Page 35 of A Translation of Desire
His eyes flew to hers. Unlike other ladies on the marriage mart, she didn’t shyly flutter her eyelashes at him. Instead, she stared back at him directly—her eyes filled with curiosity and challenge. He yanked the chair out and sat down. She grinned, taking the seat across from him. Augustus watched as she slicedbread and topped two pieces with jam before handing one to him.
“I didn’t realize this party was designed for you to find a bride. How exciting.”
He shrugged. “Lady Derry and her husband are close friends of mine. She may have taken it upon herself to play matchmaker.”
She took a bite of her bread. A tiny bit of jam stayed on her lower lip. He wanted to run his tongue along her mouth and taste it. His cock twitched at the thought. He tore his gaze away.
“And which one of the ladies are you considering?”
“I haven’t given it much thought,” he muttered, distracted.
“Lady Viviene would make a great duchess. She appears to have all the qualifications that make a lady suitable in society.
Shocking them both, he frowned and said, “I require more than that.”
Her eyes widened, and she placed her piece of bread down while he ate his. She tilted her head and studied him. “You want love.”
A flush crept up the back of his neck. “Don’t be ridiculous, but I want something more—someone who sees me for me.”
Augustus couldn’t believe he had revealed such a personal thought to Rose, but for some odd reason, he wanted her to understand that he was more than a duke looking for a broodmare.
“Have you ever found someone you thought could be the person?” she asked.
His lips twisted into a grimace. “Once.”
She stared at him intently while twirling a curl of her hair. “What happened?”
He finished his last bite of bread and said, “She married another.”
“She gave up a dukedom?”
Growing tired of the conversation, he stood. “Not all ladies are as enamored with my title as you think. You are not the only one who doesn’t seek to be a duchess.”
Rose smiled softly at him. “I’m sorry for bringing up such a difficult subject.”
He hated the compassion he saw in her eyes. Augustus wanted to scream that she shouldn’t feel sorry for him, detesting the pity he saw on her face. “I will find a wife when I’m ready. Until then, I have plenty of company.”
The minute the words were out of his mouth, he cringed, but she only grinned and stood. Rose walked to him and patted him on his chest. “I have no doubt.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m a duke.”
Her hand remained on his chest. She shook her head. “No, that isn’t why. Even if you weren’t a duke, you wouldn’t hurt for company.”
“Why is that?” he asked gruffly.
Their eyes met. “Because you are easy to look at and, I suspect, more generous than most.”
His body swayed closer to her. He wanted to show this woman how generous he truly could be, even though common sense told him Rose was not for him, briefly or long-term. She was too complicated, and he should run. Instead, he was drawn to her. His lips grazed her jaw. She let out a soft gasp. “Augustus, this can’t be more than a brief interlude.”
“This shouldn’t be anything,” he said before slowly running his mouth down her throat.
She whispered. “We could be lovers.”
Her words stopped him. “Have you had one before?”
She pursed her lips. “What does that matter?”
It mattered. “I do not deflower innocents.”
