“And tomorrow could be the first day of you making sure that they never happen again,” she advised.
“How?” he tilted his head at her, unsure.
“Come to the village tomorrow,” she said simply, although she knew that for him, that would be the most difficult thing in the world. Still, she hoped that he could grow from this situation and learn from his mistakes.
“To the village?” he echoed. She could tell that he sounded frightened, and she understood that. However, the thought still made her smile. He didn’t hesitate to risk his life for her. He didn’t hesitate to save the life of a man who wanted to destroy his own. None of those things frightened him into inaction, yet this one did.
“Yes,” she nodded, taking him by the hand. “Come to the market. Just… take a walk. Greet a few people.”
He inhaled deeply. She could see that he was torn, that needed reassurance and someone to be by his side. She wanted to showhim that she would be that someone for him, not only to tell him that.
“Isn’t it too late?” he wondered. She could see doubt in his eyes.
“It is never too late,” she reminded him. “Never too late to do the right thing, just like you did by the waterfall. You didn’t let your friend fall, no matter what he did to you. Not many people would do that, William.”
She gently caressed his cheek, touching his scars tenderly, tracing her fingers over them as she drank in the sight of him. “You are a good man. I was not wrong about that. I was not wrong about anything regarding you.”
“You weren’t?” he smiled.
“No,” she smiled back. “Remember when you saved me from that boar, and when you brought me back here?”
“How could I forget?” he grinned mischievously. “That is when all of this started.”
“Yes, and when I asked you to come to the light,” she reminded him again. “I wanted to see you, and I saw you. I saw your scars, but I also saw your eyes, and through them, into you. I have never seen a more brave, more beautiful person than you.”
“Rose…” he whispered her name in a way that made it sound like a prayer, like a word of most sacred origin, one that might make all of his wishes come true. And that was what she wanted.
He wrapped his arms around. Forgetting all about her blanket, she released the grip she held over it and hung her own arms around his neck. Gently, his fingers traced the lines of her own scars, making her entire body shiver with delight. Just like him, she had always tried to hide her scars, never showing them to anyone.
But with him, it was different. He could see her, just like she could see him. The real him and the real her. Somehow, they managed to find each other, and against all odds, not let go.
As if sensing her own desire, his lips pressed against hers in a tidal wave of passion and longing. The world outside ceased to exist; there was only the two of them, the heat of the fire, and the unspoken emotions that had been simmering between them for so long.
As their kisses grew more passionate, Rose felt herself being gently guided backward until her legs met the edge of a plush couch. She sank down onto it, pulling William with her. He hovered over her, his body pressing against hers as he braced himself on his arms. They paused for a moment, breathing heavily, their eyes locked in a silent exchange of desire and consent.
His hand caressed the delicate curve of her neck and collarbone as his lips followed the path of his hands, planting kisses along her skin that inflamed every inch of it. Rose arched her back, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer, her own kisses trailing along his jawline and down his neck.
Their breaths came faster, mingling in the heated space between them. Rose’s hands roamed over William’s back, feeling the play of muscles beneath his skin, the wet clothes forgotten in the urgency of their embrace. His hand moved down to her waist, slipping beneath the blanket to caress the bare skin of her side.
Rose gasped, her body reacting instinctively to his touch. She pulled him down further, craving the weight of him, the solidity that made her feel safe and desired. His touch was unlike anything she had ever felt before, and she knew that she had been craving it all that time.
Their kisses grew more fervent, their bodies pressing together with a newfound urgency. William's hand moved lower, exploring the curves and hollows of her body with a reverent touch. Rose responded eagerly, her own hands mapping out the planes of his chest and shoulders, the firelight casting a golden glow over their entwined forms.
They lost themselves in each other, the rest of the world falling away as they surrendered to the passion that had been building between them. Every touch, every kiss, spoke of a love thathad finally been given the freedom to blossom. They no longer needed to hide how they felt, and in that moment, nothing else mattered.
She could feel his manhood pressing into her, needing release, just like her. She wanted to belong to him, body and soul. She didn’t want to wait a moment longer. She couldn’t.
Her hand reached to his manhood, hidden underneath the blanket. She felt him rock hard, pulsating with need, its tip beading with unshed desire. Her mind exploded with yearning, wanting to know what it would feel to have him inside of her. Her insides throbbed, teasing her. Her entire body was awash in sensation, in anticipation of what was to come.
As Rose and William lost themselves in each other, their heated embrace was suddenly interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. They froze, their heavy breathing and the crackling fire the only sounds in the room. Reality crashed back in, and Rose sighed, pulling herself away from William with a mixture of reluctance and resignation. She instinctively grabbed the blanket and covered her entire body with it.
“I am guessing it is Mr. Hancock with Henry, most likely,” he murmured, glancing toward the door.
She gazed at his profile, his Roman nose, his jawline, thinking how utterly handsome he was. And… hers. That thought made her smile.
“I suppose we shouldn’t keep them waiting,” he said, turning to her and seeing her smile. “What is it, my dear?”
She smiled even wider. “I’m just… looking at you.”
