Page 65 of Seductive Reprise
“You mean that I’d be your wife?” Rose looked back to Yusef, wary.
“That’s usually how it works, as I understand it.”
She dipped her head, causing a lock of hair to fall in her face. She blew it out of the way with an exaggerated puff.
“But… children?” she managed to squeak out.
“Oh.” He sat back in his seat and crossed his legs, so gracefully it was as if he didn’t even realize he still held his cup and saucer. It plucked at her heart, he was so at ease as he weighed their futures together. “If I recall your speech to Mrs. Hartley, you don’t particularly care for those.”
“It’s not born of dislike! Just… it’s not something I want for myself.”
“Wonderful. I also have no intention to breed.”
She winced at his callous tone.
“Hence the preventative measure,” he continued. “Well, as best as one can do, under the circumstances.”
She hadn’t even considered that in the moment.
It seemed there were quite a few things she hadn’t considered. Including that he might care for her more than she’d cared forhim, once. Her stomach leapt at the thought, and her heart began racing. Only a few short months ago she’d vowed to fight against him, against the pull she felt. My, how things had changed.
“But do you…” she whispered, knowing she ought to say it—to beg him to voice the depth of his affection, to speak of love. But her courage failed her, and instead she asked, “But how would it be? How would we live?”
“Very well, I should imagine.”
It was only yesterday that she’d held a stack of notes, crisp and fresh from the bank. More than she had ever held at one time in her life. It’d been exhilarating, spending all that lovely money.
She ought to reaffirm her resolve, and reject his hand outright. Stand up in indignation and storm out. But as she sat naked under his garments, with a slight soreness between her legs from their rutting, it seemed impossible. Especially when she still yearned for his touch and, when the mask slipped, the smile in his eyes.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” she whispered, clutching at her arms and tucking her chin into her shoulder.
“I know,” he responded, his voice low to mirror hers. “But I beg you to think on it.”
Once more their exchange was disrupted by a gentle rap at the door. As soon as Yusef gave permission, a smiling maid with bright eyes and rosy cheeks bustled in with what appeared to be a sewing basket, followed by a footman carrying a large white box.
Rose stood up and brushed the crumbs from her lap, suddenly wishing she’d taken a moment to run a brush through her hair. It seemed a laughable thought to have when the man who’d once broken her heart had just proposed to her. But their private sanctuary had been opened, illustrating that the rest of the world was carrying on without a care for her current dilemma.
“Name’s Philis, miss,” the maid chirped, bobbing a curtsy. “Shall I assist you?”
Flustered, Rose looked to Yusef, who was flipping through a stack of correspondence that had materialized before him. Without even glancing at her, he seemed to sense her request for aid and took charge.
“Do you have anywhere to be tomorrow morning, darling?”
“No.” Rose was no demure miss, but she couldn’t help but blush at the display of familiarity in front of Philis, even as it gave her a little jolt of pleasure.
“Stay the night,” he said nonchalantly, then directed to the maid, “Go ahead and draw Miss Verdier a bath.”
“Of course, sir.” Without another word Philis set down her basket and was off, humming as she went.
Rose stood there, fiddling with the frogged closures on the robe, wondering if she could refuse both his hand and the offer of a bath in one fell swoop. But she didn’t, and a moment later she heard the groan of the pipes as Philis turned on the faucet in the washroom.
“What? No protest?” Yusef looked up from the letter he was reading, a devilish grin on his face. His dark hair was tousled rakishly, the drape of his fine dressing gown accentuating his wide shoulders. Not a care in the world, or at least, none that he would show.
“The truth of it is…” Rose sighed, then looked away, before admitting ruefully, “I so dearly want to bathe in whatever elegance you possess for a tub.”
And then he laughed, a deep, resonant chuckle she felt in every part of her body. He’d never been like this before, so seemingly at peace. Reluctantly, Rose allowed herself to smile.
Perhaps everything was not as insurmountable as it seemed.
