Page 15 of Only You

‘We are going to get some fresh air,’ Lamont announced to the madams, who barely looked up, not pausing their conversation. He held out his hand and Sabine took it delicately, following him outside.

She slipped her hand out of his once they were outside. They walked slowly around the perimeter, workers skipping away when the couple approached.

‘It’s a beautiful day,’ Lamont said.

‘Yes,’ she replied, wondering if he felt as awkward as she did. It was hard to start a conversation with someone when she didn’t have anything in common with them. For a man that was allegedly so good for her, it would have been nice to be notified exactly what traits her father admired about him.

‘I know this may seem a bit overwhelming,’ he said. ‘I, myself, did not think that my mother would suggest such a date, but let’s take the blessings as they come.’

‘That’s an optimistic outlook,’ she said dully. Lamont looked at her with furrowed brows and she forced a smile on her face. ‘You seem like quite a hopeful person while I feel so overwhelmed,’ she amended. He smiled again; his ego successfully stroked.

‘Well, perhaps this will replace your worries.’ Lamont reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, leather box.

He stopped walking and waited until she was facing him before opening it.

Her jaw dropped at the sight. Inside was a large emerald ring surrounded by small pearls.

It was one of the largest gemstones she had ever seen.

‘I see you’re speechless,’ Lamont said smugly. ‘Here.’ He took it out of the box and slipped it on her left ring finger with ease. ‘Ah! A perfect fit.’

‘Indeed,’ she said, unable to take her eyes off it.

‘And now you have something to look forward to.’ He gently took her hand and kissed the ring.

That night, Sabine held the ring, looking at it from different angles. Even hours later, it was still as overwhelming as it was when Lamont first slipped it on her finger. Madame Roulet’s eyes had widened at the sight of it.

‘What does this mean?’ Sabine asked when the Laurents were finally gone.

‘That we need to start building up your trousseau,’ she said. ‘Immediately.’

A ping on her window interrupted her musings and she looked out. Sure enough, Damien was outside in a simple black tunic and pants rather than his uniform. She extinguished the candle burning on her bedside table and opened the window. Damien climbed in quietly, joining her on her bed.

‘I didn’t think you would come tonight,’ she said.

‘I wouldn’t miss the time,’ he said. ‘Especially…’

She sighed, fiddling with the ring. She held it out for Damien to see. ‘Lamont gave me this after you left. It’s my engagement ring.’

Damien held it in his palm, and she could see his eyebrows raise in the faint moonlight. ‘It’s…’

‘Ostentatious,’ she filled in, leaning back against the headboard.

‘Not a fan of gems?’

‘Oh, on the contrary,’ she said. ‘I love jewellery. Just not this. I’m more of a fan of rubies over emeralds.

’ She took the ring from his hand and placed it on the table with the candle.

She beckoned him closer, and he moved so that his back was to her chest, her legs on either side of him.

She ran her fingers over the spikey buzz of his shorn hair.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to do this.’

‘I don’t know either,’ he said.

‘With a summer date, I had a year,’ she murmured. ‘Maybe I could have tried to get my father to withdraw his consent, convince him to postpone until the Laurents got sick of waiting or convince him that me and Lamont are incompatible.’

‘Do you really believe your father would relent?’

‘…With time, I had a chance. But seven months isn’t enough, especially if the reason is directly tied to my father’s land agreements.’

‘Then that’s the reality,’ Damien said grimly.

Sabine felt tears of guilt fill her eyes.

He tried to smile but there was a lingering pain there.

She buried her face in his shoulder, wrapping her arms tighter around him.

She could feel his heartbeat under her palm.

It was soothing and cruel under the light of their reality.

Every moment they shared was theft. How could they continue after she was married?

Sabine tried to quiet the tears, but sobs escaped her lips. Damien just stroked her hand, whispering that it was okay.

She shook her head vehemently. ‘I hate it,’ she told him. ‘I don’t want to be anyone else’s.’

He stiffened before pulling back. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but he crashed his lips against hers.

Her tears continued, but she was pliant as he laid her down.

He kept his lips on her as his fingers travelled under her night gown.

She shivered as heat flooded throughout her body, legs separating easily as pleasure bloomed under her skin from his attention.

Her fingers slid over the fabric of Damien’s clothes, her hand not catching onto any buttons like they would with his uniform.

‘Take off your clothes,’ she said, something she wouldn’t have been brave enough to demand months before.

He obliged and she did the same, their clothes rustling softly as they hit the ground.

Her hands were all over him by the time he came back.

She didn’t need him to guide her as she settled in his lap, knees brushing his hips.

She kissed him hungrily, not wasting any time as she guided him into her.

Damien groaned quietly at the tight heat while Sabine stilled to adjust to the size of him.

Damien stroked her back as he leaned forward to lap at one of her collarbones.

Sabine bit her lip to muffle her moan, legs trembling as they bracketed his hips, gripping his forearms as he rocked into her.

She pulled at his hair, making him moan the way she liked before capturing his lips for herself, welcoming the familiar taste of him.

He tasted like home.

She gasped when he bucked his hips faster. She scratched down his shoulders, moaning his name.

‘Faster,’ she moaned in his ear. ‘Please. For me.’

Damien quickly flipped them around, laying her down on the bed. She threw her head back at the sudden change and pulled him down. Their kisses were a flurry of tongues and panting, as if they had to devour the other right at that moment.

‘I… I’m almost…’ she tried to articulate but between his powerful thrusts and how he continued to touch her most vulnerable spots, her brain stopped short. Damien didn’t reply but took her hand instead, intertwining their fingers as she came; he quickly followed her.

She sighed as she tried to catch her breath, loving the way Damien’s body covered her own.

She felt him kissing her shoulder and neck softly before finally moving to her lips.

She felt boneless, giddy as her orgasm ran through her.

She looked out the window and saw the moon was farther across the sky than before.

The reality weighed her down as she sat up slowly.

‘I want you to stay the night,’ she murmured. ‘But you have to leave soon.’

He followed her gaze before kissing her shoulder. ‘But not right now,’ he murmured against her skin.

She sighed tiredly, trying find the strength to be somewhat responsible. ‘Damien…’

He leaned up and stole a kiss, melting away her worries as she cupped his face and enjoyed the heat between them. She had felt cold for so long…

‘I’ll leave before Sandra comes,’ he reassured her. ‘Don’t worry, Sabine. Tonight, I’ll stay by your side.’