Thomas gave her a curious look, but he rolled off of her and lay back.
"I have never seen a man without his clothes before," she whispered.
Thomas reached out and twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers. He smiled. "Take as long as you want."
Fascinated, Rose began her own exploration of his neck with her lips. When she felt the goosebumps rise on his skin, she gave his earlobe a playful nip.
"You are quite the little minx," Thomas growled, reaching out to grab her, but Rose wasn't done. She grabbed his hands with her own and pressed them back down.
"I am not done." She slowly kissed down his chest until she reached his flat stomach. As she flicked her tongue out and tasted him, it made her think of the sea mixed with honey.
She found herself growing more excited as she saw his own pleasure increase. Her breath grew quicker and shallower as herfingers moved farther down. Her body quivered in anticipation of what was to come. Her hand danced lightly over his shoulders and followed the small trail of hair.
Thomas groaned and wrapped a hand around her waist and moved until she was the one laying down. "My turn," he growled. He cupped her left breast in his hand.
Rose moaned at the sensation of the roughness of his hands on her soft, tender skin. His thumb made a slow, lazy circle on her nipple causing her to gasp.
He trailed his lips from the base of her neck to her stomach before he reached the soft curls at the juncture of her thighs. His thumb made a slow circle once more as it moved between her thighs. She bit back a cry. Her senses were careening out of control, and she couldn't take much more. She squirmed beneath him longing for release but not wanting the feeling to end. When his hand moved away, she let out a small mew of protest.
"Kiss me," he demanded.
She lifted her mouth to his. He moaned against her mouth as his tongue explored hers. His fingers stroked her with a master's touch. Each press of his fingers made her nerves race with pleasure. His fingers moved faster, and she closed her eyes, and her head thrown back as she allowed herself to be lost in the moment. Thomas settled between her thighs, and he trailed his finger down between the curve of her breast to her waist.
Rose reached out and grabbed his hand. "Please, Thomas. Please give me this before I leave."
Thomas's eyes darkened and he lifted his head. He looked for a moment as if he wanted to protest, but when she grabbed his hips and arched against him, letting him know how much she ached for him, he kissed her. His tongue thrust into the velvet softness of her mouth as he parted her thighs. When he entered her, Rose's world exploded into a myriad of stars and equal measures of pleasure and pain. He stopped and waited a moment until she once more moved against him. He grasped her backside and slowly began to move. The pain was soon replaced by the most intense fire that started at her core and spread out through her body. As his movements grew faster, she found herself breathless with pleasure. When it finally peaked to the point that she felt as if she would shatter into a million pieces, she cried out and seconds later, his own cries of pleasure echoed hers.
When he was spent, Thomas eased himself to the side and cradled Rose in his arms. At that moment, safely held in his arms, Rose did not want to ever leave. A tear slowly trickled down her cheek. She would take this night with her when she left and cherish it forever.
Chapter Twenty-One
The next morning, Rose awoke early and went downstairs to breakfast. To her relief, Thomas had already left for the House of Lords and the Dowager Duchess had decided to take her breakfast in bed. Rose was left alone with her thoughts and her plans to leave shortly.
The night before, she had slipped away from Thomas after he had drifted off to sleep with her laying on his chest. She waited until his breath was steady and deep before clutching her dress closed and hurrying to her bedchamber. Fortunately, Hannah was asleep next to the fire when she opened the door. She had quickly stepped out of her damaged gown and stuffed it in the back of the wardrobe.
For a brief moment, Rose had thought about staying, but then she remembered her desire to be a woman of independence and squashed it as foolishness. Thomas might want her physically, but like her, he did not appear to want a marriage. No. It would be best if they parted ways now.
After breakfast, Rose grabbed her bag and tiptoed past the Dowager Duchess's bedchamber. She felt a pang of regret for not saying goodbye, but it was for the best. Her heart raced with excitement. She had made the decision to leave and start a new life, to follow her dreams and live on her own terms. She opened the door and scurried along with her bag in hand to the stable.
Walter, the stable boy, was asleep on an overturned bucket. He woke up with a start as Rose approached him. "Good morning, Walter," she said, her voice bright. "Could you saddle my horse for me, please?"
Walter rubbed his bleary eyes and nodded. He went to work, and Rose could hear the sounds of the horse being readied. She was just about to mount her horse when she heard the sound of two riders approaching Thomas's house. She stood there at the stable wondering who would arrive by horseback and not by carriage.
When they were in view, she realized at once who they were. They were her two older brothers William and Cassian, both of them looking angry and determined.
"Rose, what are you doing?" William demanded as he dismounted. He glanced at the bag by her feet and scowled. "Going somewhere?"
Walter hurried forward and looked between Rose and her brother, clearly confused. "Lady Rose, your horse is ready. Should I take these gentlemen—"
William cut Walter off with a sharp look. "You can put Lady Rose's horse back in the stable. She will not be going anywhere."
Rose glowered at her brother. "No, Walter. I will be leaving. If my horse is ready, you can bring her out."
"Why are you sneaking around like this, Rose?" Cassian added, crossing his arms over his chest. "You are to be married, are you not?"
Rose's heart sank as she realized that the rumors of her engagement to Thomas had reached even her family's remote castle. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice quivering.
"Do not play dumb, Rose," William said, his voice stern. "We heard that you are betrothed to the Duke of Everness and that you were under the Dowager Duchess's wing for the Season."
