Page 17 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

“You should be asleep.”

Rose pointed at the chair across from her. “Sit. You must have some of this.”

He should leave. That was the smart choice. Rose lifted a brow. “Unless you’re nervous about being around me after our kiss.”

His eyes flew to hers. Unlike other ladies on the marriage mart, she didn’t shyly flutter her eyelashes at him.

Instead, she stared back at him directly—her eyes filled with curiosity and challenge.

He yanked the chair out and sat down. She grinned, taking the seat across from him.

Augustus watched as she sliced bread and topped two pieces with jam before handing one to him.

“I didn’t realize this party was designed for you to find a bride. How exciting.”

He shrugged. “Lady Derry and her husband are close friends of mine. She may have taken it upon herself to play matchmaker.”

She took a bite of her bread. A tiny bit of jam stayed on her lower lip. He wanted to run his tongue along her mouth and taste it. His cock twitched at the thought. He tore his gaze away.

“And which one of the ladies are you considering?”

“I haven’t given it much thought,” he muttered, distracted.

“Lady Viviene would make a great duchess. She appears to have all the qualifications that make a lady suitable in society.

Shocking them both, he frowned and said, “I require more than that.”

Her eyes widened, and she placed her piece of bread down while he ate his. She tilted her head and studied him. “You want love.”

A flush crept up the back of his neck. “Don’t be ridiculous, but I want something more—someone who sees me for me.”

Augustus couldn’t believe he had revealed such a personal thought to Rose, but for some odd reason, he wanted her to understand that he was more than a duke looking for a broodmare.

“Have you ever found someone you thought could be the person?” she asked.

His lips twisted into a grimace. “Once.”

She stared at him intently while twirling a curl of her hair. “What happened?”

He finished his last bite of bread and said, “She married another.”

“She gave up a dukedom?”

Growing tired of the conversation, he stood. “Not all ladies are as enamored with my title as you think. You are not the only one who doesn’t seek to be a duchess.”

Rose smiled softly at him. “I’m sorry for bringing up such a difficult subject.”

He hated the compassion he saw in her eyes. Augustus wanted to scream that she shouldn’t feel sorry for him, detesting the pity he saw on her face. “I will find a wife when I’m ready. Until then, I have plenty of company.”

The minute the words were out of his mouth, he cringed, but she only grinned and stood. Rose walked to him and patted him on his chest. “I have no doubt.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m a duke.”

Her hand remained on his chest. She shook her head. “No, that isn’t why. Even if you weren’t a duke, you wouldn’t hurt for company.”

“Why is that?” he asked gruffly.

Their eyes met. “Because you are easy to look at and, I suspect, more generous than most.”

His body swayed closer to her. He wanted to show this woman how generous he truly could be, even though common sense told him Rose was not for him, briefly or long-term.

She was too complicated, and he should run.

Instead, he was drawn to her. His lips grazed her jaw.

She let out a soft gasp. “Augustus, this can’t be more than a brief interlude. ”

“This shouldn’t be anything,” he said before slowly running his mouth down her throat.

She whispered. “We could be lovers.”

Her words stopped him. “Have you had one before?”

She pursed her lips. “What does that matter?”

It mattered. “I do not deflower innocents.”

Rose scoffed. “That is an awful way to refer to my virginity and a hypocritical stance. Men do as they like. Unless you are a virgin yourself.”

Annoyance joined the lust swirling within him, but he moved away from her, needing space before he pushed Rose onto the table and feasted upon her. “I don’t make the rules.”

Her chin jutted out. “I don’t follow them.”

The corner of his mouth tilted up. No, she didn’t, but he did. “That is where we differ.”

She frowned. “What is so dishonorable about being my first lover?”

He looked at her in disbelief, and Rose sighed. “Truly, you’ve never been any lady’s first.”

“We would be married if I were. Do you want that, Rose?” he said, knowing she didn’t.

Her eyes flashed with annoyance. “Do you not see the absurdity in what you are saying?”

Augustus did, but also understood the ton and what would happen, not to him, but to an innocent lady he was found to be involved with. It wasn’t his reputation that would suffer but hers, and he would not, could not, do that.

“There are rules I must abide by.”

She snorted and said, “Well, fear not. I’m not heartbroken. You are not the first man I’ve had an attraction to. It won’t interfere with any of our dealings. I don’t want you to worry about the silly woman who propositioned you in a kitchen.”

He frowned at her, hating her words. Augustus walked back to her, tilting her chin up. “We will both make sure it doesn’t affect our dealings, but do not walk away thinking if I weren’t a duke and not concerned about your reputation, I wouldn’t gladly ravish you.”

Augustus knew he shouldn’t have said the words because the room became filled with thick tension and desire, but for some reason, he needed her to know that what she felt wasn’t one-sided.

“You shouldn’t say such tempting things, duke,” she said, her voice trembling with heated emotion.

He stepped back. “Go to bed, Rose.”

They stared at each other quietly. Finally, Rose performed an exaggerated curtsy, alleviating some of the tension. “Good night, Your Grace.”

He shook his head. “Good evening.”

Augustus listened to her quiet footsteps across Derry Hall until he couldn’t hear them anymore. Instead of leaving, he sank into one of the chairs and sighed. He’d done the right thing, but still, it felt wrong. Sometimes, his title felt heavier, and tonight was one of those moments.