Free Hawksfell Manor 05: Graham's Game by Josie Dennis

“He did.”
    “Who was it?” Colin asked.
    She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, does it?”
    “We can expose him,” Colin added.
    “No, we can’t,” Graham said. “He was a noble, yes?” At her nod, he went on. “There’s little a servant can do in that situation. Believe me, I’ve gleaned a bit of information of the previous generation of Hawks. From the earl’s father to Matthew Hawk’s uncle, a noble can hold power over his servants with little recourse.”
    “Bastard,” Colin said.
    Graham found a smile. “Yes well, not all of us are legitimate.”
    Colin chuckled, catching his intent to lighten the mood a bit. “When was this, Lily?” he asked.
    She straightened her shoulders. “Before I came here. I admit the glowing recommendation the old baron wrote me might have been a bit…forced as well.”
    “Ha! Good for the rutting lout,” Graham said. He grabbed a gentle hold of her and urged her to rest between them once again. “Was he your first?”
    “My only.” She ducked her head but he saw she blushed prettily. “Until you two, that is.”
    Something shifted in Graham’s chest at her admission. He was her first after what had happened to her? His heart began to race. He searched his mind at a lightning pace. Was he much different than that “old baron,” really? He hadn’t forced her, no. Yet he’d used every tool in his blasted Hawk bag of tricks to seduce her.
    “I’m sorry,” he muttered.
    “For what?” she asked.
    “I should never have…” He held out his hands. “I should have known you weren’t experienced.”
    “How?” she asked.
    “You’re very small, Lily,” Colin said. He winked. “And hot and tight and wet.”
    “Colin!” She laughed a bit, losing that haunted expression in her eyes. “This is so strange,” she went on. “I don’t know quite what this is.”
    Graham had to find some steadier footing and fast. He had no idea what this was among them, and he wasn’t going to sit here trying to figure it out. Not with the two of them still within reach. “Let’s not worry about that now, love.”
    Colin blinked then offered her a smile. “Graham’s right. Sometimes trying to put a name on something can prove too stifling.”
    As Lily seemed to accept Colin’s assertions, Graham’s gut twisted again. Here he was, naked and spent with two people he wanted more than any others he’d ever encountered, and he was eager to quit the room before there was any possibility that talk would turn to hearts and flowers.
    He took the avenue Colin paved for him and didn’t say anything more about just what, precisely, this was among the three of them.
    But damn him to hell, he couldn’t wait to be with them both again and soon.

Chapter 9
     
    The next afternoon Lily found herself at Colin’s door again. She’d tried to stay away, especially after confiding her awful secret to him and Graham. Neither seemed to judge her, however. She thought back to when Posy had still been a maid here. Her reputation had dogged her heels so fiercely that Lily had known of it despite the months passed since the earl’s wedding. A glimmer of hope flickered just out of reach. If Posy was able to set aside those rumors and secure the loves of her life, was there a chance for Lily?
    “I’m not going to be a viscountess,” she chided herself. Graham might not wish to discuss what this all was, but she knew. She was a plaything, though a willing one this time. He and Colin knew just what she wanted and she wasn’t going to worry about it now.
    Taking a breath, she raised her hand to rap lightly on the door.
    “Back for more, sweet Lily?” Graham asked, his mouth close to her ear.
    She spun to find him looming over her. His scent surrounded her and his heat was evident. He only wore his shirt and tweed trousers, and he looked remarkable.
    “Graham,” she gasped.
    He smiled. “Looking to get fucked, love?”
    Her mouth dropped open. His words should have shocked her, and