Page 37 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

I f sitting with Augustus in the tub had felt too intimate, standing in the bedchamber while he gently wiped her form down with a cloth made her want things that, before arriving in London, she couldn’t have even imagined.

Rose wanted to be in this man’s life, not for a moment but forever.

The thought disconcerted her. Was she going mad?

Perhaps it was all the turmoil that had taken place messing with her mind.

He dried himself and pulled her towards the bed. “You, Rose Calvert, are, I think, my greatest weakness.”

A breathless giggle escaped her. “I doubt that.”

He ran his hand down her side, making her tremble in anticipation. She gasped and he leaned into her so his lips brushed her ear. “You are all I think about these days.”

She turned her head so her mouth met his. The kiss was soft and full of tenderness. Her core clenched.

He whispered, “You are never far from my thoughts no matter what I’m doing. I can be sitting anywhere, and I will find myself imagining being between your thighs, filling you as deeply as I can.”

Rose sucked in a breath at his words. Pressing her legs together as the ache in her core intensified.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they tumbled onto the bed.

They were a mixture of limbs, desire, and a deeper emotion that Rose was trying desperately not to focus on.

His lips were on hers, and he cupped her chin, deepening the kiss.

The force of it left her breathless. Finally, she pulled away gasping. Rose regarded him with a furrowed brow. He stared back at her, intently. “I almost lost you.”

The words were filled with so much more meaning than one should ever say to someone they were having an interlude with. Augustus cared about her. No matter how much they didn’t go well together, he cared as much as she did. She touched his face. “You didn’t. I’m right here.”

He brushed his mouth across hers before running his lips down her throat. The ache in her lower region throbbed as his body slid down her form. His head dipped down, and he teased the tip of one of her breasts. She arched up to his mouth, bucking against him.

“These breasts torment me,” he whispered against her skin.

The warmth in her body increased. “They are not very large.”

He lifted his head, looking affronted. “Don’t you dare talk about them that way.”

A giggle escaped her. This man meant so much to her.

He moved his head further down, kissing and leaving little bites down her ribcage and stomach.

She whimpered and rocked against him. Augustus glanced up at her, grinning wickedly.

She suspected no one knew this playful Augustus.

Selfishly, she was glad he was hers and hers alone.

His mouth found her core and she moaned, threading her fingers through his hair. His tongue made her quim ache maddeningly as he teased her. Her hips rocked faster, and she whimpered, needing the explosion that she knew she was moments away from.

Augustus’s mouth found her sensitive nub and she breathlessly whispered, “Augustus.”

He drew back to stare at her, sliding his fingers in and out of her quim.

Her bucking increased as he ground his hand against her.

She tilted her head back and moaned as the ache in her body exploded.

Augustus kissed her hip, her breast, and then her mouth before laying on his side next to her, staring down at her adoringly.

“I could watch you come undone for the rest of my life,” he said.

His words caused joy to course through her. She wanted that—she wanted him forever. They would get through all of this craziness and then have a real conversation about what they could be. She could be a duchess, couldn’t she? They could find a way for Rose to do her work, couldn’t they?

His lips brushed her ear, and he whispered, “I’m going to slide myself deep in you.”

There would be time later for conversations. Right now, she wanted him in her too. Rose pulled him over her, her legs falling open. His shaft slid into her quim, and he said, “How is it that you fit so perfectly to my body.”

It was true, she did. They just fit, and Rose knew that there would never be anyone who would suit her as much.

Their mouths came together as Augustus plunged in and out of her.

Her body found his rhythm. With every one of his thrusts, she arched up into him, feeling as if they were never touching enough.

His movements were intense and desperate.

She clung to him and urged him on while running kisses along his shoulder.

She felt the muscles in his back tense and knew he was close.

Augustus grabbed her hips and pumped into her harder and faster.

He stared down at her, his face filled with euphoria and desire.

His eyes flicked down to her breasts, which shook with every thrust. She arched her back, wanting him to look his fill.

He let out a guttural moan before pulling out from her and finding his release.

They both were breathing heavily as Augustus rose and retrieved a cloth, cleaning them up.

Neither said anything as he slowly ran his hands up and down her body.

The ache in her flared again. She glanced at his face to find him frowning.

Rose cupped his jaw and kissed him. “Don’t do that.

We have time later to talk about things. ”

He looked as if he wanted to argue against her request but nodded. His head dipped down, and he sprinkled kisses along her shoulder and collarbone. Yes, this moment was only about them. The rest of the world and its expectations could wait.

*

Augustus watched as all the board members of the Historical Society for Female Curators fawned over Rose. Devons stood by him, also taking in the bond between the ladies.

“They are terrifying together but also unstoppable,” Devons said, amused.

Augustus smiled. “You would know since you are their silent partner.”

“Rose seems to blend right in.”

Augustus nodded, and Devons’s face filled with a knowing smile. “You do know if the ton knew you had her hidden away at your house, it would be the scandal of the year.”

He glared at his friend. “She is here so I can ensure her safety.”

Devons snorted. “I think that the unobtainable duke has finally been caught.”

He wasn’t sure. Rose giggled, and his gaze swung to her. She was in her element with the ladies. “I don’t want to stifle her.”

Devons’s eyes widened. “You do really like her. Have you spoken to her about a courtship?”

Augustus scowled. “When did you start saying words like courtship? You really are a lovesick fool for your betrothed. It’s good you will be marrying soon.”

His friend simply smiled. “I am, and I have no desire to deny it. It almost destroyed me when I thought I lost her.”

“Do you think it would have been different if she had to give everything up for you?” Augustus asked.

“London’s most proper lady agreed to marry me, the owner of a scandalous gentlemen’s club.”

Still, it wasn’t the same, Augustus thought.

Rose was an explorer. Hell, he hadn’t even been out of England.

His life was filled with structure and dictated by his responsibilities.

Rose was a woman who lived life day by day, going where the next find was.

It would destroy him if he took that away from her, so he could have her by his side.

Addie turned to him and said, “When will we know it is safe?”

Augustus and Rose glanced at each other. He turned back to his friend, the president of the Historical Society for Female Curators, and said, “Hawley is assisting the British Secret Service. He should be able to provide an update today or tomorrow.”

Addie wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe that he has any connections with them.”

Lady Esme asked, “Was it a smuggling ring?”

Augusta stuck to his plan with Rose and said, “Likely. After these men are caught, the threat should be minimal.”

Lisbeth brightened. “That means Rose can return to my townhouse.”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Let’s wait until Hawley confirms it is safe.”

Lisbeth smiled at him, amused, but said nothing. Miss Martin asked, “Do you think they can retrieve the tablets and Rose’s research? How wonderful would that be?”

Rose nodded, excitement filling her face. “It would be splendid.”

“We would still need to find the other tablets in Syria to complete the epic. Perhaps once Rose finishes her work here, she can travel back to where they were discovered and see if she can find the other ones,” Lisbeth stated.

“We need to get the map from the London Society of Antiquaries first,” Addie pointed out.

“Your husband and I are still working on that,” Augustus shared.

All the ladies’ eyes lit up with excitement. Lady Esme said, “That would be wonderful. Regardless, I suspect Rose will be off on an adventure soon. I wish it were me.”

Rose didn’t agree but instead said, “Someday, you will have to join.”

Even if she wasn’t leaving immediately, the conversation reminded Augustus she would eventually want to depart England. This life and world were temporary for her. Lady Esme smiled at her excitedly. “I would love that.”

The ladies went back to talking to each other, and he turned back to Devons, who was studying him. He raised a ducal brow at him. His friend sighed. “Don’t do something noble. If you care for her, tell her.”

Being honest, he said, “And what, ask her to give up her life for one here? How long would it take before she loses her excitement for London?”

“Why can’t you have both worlds?”

Augustus smiled at him. “I’m a duke.”

Devons groaned. “You sound like a pompous ass.”

“My life is filled with vast amounts of responsibility.”

Devons took a drink but shook his head. “Only you can decide what is best, but it would be a damn shame if you waited this long for love and passed on it.”

“I wasn’t waiting for love.”

A snort escaped Devons. He sighed but turned back to watching Rose.

He wanted her and was beyond denying that to himself, but how did he make it work without taking everything away from her?

He couldn’t bear the thought of her zest for life fading from her being as she became immersed in day-to-day duchess duties.

He wasn’t hesitating because he doubted his feelings for Rose but because he cared for her too much to force her into a life that would smother her. Augustus sipped his brandy, still not knowing what he would do.