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Then, Gemma laughed softly, clearing the somber air. “Frederick… is it not strange how the two of us ended up here, after all that we have endured?”

He raised an eyebrow, curious. “What do you mean?”

“Here we are, playing the parts we once scorned, attending balls and making polite conversation. And yet… somehow, this no longer feels as unbearable as before.”

Frederick chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Perhaps not. But I think that is only because of the company,” he said, his voice warm as he gazed at her. “I never expected to find anyone here who truly understood.”

Her heart swelled with an unfamiliar tenderness. She too had never expected to feel so comfortable or be so open with anyone.

Gemma smiled. “Neither did I. And yet… here we are. Two souls with burdens to carry.”

“Gemma,” he murmured, his tone serious. “I may not believe in much of what society stands for… but… I have come to respect you greatly, and, more than that… I care for you.”

Her breath caught. “Frederick… I?—”

“I know, you wish to remain unattached and free… but I cannot help how I feel.”

“I appreciate that… I…I am just saying that… that… well, our paths will ultimately separate. I do not know when exactly, but they will, Frederick. And although it is wonderful to be in your company, I do not belong in your world. Perhaps we ought to be more careful about what we say to each other from now on.”

Frederick opened his mouth to respond but then closed it.

He knew she was right.

Finally, he nodded. “All right then.”

Without warning he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her deeply.

His kiss was heated but gentle, and when he finally pulled away she sighed softly, unhappy by the disconnect.

“Come,” he demanded, pulling her with him into a small storage room that the servants used to move between the larger lounges and the sitting rooms.

“F-Frederick.”

“I want you.”

With those words all reason melted away and all she could think about was how much she also wanted him.

She let him set her upon a small shelf in the room, lifting her skirts as he knelt down and draped her legs over his shoulders.

“Oh,” she let out as his tongue ran up and down her center, sending thunderous shivers all over her body.

God, that mouth of his. He knows exactly what to do with it.

“Please do not stop,” she panted, running her hands through his hair.

Her entire body tensed, the pleasure building at a terrifyingly quick speed—he had figured out how to push her over the edge in a matter of minutes.

He growled against her soft mound, the vibration of his voice reverberating inside her as stars exploded in her eyes.

Her thighs trembled as the delicious sensation pulsed all over her, turning her limbs into liquid honey.

Frederick licked his lips as he stood up wearing a triumphant smile, and hastily unbuttoned his breeches.

Oh, he knows how good he is and he revels in it.

“Yes,” she whispered in his ear as he entered her, his lips meeting hers once again.

The kiss was raw and slow and packed with more emotion than she cared to acknowledge.