Page 74 of The Last Chance
He sank in and out of her hard and fast, then withdrew suddenly, spilling his seed over her abdomen, his guttural groan like the casting off of chains.
The hard angles of his face softened, the gleam of pleasure in his eyes like a serene sunset in a break between storm clouds. As he fought to catch his breath, his gaze was everywhere at once, on her lips, her breasts, her hair, lingering on the swollen folds of her womanhood.
“Let me fetch water and a towel.” Aaron moved to the washstand, but not before she witnessed a shadow of sadness mar his handsome features.
She let him wash her, even though he took his time and the air turned cold.
They lay on the bed together, her brushing his hair with her fingers, him tracing patterns on her shoulder.
“You didn’t have me on my knees,” she said in jest, though her heart felt like it was breaking. “There’s no time for an encore. You’ll need to leave soon.”
He stared at her, stroking the backs of his fingers across her cheek. “I need to look at you when we make love. I can’t do that if you’re on your knees. Watching you is an addiction. It will kill me to look through the study window and know you’re not there.”
Tears gathered behind her eyes. The euphoria had subsided, leaving nothing but grief in its wake. “I’ll never forget you. I’ll never forget what we had. No matter how long I’m away, there’ll be no one but you, Aaron.”
A heaviness clung to the air as if it, too, mourned in silence.
They lay there until the dreaded time arrived for him to dress and depart. She helped to straighten his cravat and insisted on fastening his waistcoat, desperate to touch him a little longer.
“Remember, you’re to send word when you reach Ostend.” The deep timbre of his voice carried a pain he couldn’t hide.
She nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Be careful. I can live in exile if I know you’re safe. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”
He wiped away her tears and pressed a lingering goodbye kiss on her forehead, though he never uttered the word. “Close the door. Don’t watch me walk away. I can’t look back.”
“I’ll see you again. I know I will.”
He cupped her cheek as he stood in the doorway. “You have no idea how much you mean to me. You’ll live in my heart and mind always.”
Then he left, closing the chamber door behind him.
Chapter Fifteen
Fortune’s Den
Aldgate Street, London
Aaron strode into the dining room, brushing road dust off his clothes and breathing deeply to calm his racing pulse. He was late. An hour late. On the bright side, his family were lucky he wasn’t on a boat to Southend. Lucky he had come home at all.
Nine heads turned towards him.
Nine gasps echoed through the room.
Nine people stood, voicing their fears all at once.
“Where the hell have you been?” Christian cried.
Making love to the woman who owns my heart,he said silently.Riding home, wondering how I’ll cope without her.
“We’ve been out of our minds with worry,” Theo complained. “Did you not think to consult us? Why didn’t you take one of us with you?”
And spoil a treasured moment?Aaron wanted to say.
Aramis thumped the table with his clenched fist. “Wethought you’d been arrested. Taken against your will. I was about to march to Hart Street and drag Daventry to every police office in London.”
Oh, I’ve been taken, but not against my will.
The memory of Joanna sitting astride him, taking him deep—her golden hair falling wildly about her shoulders like a waterfall of sunlight—brought a smile to his face. One destined to be short-lived.
