so close.” He leaned closer, his body slick with sweat. “Just a moment and you’ll have us both in your delectable body.”

Beads of sweat popped on her flesh at his words, allowing both of their bodies to slide deliciously against her. She managed a nod, biting her lip as Evan began to lower her on his cock. Derek did something, withdrawing a bit as Evan impaled her.

“Yessss!” she cried.

They began a rhythm, each moving and shifting in and out of her until she couldn’t tell where any of them ended. It was bliss. It was torture. It was everything she needed.

Her climax began where they touched her and radiated outward to her fingers and toes. They were talking to her, heated naughty words in her ear, and she broke. Wave after wave broke over her pulsing body as she came with a rush.

“I love you!” she sobbed.

Both men stilled for the space of a heartbeat then shuddered in unison as they both found their release. She collapsed against Evan’s chest, kissing his damp skin and breathing in his scent. When Derek brought his lips to her cheek, she turned her head and kissed him.

“I never imagined…” she whispered.

“That you loved us?” Evan brushed her tangled hair off her face. “I think I did.”

She buried her face in his chest. “Please don’t say anything about this.”

Derek withdrew from her and stretched out at Evan’s side. “Don’t say anything about what?”

She slid off of Evan and found herself wedged between them. Evan’s eyes were intent. “Evan?”

“I love you, Diana.”

Her heart raced for a few beats, and then she realized one horrible truth.

Derek was as silent as a tomb.

Chapter 12

Cabot dressed Derek for dinner, saying nothing as he fidgeted before the mirror. Once dressed and alone again, Derek sank onto the edge of the bed. What was he going to do about Diana? She’d been amazing today, and there was little doubt that he and Evan would never find another woman like her. He surprised himself, saying that was what he wanted. Evan seemed to be on board immediately, however. He obviously liked their girl very much. Their girl. God, she was that.

“For now.”

He couldn’t deny the future, horrible though it might be. He’d spilled his seed inside her as Evan had done. There was no going back after that. She could have a child, his or Evan’s. He’d thought he’d ruin her if he took her? Hell, he’d all but destroy her.

No matter. After Diana’s declaration, and Evan’s quick admission of his own feelings, he’d felt tight and hollow inside. To go from unspeakable pleasure to ice-cold terror left him breathless.

Neither Evan nor Diana pressed him on the prickly subject. Surely they didn’t want to hear him deny any sort of future with either one of them. That was what he would have to do, though. He was a Hawk, damn it. Ah, he never should have started any of this.

Dejected, he rose and went down to join the family. Diana looked gorgeous as usual, her beauty surpassing even Lady Hawksfell’s. She wouldn’t meet his gaze, though. No surprise there. After dinner, he begged off retiring for cigars with the gentlemen and stepped out onto the terrace. He was soon joined by Matthew Hawk.

“How is your stay at the manor thus far, Derek?” he asked.

“Splendid.” His gaze drifted over toward the general vicinity of the parlor where Diana was surely sitting, and apparently Matthew didn’t miss it.

“Got it bad, have you?” he asked in a low voice.

Derek started to protest then nodded. “I don’t know what to do about them.”

“Them?” Matthew arched a brow. “I take it there is more than one here for you? Not a maid or footman, I hope.”

Derek felt like he’d borrowed Evan’s affliction of blushing, his cheeks were so hot. “No.”

Matthew laughed. “You know my wife was a parlormaid here at the manor.”

“I had heard that, yes.”

“I love her more than my own life. Her and William both.”

“William?”

“First footman. I fell for both of them when I first came here. Well, I fell for Posy last spring actually.”

Derek tried to process what he said when something else struck him. “The earl and the countess. They, um…”

“Both love Michael.”

Derek was shocked. “But what of the curse? How can both you and Gabriel find lasting happiness?”

Matthew shrugged. “I guess it depends on luck. Hell, if I hadn’t found out my uncle lied to me my whole life, I never would have come to Hawksfell Manor.”

“My father broke my mother’s heart, Matthew. I couldn’t do that to either of them.”

“Then don’t.”

Derek put his hands in his pockets. “That is easier said than done. I have no notion of how to be true. I wouldn’t dare.”

“You wouldn’t? Would Mosley?”

Derek started. “You know?”

“Posy picked up on something. William confirmed that you and Diana were spending considerable time at the carriage house.”

Derek covered his face. “God, if I make Evan lose his position I don’t know how I could face him.”

“Don’t think for a moment that Gabriel will sack him. I’ve found my brother to have a generous heart where love is concerned.” He grinned. “I suspect my sister-in-law and her cousin brought that particular trait to the fore.”

“I’m not the earl.”

“Neither am I. Neither is Patrick. Yet, we found our own ways to break the curse.”

“I don’t know if I dare.”

Matthew patted him on the shoulder. “If not you, then who else?”

With that, Matthew left him alone with his thoughts. He did want a future with Diana, despite all his protests over the years. And now that Evan was in his life? He couldn’t imagine a better companion. Maybe they’d be better off without him, just the two of them living their lives. Diana had her own money. She and Evan could live quite comfortably. Without him. A tight ball formed in his chest.

“Like hell.”

He stalked back around the house and headed for the carriage house to tell Evan everything.

* * * *

Diana had escaped company at the manor once again and stood outside the garage. She couldn’t bear to see the obvious love and happiness shining on Lady Hawksfell and Lady Lyndhurst’s beautiful faces. Not when her future was so muddled. Evan loved her! That shouldn’t have surprised her. He’d shown all the signs. He came very close to making his confession that afternoon before they all went up to his rooms!

She hugged herself against the cold evening and made her way through the garage toward the stairs at the back. They had to talk about Derek. Maybe Evan would know just what to do, for she couldn’t see any way she could stay with him and not have Derek as well. She had always been a selfish creature. She might be greedy now as well, but she didn’t care. She loved them both and would have them both.

“Or neither,” she murmured as she climbed the stairs.

To her surprise Evan was waiting for her at his door. “I thought you’d come.” He led her into sitting room.

He kissed her and she took several moments to drink in his scent and taste. She missed the mingling of Derek’s, though. She pulled back and stared up at him. “What are you going to do about this?”

His brows raised. “About what?”

“You love me, Evan.”

He nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“And I love you.” She sucked in a breath. “You and Derek both.”

Evan sank down on the chair next to the fireplace. “What do you propose I do?”

“Propose?”

“I’d marry you tomorrow if I thought that would make you happy.”

Her breath caught. “You love me that much?”

“I do.” He blew out a breath. “But I love Derek, too.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Then you have to fix this. You work so diligently on the earl’s motors. Why not use your expertise on this?”

“Because I don’t know how to fix this. He’s afraid, Diana. Afraid to hurt you. Hell, I think he’s afraid to hurt me, too.”

Diana touched his shoulder. “He thinks he can’t have forever because he’s a Hawk.”

“Then there is nothing to be done,” Evan said.

“Yes, there is,” Derek said from the doorway.

She whirled to face him. “Why do you sneak in here every time?”

* * * *

Derek shrugged. He was nearly out of breath from his flight from the terrace. “I have to make sure the two of you don’t shut me out.”

Evan rose. “I would never do that. You’ve loved Diana for so long.”

The uncertainty on her face cut him. “You love me?”

“Yes, Diana. I fought it, but I surrender at last.”

She ran to his arms, burying her face in his chest. “I love you, Derek. You and Evan both.”

“I know.” He lifted her chin and kissed her with more tenderness than he’d ever displayed. He smiled down at her. “I love Evan, too.”

Evan grinned and wrapped his arms around the two of them. “Then that’s it!”

“What?” she asked Evan.

“You’ll marry Derek, of course.”

It was perfect. “Capital! I have the fortune and the title, but Evan will be an equal partner. Is that what you’re thinking, Evan?”

“Exactly.”

Her legs went slack beneath her and she clutched at Derek’s jacket as he led her over to the bed. She sat down, clenching her fists in her lap. “Do you mean it, Derek?”

He’d never meant anything more. “I won’t hurt either one of you” he vowed. “You have my promise.”

She kissed each of them and smiled, her eyes bright. “You both love me. I feel like I’m floating! I’m going to have the both of you forever?”

“Of course,” Evan said. “Derek, where shall we live?”

He hadn’t given this much thought, but it came to him like a flash. “My mother’s house,” he said. “It’s high time that place saw some happiness, I think.”

Diana clasped her hands. “And Evan can work on your motors!”

Derek laughed, a light sound bubbling up from his chest. That tight ball of dread was gone. He’d tried to fight this. To leave Diana alone and keep on as he had been. But after loving her with Evan, he knew he had to risk everything to grab onto the future he truly wanted.

He discovered it was a dare worth taking.

THE END

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