Naughty Knight

  After years of denying himself the pleasure of love, the very last thing a Knight wants is to restrain his heart…

  Percival has been living an uncomplicated life. Until he agrees to pick up a pig-scented Addie Fontaine. She’s a woman who dreams of a family and of love. The kind of woman he often avoids. Addie, however, is not easy to forget. She’s pure, innocent, a virgin.

  Addie Fontaine has been living in the convent for five years to hide, to stay away from her past. She has made a life with the sisters and dreams that one day she’ll join the order. But things change when she meets the tall, drool-worthy Percival Knight. His charm, touch, kisses, and a day at the lagoon quickly change her mind.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Naughty Knight

  Copyright © 2013 Tierney O’Malley

  ISBN: 978-1-77111-470-7

  Cover art by Scott Carpenter

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books

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  www.eXtasybooks.com

  Naughty Knight

  A Knight Brother Novel

  By

  Tierney O’Malley

  For my husband, Tom. I love you more each day.

  Chapter One

  Percival grinned at Lucan drooling all over his leg. Man, his heart burst with love for this little boy. His first nephew. “Hang on tight, buddy. If Grandma Teta hears you cry and finds a miniscule owwie on you, she’ll probably bury me alive. That is, after she castrates me.”

  “If his mom and dad didn’t kill you first,” Gawain said without taking his eyes off Percival’s iPhone. He’d been playing a popular game about angry birds since Percival showed it to him. “And if you break a bone on that boy, I’ll bury you alive.”

  Percival shook his head, insulted that his brother would even think that he’d let anything happen to Lucan. “I’ll fucking cut my own dick if I have to, if it would mean Lucan’s safety. For you to even think—”

  “Dick!” Lucan yelled.

  Gawain grinned at Percival. “Now, Julie will definitely kill you, asshole. You know he repeats—”

  “Ass, ass. Hole! Uncle, uncle. Assss,” Lucan repeated.

  Percival couldn’t help it. He laughed. For some damn reason, his nephew was good in hearing bad words and repeating it. “He is, bud, but don’t say it. Especially in front of your mommy, okay?” To Gawain, he said, “A.S.S. What are you doing here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be tinkering with your airplanes?”

  “Got to fly to Seattle. Edgar screwed up.”

  Edgar had been Gawain’s employee for three years. In all those years, Edgar had managed to lose more than a handful of luggage, but Gawain didn’t have the heart to fire the man.

  Three years ago, Gawain met Edgar when he made an emergency landing on Lake Chelan, but his plane flipped. Gawain hit his head and lost consciousness. There were people around, but no one had risked their lives swimming on the freezing lake or going near an upside down plane. Except for Edgar. If it weren’t for the man, Gawain would have had drowned.

  “What did Edgar do this time?”

  “Apparently, he misplaced our customer’s box containing ashes. I talked to Edgar on the phone. He said someone must have taken it.”

  “Maybe he’s telling the truth.”

  “Maybe. Still, this is the third incident involving Edgar. He’s getting forgetful.”

  “Can you give him another job?”

  “I would have to create one for him. Every position I can think of is filled already. Man, this is not my favorite part of the job.”

  “Told you, running a charter business doesn’t mean flying planes all the time. There are more important things involved.”

  “I know that, genius.” Gawain shot Percival an annoyed look. “I’ll only be gone for a few days.”

  “Just make sure you’re here for Lucan’s big day.”

  “Of course. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. You’re still working on the slideshow?”

  “Finished. This little one will be a star on his big day.”

  Gawain tossed the iPhone on the couch, landing it beside Percival. He crossed his arms against his chest. “Have you gotten him a present, yet?”

  “Yes.” Percival leaned back on the couch and lifted his feet together. He laughed at his nephew clinging to his legs.

  “Let me guess. A new computerized robot Lucan can call a friend. Kind of like your one and only best friend…Computer Suzie, who greets you in the morning. Hello Percival. Would you like to masturbate today.” Gawain laughed.

  Percival mouthed, fuck you.

  “Love you, too, bro. Don’t know how you can stand talking to a computer.”

  Percival earned a grin from his brother. “Don’t know how you get an erection by rubbing your airplane.”

  “What can I say? She’s beautiful. Hey, thanks for installing Bluetooth in Kat. Now, you’ll have to show me how to use it.”

  “I gave you the manual.”

  Gawain gave Percival a droll stare. “You expect me to read a six hundred page manual?”

  “Yes.

  “Fun-fuckingtastic,” Gawain mumbled.

  “Up, up!” Lucan demanded. His big blue eyes and long lashes were a replica of Tristan’s and his plump lips always reminded him of Julie’s. Whatever his brother and beautiful sister-in-law did to make this beautiful boy, they did it wonderfully.

  Percival wrapped his fingers around Lucan’s armpits. “You’re gonna be a heartbreaker someday.”

  “Of course, he will be. He’s a fu…dging Knight.”

  “More, more!”

  “Alright, Superman. Here we go.” With his nephew’s plump soft butt anchored on his feet, he lifted his legs together.

  Lucan shut his eyes tight, then squealed in high pitch, “Yeee!”

  Percival’s heart soared, seeing his nephew laugh without care. It was incredible how a child could find happiness in a simple thing like riding on someone’s feet. In addition, it was equally remarkable how a little child could make his uncle feel so proud. God, he loved this boy.

  Lucan was the result of his brother Tristan and Julie’s lovely story. A romance that, until now, the family still talked about. His brother Bors found his match, too. Bors and Taylor’s story, however, was more dramatic. It involved some ass-kicking, gun drawing, and scary near-death experiences. Taylor, daughter of exiled Congressman Bruno Jean, was one beautiful and talented woman. The first woman who made his tough FBI brother cry. Not that Bors would admit to it. Pretty soon, Lucan here would have a cousin to play with.

  His brothers were lucky. They’d found the women both of them proudly called soul mates. Yet, to his estimation, not everyone was destined to find the right one. Finding someone to play with—no problem there. But someone to marry? Shit. He’d never find her and he’d never look. No.

  He’d been with numerous women, dated them, enjoyed their companies. Hell, he couldn’t imagine the world without them. Women were butter on warm toasts, cream on top of a slice of pie, sunshine on a cold day. They were simply magnificent creatures, but he didn’t want them stuck with him twenty-four seven. No. Relationship equals complication, trouble, heartaches, worries. He’d had affairs in the past and a serious one. All had only given him pain and a bitter lesson.

  Love, in his book, was something beyond anyone’s control. It could spiral downward or upward. He saw what Tristan’s first marriage had done to him, witnessed him fall in love again and suffer through fear of losing Julie when she labored in the hospital for hours. Bors, his tough FBI agent brother, gave up his badge and faced the badass goons for the sake of Taylor, and went half-crazy without seeing her for few days. Both of his brothers were helpless. Bogged down by pain that they couldn’t stop nor control. That was what love could do to any man—even the strong ones.

  When they were young boys and Bors ended up in the hospital, their mom had cried all night when she thought no one was looking. His dad sat in his car and stayed there with his head on the steering wheel, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Again, their love caused the pain. They loved Bors so much that it nearly killed them, it immobilized them to think that they could lose him. That day, he felt fear and unbearable pain. That day, he learned to pray.

  There was Gawain’s near-death incident. He nearly died when his plane crashed. Old wounds and fear came crashing back. Dark clouds hung above the family, not knowing when it would burst open and break their hearts. His sister nearly died, too, when she ate something she wasn’t supposed to by accident. That incident ripped the whole family’s heart apart. He didn’t want to go through that again.

  Then, there was Lily.

&nbs
p; They were both twenty-one when they’d met. She was the soulmate he’d been looking for. Seven months into their relationship, he proposed. She accepted. That same day, she slept with his best friend. She married him two months later.

  Percival waited for the pain to come from the memory. Nothing. A bit of sadness, yes. No more pain, though. He moved on. However, the bitter lesson of Lily’s betrayal served as a reminder of his foolishness that he never wanted to repeat. His mom explained that he loved to the fullest and without reservations. He let his feelings possess him—the reason why he was left so vulnerable. And she was right.

  If he ever loved again, and married, it would be the same. He would love his wife to the fullest. He knew that. What would he do then if something horrible happened to her? Life would cease to exist. No fucking way he’d let that happen.

  He stared at his nephew. If he married and had children, what would he do if his babies got sick? Shit, he’d be better off having a one-night stand. Less headache. No heartache.

  He’d been avoiding serious relationships for quite some time now and it had been working fine. Besides, he had given his heart to his family. It wasn’t big enough to share it with another woman. And that was that.

  Heart full of love, his gaze roamed around Lucan’s small almost two-year-old body. He lowered his legs and grinned at him. Lucan stuck his tongue out to run it back and forth across his bottom lip. What a beautiful boy, he thought. Lucan’s birth had brought so much joy in the Knight family. The first grandson, the first nephew—but he wasn’t his. Something akin to jealousy pricked his chest.

  Shit. Why should he feel jealous? Also, where in the fucking world did that feeling come from?

  “Fly, fly!”

  Percival realized he was momentarily lost in his reverie. “Okay, tough kid. Hang on.”

  “High! High!”

  Percival lifted his feet higher until Lucan’ butt went up in the air. His nephew gulped before he screamed his favorite word, weeehhh.

  Teta came in the room with a scowl that could shrink the most ill-mannered criminal’s balls.

  “Percival Knight! What are you trying to do? Break the boy’s bones before his second birthday? Do you have any idea what his parents went through to create this child?”

  “I think I have an idea how this handsome boy was created.”

  Teta let out her classic harrumph with her lips pursed so tight they resembled a chicken’s butt. “Quit tossing him up like that if you don’t want his breakfast all over your shirt.” She placed a can of Coors beer on the coffee table. “Here’s your beer.” She then tossed the other to Gawain.

  Percival stopped lifting his legs and raised a questioningly brow at Gawain. His brother just shrugged, placed the can beside him where he sat on the windowsill and then crossed his arms again. Teta had been advocating for no beer in the house. Only outside. The smell, she said, reminded her of the hobos downtown that hadn’t showered for months. So, what gives? he thought. “Thanks, Teta. It’s too early for beer.”

  Teta made a noise that came out of her nose, but could have come out on her other end also. “When is it too early to drink alcohol for a Knight?”

  What? The Knight brothers were a loud, boisterous bunch, but they were no drinkers. Yeah, they drink, especially when watching a game or scrimmaging, but not whenever. Especially not this early. Fuck, his stomach hadn’t even digested his breakfast.

  Gawain fished his cell phone out of his pocket, looked at the screen, then stood up. “Gotta go.” He lifted Lucan from his perch on Percival’s legs and gave his nephew a tight hug. “Love you, bud.”

  Lucan squealed with delight when Gawain tossed him in the air repeatedly.

  “That’s enough, Gawain. That boy has swallowed enough air he’ll be farting all day.”

  Gawain placed Lucan back on Percival’s legs. “Thanks for the beer, Teta, but can’t drink right now.” To Percival, he said. “See you later, butt-crack. Call me.”

  “Will do, prune balls.” Picking up the cell phone was their MO if they didn’t want to stick around. Obviously, Gawain didn’t want to be around Teta.

  “Make sure you call Mom and Dad.”

  “Always, bro.”

  After exchanging a homie handshake, Gawain left.

  “Aren’t you brothers too old to keep calling each other names?”

  “No. Besides, it is what separates us from the rest of the world. Those who can’t dig how we treat each other can go fu—find someone to associate with.”

  “You’re all odd…in a good way.”

  Percival nearly lost his hold on Lucan. Did Teta just compliment the Knight brothers? “Thanks, Teta.”

  “I’ll bet my gun your brother’s going to play gynecologist.”

  “He’s leaving for Seattle.”

  “Right. After he plays doctor. Women are so crazy about him. I’m sure a day will come when one of them would make Gawain go down on his knee.”

  Percival sat Lucan on his lap and rubbed the baby’s back. His brother—he was sure—had been going down on his knees in front of a woman. Not to propose of course, but for entirely different reason he didn’t want to mention to Teta. He grinned at the thought.

  “Your sister came by today…and Edmund, too.”

  “Edmund?”

  “Yes. She carried Lucan around, went to the nursery, and were there for a long time.”

  “Kirsten’s with Edmund?”

  “Yeah. She said Edmund would know what perfect gift to give since he’s a pediatrician. If you ask me, those two are just looking for an excuse to be together.”

  “Damn.”

  “Sheez. Your sister is not a little girl anymore. I’m sure they’ve been spending time alone together. Oh, don’t look shocked. What, you still expect your sister to be a virgin? I bet they’ve been doing it a long time.”

  “Teta, for fuck sakes. Kirsten is—”

  “In love with the man, and that Edmund will give her all the planets if he could.”

  “Edmund is in love with my sister. Not—”

  “Open your eyes and stop thinking about Kirsten as a five year old.”

  “I don’t.”

  Teta made that weird noise at the back of her throat again. “Yeah, right. Only a stupid blind man won’t see those two are hot for each other. You should have seen them when they finally emerged from the nursery. Kirsten’s face glowed like a shiny, waxed floor. Her hair had been mussed, too. The pediatrician’s smile could reach the moon. Oh, yeah. They’ve been doing it.”

  “While she held Lucan,” Percival said, trying to be contrary.

  “Don’t think me an idiot, Knight. When I say they’re doing it, I’m thinking he’s pleasuring—”

  “Stop.” He held his hand up, palms facing Teta. “I don’t want to talk about my sister getting hot and heavy with Edmund or any man. That’s just…no. Hard to imagine.”

  “Well, your sister is a beautiful woman. Kirsten has a certain glow on her that you see on a woman who just had a good orgasm. Sooner or later, she will get married.”

  Percival groaned. This must stop. Anyone who had just met Teta would be shocked to hear her talk about sex and orgasm as if she were discussing quilting or basketry. Not him. The Knights knew Teta for years and were accustomed to hearing her say outrageous things. This was different, though. She was talking about his own sister having an orgasm. It was so damn uncomfortable.

  “Teta, let’s just drop—”

  “But I’m telling you, Knight, your sister and Edmund are in the same car right now. They said they’ll go shopping, but are probably parked somewhere making out.”

  Good fucking God. “Don’t tell Bors that. He’ll raise hell.”

  “I don’t understand you boys. Your sister is only human with feelings, and she has feelings for that pediatrician.”

  “His name is Edmund.”

  “Whatever. All I’m saying is, let go of her leash. She’s no longer a child who climbed in that tree house you boys built for her. Notice the change in her. She’s old now. Old enough to procreate.”

  “Okay. Enough about Kirsten, please.”

  “Don’t know why they have to go shopping. The boy’s bedroom looks like a toy store. She’s spoiling the kid.”