Page 28 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

R ose stepped into Augustus’s office at his warehouse.

The meeting with Hawley hadn’t run very long, and they decided to return there to discuss next steps.

Somewhere along the way, Augustus had become Rose’s closest confidant in London.

She would miss him once she left the city.

She wouldn’t be leaving, at least, for another few weeks, perhaps longer, if they didn’t find the tablets.

Augustus sat in the sitting area of his office, and Rose joined him, taking a seat on the sofa across from him. She frowned. “I feel like Hawley isn’t being forthcoming. Something seems amiss. Did you see the amount of security to reach him?”

“That also crossed my mind, but I believe all the artifacts not on display in the building are housed in the underground area, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of them.”

Augustus’s point wasn’t wrong. While the Historical Society for Female Curators was just being established, the London Society of Antiquaries had existed for over a hundred years. “So you don’t believe he is involved in espionage?”

He shrugged. “I believe he is far more connected to that world than anyone knows, but I doubt it is a continuous thing. I’ve known Hawley since we were young.

His work on antiquities consumes a significant portion of his time.

I don’t see him being a secret agent for the crown too.

Still, I’m skeptical he is telling us everything about these coded messages, but if it is not associated with the theft of the tablets, does it really matter? ”

Rose felt the same way. She suspected Hawley was more involved with the British Secret Service, but she agreed with Augustus; it wasn’t relevant to their search for the tablets.

Augustus added, “I do believe he would withhold information for the benefit of the crown and country. Any gentleman would do so.”

Rose rolled her eyes at his proclamation of all gentlemen doing the right thing. She doubted all men behaved so nobly. He frowned at her. “What are you thinking?”

“That most men aren’t as decent as you.”

“I ruined you. I can’t be that saintly.”

The mention of their previous tryst seemed to intensify the air around them. Rose’s eyes met his. Desire sparked between them. “You did nothing wrong.”

“I took your—”

“Don’t do it, Augustus. Don’t group me with your little flowers enjoying their first Season.”

One side of his mouth tilted up in a smirk. “But you are a flower enjoying your first Season.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I am not.”

They stared at each other, both smiling. Eventually, Augustus said, “Come here.”

Rose pursed her lips. “You can’t demand I come to you.”

“Why not?”

Want and need flowed between them. “Perhaps I want to be wooed and tempted.”

He nodded silently at first, then did something that shocked and thrilled her. He opened the flap of his pants and stroked his cock. “Do you want me inside of you, Rose?’

She squeezed her thighs together as her core started to ache.

A flush slashed across her cheeks, but her eyes darted back and forth between his face and his shaft.

She licked her bottom lip instinctively, and he groaned.

“I want you, Rose, to come over here and sit on me astride. Slide yourself down my length. Is that the wooing you were thinking of?”

It wasn’t, but it was much better. She wanted him. Rising to her feet, she made her way over to Augustus and looked down at him. He pumped his cock again, and her core clenched.

“Lift your skirts, Rose. I want you to show me where this cock goes.”

She pulled up the fabric and climbed on top of him. He moaned and grabbed her bottom with his hands. “You are such a temptress. All day, I have thought about sliding into you.”

Rose’s lips brushed over his. “You didn’t say anything.”

“I was trying to be respectful.”

She pushed her body down just enough that her quim touched the tip of his shaft. “When have I ever asked such a thing of you?”

“Never.”

“Exactly,” she whimpered, sliding herself down until he was entirely in her.

They both groaned. He claimed her mouth with a searing kiss. She pushed back against his tongue, attempting to dominate her. Hers enticed and dominated as much as his did. Eventually, they broke apart, breathing heavily. He reached up and stroked her cheek tenderly. “What is this between us?”

She didn’t know but felt it as heavily as he did. Rose didn’t answer the question, too scared to define the emotions swirling around them. There were so many reasons why she and Augustus didn’t suit. And there was still his first love, whom he would eventually encounter in London.

All the ladies at various London events already whispered Lady Gillings would be the perfect match for the Duke of Sinclair.

Society would never even speculate that she was an option.

Her heart cracked a little. Not wanting to dwell on the things she couldn’t fix, she started to move her body up and down the length of him.

At first, their strokes were slow and deep.

They both gasped and moaned every time they withdrew, and their bodies came back together.

Eventually, the ache in her reached a precipice that urged her to move faster.

Their pace quickened as they met each other stroke for stroke.

Rose whimpered, urging them to go faster as her body demanded her release.

She moved up and down his shaft as his eyes devoured her every move.

Finally, the ache exploded, and she let out a loud groan.

She collapsed against him, her body pulsating.

Augustus lifted her from his lap and bent her over the sofa before sliding back into her from behind. She let out a moan, her body still pulsing from her climax. He grabbed her hips and pounded into her. “Rose, how am I supposed to not crave this? How?”

She shook her head and panted. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

He slammed into her harder. “You are mine. Do you understand me?”

Rose wasn’t sure if her own climax had made her mad, but she nodded and whimpered, “I’m yours.”

He plunged into her one last time before pulling out and spending.

Augustus quickly found a cloth and cleaned them up before pulling Rose down on his lap.

He kissed the top of her head. Rose could feel his heart pounding against her chest. They sat there quietly, and then Augustus turned her so she faced him.

His face turned solemn. “What if we could continue this?”

She touched his cheek with her hand. “What would that look like? Be reasonable.”

He clenched his jaw. “This isn’t like any of my other interludes. It is—”

She clapped her hand over his mouth. “Don’t say anything more. It will only be harder for both of us. I’m leaving. Can you honestly say you would be willing to go with me to the middle of the desert?”

They stared at each other silently, both knowing the answer. She brushed her mouth across his. “I will always cherish this.”

He kissed her back. “So will I.”

Rose leaned back against his chest, and he stroked her hair. Clearing his throat, Augustus asked, “What should we do next?”

“We need to visit Seely House and speak with the board members about Mr. Abbas. For now, let’s keep Hawley’s association with the British Secret Service between us.”

Augustus nodded. “I agree. Will you not consider canceling your talk at all?”

She shook her head. Rose couldn’t do that. The Historical Society for Female Curators needed her to speak for the grand opening. She would not let them down.

“Rose, it could be dangerous.”

“The board will vote on it,” she said stubbornly, knowing they would want her to still present at the grand opening.

He sighed unhappily. Rose was shockingly okay with his mood change. A heartfelt Augustus messed with her emotions. She didn’t need that right now.

*

Augustus didn’t want Rose to give another talk. He’d thought about it more since she’d left him at the warehouse. It was an added danger that wasn’t necessary. They knew nothing about the thieves who had taken the tablets, and he still had concerns that they seemed fixated on Rose’s research.

Addie had asked him what his thoughts were on the grand opening after he and Rose had informed the club board members of what happened with Mr. Abbas.

A delay was what Augustus had just suggested to the Historical Society for Female Curators—only until the tablets were recovered.

He hadn’t warned Rose what his recommendation would be beforehand, and based on the anger emanating from her now, she wasn’t happy about it.

“I do not agree with Sinclair,” she bit out.

He frowned at her. “There is no need to be reckless.”

She glared at him. “I’m not being reckless. I think it is essential that the Historical Society for Female Curators has its grand opening, and the tablets are an integral part of that. If it is canceled, society will assume that the ladies in this room are incapable.”

“They will,” Diana concurred.

Two of the other ladies on the board nodded. Rose turned to Addie. “What do you think?”

Addie looked from Rose to Augustus. “If we cancel, it will negatively impact the club, but I also don’t want to dismiss Sinclair’s concern.”

“Right now, it is just speculation on his part that something will happen,” Rose pointed out.

Annoyance flared in Augustus that Rose was insinuating he was overreacting. He wasn’t, and said, “It’s your choice, Addie.”

The club president was quiet for a moment but finally said, “I think we should move forward, but also ensure that we have more guards stationed throughout Seely House during the grand opening.”

Concern for Rose flared in him that they were not taking his advice. He clenched his jaw to prevent himself from saying something he would regret. Lisbeth added, “We believe your concerns are valid, and we will address them by hiring more guards. We’ve come so far, we can’t give up now.”

He looked around the room at all the determined ladies. There was no stopping them from moving forward. They would make their club succeed, regardless of the circumstances. Augustus saw that in every single one of them, including Rose.

“Imagine being expected to fail. Wouldn’t you take a small risk to prove all those who doubt you wrong?” Rose said quietly.

He would, and he was asking them not to do the same simply because they were women. Augustus nodded. “I understand.”

Addie smiled. “Then it is settled. We will still have the grand opening.”

“You will hire more guards and make sure they know how to protect Rose?” Augustus questioned.

All the ladies smiled, amused by his protectiveness of her. He didn’t care, but her face turned a fierce shade of red. The club’s president beamed. “Of course.”

He nodded.

“Are we sure we have enough for the grand opening?” Sarah Martin asked. She was one of the board members whom Augustus didn’t know very well.

Rose nodded. “I have my translation of the first tablet, and we still have the second one I recently deciphered. We don’t even have to mention that the third tablet was stolen. We can highlight that the club plans to partner with Thomas Easton to recover the remaining tablets for the epic.”

“We know it is at least partially a love story. The public will love that,” Addie said. “We can inform attendees that we plan to host additional talks as more tablets are discovered.”

Lady Esme turned to Rose. “Do you think Mr. Easton will be able to find the tablets? I wouldn’t want to promise something we can’t deliver.”

Augustus and Rose looked at each other. Rose sighed. “Thomas Easton sent me a letter that explained a map held by the London Society of Antiquaries may provide insight into the location of the tablets.”

“Have we asked them for it?” Diana asked.

Augustus nodded. “Rose and I reached out to Hawley, but he informed us that Lord Harston manages the storage of all relics for the London Society of Antiquaries.

Addie snorted. “It is the vice president. He is not fond of us at all.”

Disappointment flashed across everyone’s face. Augustus said, “Hawley and I have agreed to work on obtaining the map.”

Addie beamed at him. “Thank you, Sinclair. It seems you are becoming an honorary member of our club.”

His gaze darted to Rose, who smiled, amused at Addie’s description. He laughed. “It would seem so.”