Page 55 of A Translation of Desire
She walked to him and placed her hands on his hard chest. “It is a damn shame that a man with so much love for travel and different cultures would deny himself the pleasure of seeing it firsthand.”
He grabbed one of her hands and slowly kissed her fingertips. Her heart pounded at his gentle caress. Eventually, he said, “I suppose I will have to find pleasure in other ways.”
“How?” she whispered.
Augustus kissed her fingers before running his lips up to her wrist. Heat flared in her as his tongue darted out and tasted the sensitive part of her palm just below her thumb. His eyes were hooded, filled with desire. “Well, I thought I would show a philologist how fucking beautiful she was.”
She blushed but allowed him to pull her flush against his body. He nibbled on her ear before running kisses along her cheek. Rose leaned into him, expecting a kiss, but a breath away, he said, “Are you sure you want this, Rose? There are things we can do that would keep your innocence intact.”
“I want this. You and I, Augustus, don’t exist in the same world. What is prized to London society matters not to me.”
He brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. “You make me wish I weren’t a duke.”
Her eyes widened at his confession because it spoke of so much more than an uncomplicated interlude, even if the words weren’t spoken aloud. It should have caused her some hesitation, but she found herself wanting him, wanting this more.
“Tonight, you aren’t a duke, but simply Augustus, the man I want to take me to bed.”
*
Augustus took herhand and led her to his bedchamber. Once inside, Rose smiled. “I think the Augustus who created this space is my favorite one.”
He watched her take in the room. Her eyes lingered on the brass and bright colors. His bed was covered in bright red and turquoise fabrics of varying textures. She shook her head in amazement. “I bet your other ladies are shocked to see this space.”
“I’ve never brought another woman here.”
She lifted a brow at him, but he shrugged. “This is my sanctuary.”
Rose smiled softly. “I’m honored that you are sharing it with me.”
“For some reason, I thought you would understand this space.”
He walked to her and dipped his head down, brushing his mouth across hers. She clutched the front of his shirt, keeping him close. His kiss deepened, and his tongue lapped at hers, wanting to entice her. Finally, he pulled away. “Turn around, Rose.”
She tilted her head in question, and he added, “I want to see you without this dress.”
Doing as he asked, Rose offered her back to him. He unhooked her dress slowly. His cock was already rigid and pushing against his pants. This woman had been in every one of his fantasies since he’d met her. Hell, she’d been the only one. Her dress fell forward, and she moved to catch it.
He brushed his mouth against the back of her neck and said, “Let it fall.”
“It is a good deal of fabric,” she said, but gasped when he lifted her out of all the material and carried her to the bed. Augustus placed her on her feet before gently pushing her down onto the bedding in a sitting position.
She didn’t wear a corset, and he smirked, not surprised. He suspected she would find such a contraption too smothering. His eyes dipped down her thin chemise, and he could see her hard nipples peeking out at him, beckoning him. Christ, she was a sight.
Augustus pulled her chemise off and then gently slid her drawers down. He stepped back, needing to gaze upon her form. Beautiful did not adequately describe what he saw. She was the most alluring woman he’d ever known.
His eyes flicked back up to her, and a deep chuckle escaped him. He pressed against a black dot teasing him from the top of her bosom. Her brows drew together in confusion. “What is it?”
“I noticed these black marks along your chest and neck from time to time, but they never seemed to be in the same place. It was driving me mad to know if they were ink splatters.”
A flush streaked across her cheeks. “They are, but most don’t look at me so closely.”
Augustus smiled and ran his knuckles along the now black smudges. “I like looking upon you. In truth, I’m not sure I can tear myself away.”
His gaze continued downwards over her belly and to the thatch of curls at the opening of her quim. Augustus rubbed his cock that strained against his breeches, and Rose’s eyes darted down. She bit her lip. “I want to see and touch you, Augustus.”
He stepped back as he undid his cravat. Then he removed his shirt and jacket, very aware that Rose’s eyes followed his every move. Next, he pulled off his boots. He turned back to Rose soshe could see all of him as he slid his trousers down. Her lips parted as he kicked them off.
“I’ve never known a man with such attractive thighs,” she murmured.
