Page 24 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

R ose followed Augustus into the warehouse.

They’d been relatively quiet during the ride, and no more kissing had occurred.

She wasn’t sure if she was the cause of the silence or if he was.

Nerves fizzled in her stomach. The warehouse wasn’t dark but well-lit.

Rose suspected more than one guard was lurking about.

Her eyes widened as they passed shelves filled with exotic goods she suspected were from South America. Augustus’s business certainly stretched across the world. She paused and looked at the dolls and wooden toys. Augustus looked back at her and stopped, waiting for her to catch up.

When she didn’t move, he joined her. Pointing at the doll, she asked, “Where are those from?”

He smiled. “Brazil. I have a buyer from the region who now lives here.”

She picked up the wooden toy. “How does this work?”

A smile filled his face. “You are always inquisitive.”

She flushed. “I can’t help it.”

Taking the toy from her, he rubbed it between his palms, making it spin. The wooden balls dangling from ropes banged against each side, creating a distinct sound. The faster he rubbed his hands, the quicker the beat.

“It is like a smaller version of a drum,” he explained.

“Fascinating.”

He chuckled. “Keep it.”

Rose looked up and down the aisle. “I could spend days in your warehouse and never get tired of all your goods.”

“That is quite the compliment.”

She smiled at him, and he stepped closer, his eyes clouding with desire. A guard rounded the corner, causing them both to step away. The man flushed. “Apologies, Your Grace.”

Rose giggled. “He thinks I’m your mistress.”

He grabbed her chin and ran a thumb across her mouth. “I’m not sure you would allow yourself to be anyone’s mistress or be called that.”

Grinning impishly at him, she said, “If he would call himself my mister, I might consider it.”

A bark of laughter escaped him, and he shook his head. Holding out his hand, he said, “Come with me.”

Rose took it, enjoying the warmth that shot through her body at the touch of their skin.

He pushed open a door and pulled her through the entryway.

She stumbled to a stop, gaping in awe at everything around her.

It was an apartment, a luxurious one, but what was most shocking was the variety of décor found in the space.

They were clearly standing in a sitting area that featured goods from South America, Asia, and likely other regions.

Everything was done up in bold, vibrant colors.

She slowly turned, taking it all in. It seemed so unlike Augustus—no, that wasn’t right—it seemed so unlike the Duke of Sinclair. Rose realized this place was his escape from the man his title made him be. Her eyes met his, and she said, “This is magnificent.”

He smiled. “You looked surprised.”

“It wasn’t what I expected,” she said. “But I love it, and it seems like the perfect escape for you.”

She walked towards a table with various weapons on display, including a wooden bow and arrow set and a dart blower. She smiled, amused, suspecting these weapons were some of Augustus’s favorite items. Glancing back at him, she said, “You should go to South America.”

He shrugged. “Perhaps someday.”

“Why wait?”

“You know why.”

She walked to him and placed her hands on his hard chest. “It is a damn shame that a man with so much love for travel and different cultures would deny himself the pleasure of seeing it firsthand.”

He grabbed one of her hands and slowly kissed her fingertips. Her heart pounded at his gentle caress. Eventually, he said, “I suppose I will have to find pleasure in other ways.”

“How?” she whispered.

Augustus kissed her fingers before running his lips up to her wrist. Heat flared in her as his tongue darted out and tasted the sensitive part of her palm just below her thumb. His eyes were hooded, filled with desire. “Well, I thought I would show a philologist how fucking beautiful she was.”

She blushed but allowed him to pull her flush against his body. He nibbled on her ear before running kisses along her cheek. Rose leaned into him, expecting a kiss, but a breath away, he said, “Are you sure you want this, Rose? There are things we can do that would keep your innocence intact.”

“I want this. You and I, Augustus, don’t exist in the same world. What is prized to London society matters not to me.”

He brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. “You make me wish I weren’t a duke.”

Her eyes widened at his confession because it spoke of so much more than an uncomplicated interlude, even if the words weren’t spoken aloud. It should have caused her some hesitation, but she found herself wanting him, wanting this more.

“Tonight, you aren’t a duke, but simply Augustus, the man I want to take me to bed.”

*

Augustus took her hand and led her to his bedchamber. Once inside, Rose smiled. “I think the Augustus who created this space is my favorite one.”

He watched her take in the room. Her eyes lingered on the brass and bright colors. His bed was covered in bright red and turquoise fabrics of varying textures. She shook her head in amazement. “I bet your other ladies are shocked to see this space.”

“I’ve never brought another woman here.”

She lifted a brow at him, but he shrugged. “This is my sanctuary.”

Rose smiled softly. “I’m honored that you are sharing it with me.”

“For some reason, I thought you would understand this space.”

He walked to her and dipped his head down, brushing his mouth across hers. She clutched the front of his shirt, keeping him close. His kiss deepened, and his tongue lapped at hers, wanting to entice her. Finally, he pulled away. “Turn around, Rose.”

She tilted her head in question, and he added, “I want to see you without this dress.”

Doing as he asked, Rose offered her back to him. He unhooked her dress slowly. His cock was already rigid and pushing against his pants. This woman had been in every one of his fantasies since he’d met her. Hell, she’d been the only one. Her dress fell forward, and she moved to catch it.

He brushed his mouth against the back of her neck and said, “Let it fall.”

“It is a good deal of fabric,” she said, but gasped when he lifted her out of all the material and carried her to the bed. Augustus placed her on her feet before gently pushing her down onto the bedding in a sitting position.

She didn’t wear a corset, and he smirked, not surprised. He suspected she would find such a contraption too smothering. His eyes dipped down her thin chemise, and he could see her hard nipples peeking out at him, beckoning him. Christ, she was a sight.

Augustus pulled her chemise off and then gently slid her drawers down. He stepped back, needing to gaze upon her form. Beautiful did not adequately describe what he saw. She was the most alluring woman he’d ever known.

His eyes flicked back up to her, and a deep chuckle escaped him. He pressed against a black dot teasing him from the top of her bosom. Her brows drew together in confusion. “What is it?”

“I noticed these black marks along your chest and neck from time to time, but they never seemed to be in the same place. It was driving me mad to know if they were ink splatters.”

A flush streaked across her cheeks. “They are, but most don’t look at me so closely.”

Augustus smiled and ran his knuckles along the now black smudges. “I like looking upon you. In truth, I’m not sure I can tear myself away.”

His gaze continued downwards over her belly and to the thatch of curls at the opening of her quim. Augustus rubbed his cock that strained against his breeches, and Rose’s eyes darted down. She bit her lip. “I want to see and touch you, Augustus.”

He stepped back as he undid his cravat. Then he removed his shirt and jacket, very aware that Rose’s eyes followed his every move. Next, he pulled off his boots. He turned back to Rose so she could see all of him as he slid his trousers down. Her lips parted as he kicked them off.

“I’ve never known a man with such attractive thighs,” she murmured.

He smiled, confused. “My thighs?”

She flushed. “Yes, they are tempting.”

“Are they?” he asked, stepping closer to her.

She ran the back of her hand up the front of his leg, and his cock thumped, needing those fingers wrapped around it.

Her eyes darted to the hard appendage, and she slid a finger down its length.

Swirling it around the weeping tip. Rose pulled her hand away and sucked her finger, tasting him. Augustus thought he might combust.

“I saw a drawing on a piece of parchment of a lady with her mouth wrapped around the man’s shaft. I want to try that. Would you allow me?”

Augustus closed his eyes, desire rushing through him. “Rose—”

She scooted off the bed and dropped to her knees, looking up at him. “Just one taste, Augustus.”

Her mouth slid along his cock, and ecstasy coursed through him.

His hands instinctively threaded through the brownish-red curls on her head, guiding her motions as her wet lips slid over him repeatedly.

His cock wanted more. His hips rocked, pushing farther into her mouth.

Augustus was going to spend himself. As much as his entire body screamed for it, he stopped her. Gently, he pulled her to her feet.

She wiped her mouth. “Did you not enjoy that?”

“It was more than enjoyable. Watching your mouth move along the length of my cock was my sweetest agony.”

Rose beamed at him, openly ogling him. She seemed at ease with their nakedness. Of course, she wouldn’t be worried about such a thing. His fingertips swirled over her belly, teasing her. “I’m going to make you come apart before we do anything else.”

Her brows drew together. “What about you?”

“Will get there, love,” he said. God, he wanted to be inside this woman. His hands shook with the need.

Augustus kissed her, walking them back until they fell onto the bed. He scooted them up and rolled to his side, gazing down at her. He ran his hands up and down her slowly. “Have you ever touched yourself?”

She nodded, and he smiled. “That is what I love about you, Rose. Always so honest.”

“Aren’t most ladies?”

He shrugged and kissed her. “Open your legs for me.”

She did as he asked, and one of his hands slid down her stomach, lazily teasing her.

She shimmied up, trying to get him to move faster, causing him to chuckle.

She shot him a dark yet lustful look. Obliging her, he moved two of his fingers into her thatch of curls and then her quim.

He slid them in and out, enjoying the euphoric expressions that flitted across her face.

She moaned. Her hands bucked against his fingers.

“I love watching you like this, Rose. All open and pleading for my touch,” he crooned.

She tilted her head back and moaned louder. Instead of sliding his fingers back in, he teased her sensitive feminine nub, applying firm pressure. Her body arched. “Augustus, please.”

He kissed her deeply as his fingers kept her on the edge of coming undone.

Her lower body flexed faster against his hand, and he ran his mouth along her neck.

“I’m going to make you climax, and then I’m going to slide my cock in you, making you mine.

This may not be forever, but you, Rose Calvert, will always be mine. ”

His words should have come off as deranged to both of them, but they didn’t. She simply nodded over and over again. Then, her body arched one more time, and she let out a guttural moan. Her form collapsed against the bed, and he grinned in satisfaction, enjoying the view of a spent Rose.

Her breasts heaved up and down as she huffed.

Her slender legs were still sprawled open, tempting him.

But it was the way she stared up at him that made her breathtaking.

Her face was filled with bliss and adoration.

Rose Calvert, like this, was a sight to behold—a goddess.

Augustus knew he was screwed because he wasn’t sure he would survive letting this woman go after all of this.

She pulled him down and pressed her lips to his. He groaned, breaking the kiss.

“Augustus, I want you in me,” Rose whispered against his ear.

“Rose—”

She shook her head. “Please, let us have this together. We may not have forever, but this can be ours.”

There it was, the reality that they wouldn’t have more than this. He’d forgotten that momentarily and hated that her words were true. As a gentleman, he should say no, but as a man who wanted to be permanently seared to this woman’s being, he couldn’t resist.

He slid up her body, and she opened her legs wider, allowing more room for him. His cock pressed up against the opening of her quim, and he groaned. With one thrust, he would be in her, but he paused, looking down at her. “Tell me if it hurts too much.”

Rose shook her head. “It won’t. I trust you.”

He slid into her, and she flinched, staying him. They lay there, both breathing heavily. He scattered light kisses across her face. Finally, she shifted under him, urging him to move. His hard cock pulsated in her, demanding more. He pulled out and slowly slid back in. Rose moaned and arched up.

Augustus plunged into her again, gritting his teeth as he tried to go slow, but Rose grasped his arms. “Please, Augustus, faster.”

His self-control snapped, and the tempo of his movements increased.

Rose wrapped her legs around him, bucking against him with every entry.

She was going to climax again. His cock drove towards its own release, but he held back.

She let out a loud moan, coming apart again.

He drove into her over and over again, listening to her breathless, satisfied moans in his ear.

His cock jerked, and he forced himself to pull out and spend.

He grabbed a cloth near the bed and cleaned them both up before lying beside her. They lay there silent. Augustus was royally fucked because, just as he suspected, he couldn’t imagine ever letting her go.