Page 66 of The Thorn and the Rose

“I did what my brother told me to do. At the time, I… I believed you were a libertine. At least, I tried to. Everett was so convinced, and his conviction was hard to deny. As cruel as he could be, I had never known him to lie. Yet, the more I spoke with you, the harder it was to believe, and the more I wished to believe in you, and not in Everett. But I did not know who to trust, if either of you cared a straw for me, or if I was just a pawn or a passing fancy.”

Thorn squeezed her hand, understanding now how alone and afraid she had been, with no one to turn to.

“But the things I said when we talked, and all the things I told you I wished to see and experience, that… that was real. That was me.”

Relieved, Thorn nodded, glad his instincts had been correct, and understanding those days so much better now.

“I don’t want you to feel the slightest trace of shame or guilt for anything you said or did. I know you were fighting for survival, trying to keep yourself and your mother and Mills safe. I shall never reproach you for that.”

Rosemarie let out a ragged breath, and he could almost see the last vestiges of sadness and regret leave her. She was the same girl, the one who had first captured him, and yet she was far more carefree now, speaking with animation and without restraint, that strange air of sorrow and mystery gone for good. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her mouth.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, trailing his mouth over her cheek and nuzzling at her ear. Once again, her hand lifted to the dreadful cap she wore, a self-conscious gesture he really needed to rid her of.

Thorn tugged the wretched cap off, tossing it away. “Stop wearing these ghastly things to cover your head. If you think your lack of hair makes the slightest difference to your beauty, you’ve not been paying attention to the looking glass in your room.”

She returned an expression that suggested she did not believe a word of it. “I assure you, I have,” she said dryly.

“No. You haven’t. Shall I tell you what I see?” he asked her, his voice low as he reached out and traced a fingertip along her jawline. Her eyes widened, her breath catching, but she nodded, gazing at him as though spellbound. “A heart-shaped face with skin like rose silk, the softest thing I ever touched. Your eyes are hazel, and I see every colour of autumn there, flecked with bronze and gold, and those thick, dark lashes that veil your thoughts like a curtain when you wish to keep things from me. As for your lips, I have paid them far too much attention. They have haunted my dreams, but I think I need to make further investigations before I describe them accurately,” he added, his voice rough with need.

He pressed his mouth to hers, unsurprised when she lifted her hands to his face, pulling him down, taking him down to the blanket, her head pillowed on a brightly coloured cushion.

“I never want to keep things secret from you,” she said, and he read the truth of that in her eyes. “I won’t.”

“I believe you,” he said softly, and kissed her again.

Time passed with the chirruping of grasshoppers and the rustle of a warm breeze stirring the leaves overhead. One kiss melted into another, languid and so very easy. Thorn led her down a path he had travelled many times before, but discovered anew with her, finding it different in ways he could not have voiced but felt to his core.

“I could kiss you forever, Marie,” he murmured, pressing his mouth to the tender skin beneath her ear and trailing down to her collarbone. Her hands went to his hair, stroking gently as she gave a sigh of pleasure that made his blood heat.

“Oh, yes please,” she murmured. “Don’t ever stop.”

He chuckled and brushed his lips over the swell of her breasts before nuzzling at the valley between. Thorn looked up to find her eyes sparkling with delight.

“Do it again,” she demanded breathlessly.

He laughed and grinned at her. “As the lady commands,” he replied gravely.

Tenderly, he kissed her and traced patterns on her silken skin with his tongue, hearing her breath catch and witnessing the quickening of the rise and fall of her chest as the soft mounds pressed against the confines of her corset.

“That looks uncomfortable,” he observed, frowning down at her bosom. “I think I should make some adjustments.”

She watched him, amusement sparkling in her eyes, and made no sound of protest as he set about loosening her gown and corset just enough.

“Better?” he asked, his voice low, wondering if he shocked her. She didn’t look shocked in the least, merely intrigued. Rosemarie nodded in response to his question, so he carried on. “I think we can do better.”

Carefully, with his own breath coming faster now, he tugged at her bodice and the lovely yellow gown, lowering both until her breasts were exposed to his view. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. Her figure had always appeared slender but curvaceous and he had not been wrong. She shivered as the warm air caressed her exposed skin, tightening the little buds of her nipples to tight peaks.

“So very lovely,” he murmured reverently, glancing at her. She was blushing somewhat but watching him steadily. “May I kiss you here, Marie?”

She gave a swift nod, and he smiled at that, losing no time in ducking his head and drawing one hard nub into his mouth.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, her hands returning to his hair, fingers sinking in and holding on as he teased the peak, suckling and circling with his tongue. He kissed all the way over one satiny mound before moving to the next. Rosemarie was breathing hard now, gazing at him with wonder in her eyes.

“My goodness,” she murmured. “Now I understand why Miss Nichols was so eager to be ruined.”

Thorn gave a soft chuckle and kissed her hard. Lifting his head, he gazed fondly down at her and smiled, tracing the line of her jaw with one finger. “I’m glad, but you need not be afraid of any such thing, love. My intentions are honourable, I promise you. There is to be no ruining.”

She gave him a saucy look, her head tilted to one side. “Not even a little?” she asked, one eyebrow quirking. “I’d quite like a little bit of ruining. Just to see what it’s like,” she added, lips twitching.