Page 79 of Cocky August Rake

He lifted one hand and cupped her cheek.

His palm was warm. His thumb moved once beneath her eye, so gently that her chest ached.

But when he bent toward her, he did not claim her mouth.

In fact, he barely touched it.

One soft brush of his lips. Then another at the corner, followed by a featherlight trail along her upper lip, as though he were learning the shape. His breath caressed her skin, warm and teasing.

Rose had been kissed hundreds of times.

Never like this.

There was no hurry in him. No demand. He kissed her as though she were something precious—and as though he could not quite believe she had allowed him this close.

When he finally drew back, Rose stared at him.

“You don’t have to stop,” she said. She didn’t understand. He’d told her he wanted her. More than anyone, he’d said.

Holding her gaze, he shook his head. “No, I do. I want you too much already.” He looked away briefly. “If I have you, I’m afraid I won’t know how to let go.”

Rose’s heart skipped a beat.

That was what she wanted, wasn’t it? And here was where she was supposed to seduce him further, to coax him towards saving The Domus and everyone who depended upon it.

Instead, Rose looked down at her bare hand.

Reginald picked up his coat and spread the driest part across her lap and their knees remained pressed together the entire way back.

NOTED ABSENCE

Reginald helped Rose down from the carriage and walked her to the door, but after one final, unreadable look, he turned away. Back to his ship, she supposed.

Then four days passed without a word.

By the twenty-second of August, Rose woke each morning with a small knot beneath her ribs, pulled tighter by the knowledge that little more than a week remained.

She tried not to count the days. Tried not to wonder where he was—or whether he missed her at all.

She failed at both.

I want you. More than I have ever wanted anyone.

The words returned to her far too often.

Perhaps that was why he stayed away. Reginald was stubborn enough to deny himself anything once he’d decided it was wrong.

But was he thinking about The Domus too? Reconsidering what he intended to do? Or had he simply removed himself so he wouldn’t have to face either choice?

Rose didn’t know.

She only knew that without him, her days had suddenly become strangely empty.

And of course, Nell noticed his absence as well.

She still opined, however, that the answer was simple. Lure him into one of the receiving rooms one more time and give him a night of such pleasure that closing The Domus would become unthinkable.

The idea left Rose more unsettled each time Nell raised it.