Part 28 (1/2)
”Only one? I am disappointed.”
She smiled. ”You once said I should live in the moment, and not so much in my books. Over the years, books have become my companions. I could travel without traveling, meet people without leaving Dingwall, become someone else when my life seemed too much. Feel without really feeling.”
”A waste of a good life.”
”Yes. I want to live as well as read. So”-she spread her hands-”I am doing just that. But I have a question for you, and you must answer it now, before this continues.”
”Da?”
”Am I a pa.s.sing fancy, to be forgotten the second you leave?”
”No, Roza.” His voice deepened. ”If I were to live a thousand years, I could never, ever forget you.”
The words soothed her, and his s.e.xy smile told her he desired her as much as ever. It wasn't love, of course. But he'd never promised her that, and she'd never asked. It was what it was, and that was enough for this moment. Isn't it? Can it be?
She turned away from Alexsey's watchful gaze under the pretense of examining the room. It was twice as big as the sitting room at Ackinnoull Manor. At one end stood a large bed, hung with red velvet curtains and piled high with snow-white pillows and sheets. A deep-blue coverlet was neatly folded at the foot of the bed. Just looking at the bed made her chest feel odd.
She'd come here to talk to him, to look into his eyes and know for certain that he wasn't less than the man she'd come to know. But she'd also come for something else: more memories. More of him. Before he leaves.
Her gaze returned to him, and she realized all he wore was a loose white s.h.i.+rt tucked into black breeches. The s.h.i.+rt was untied at his neck and revealed his strong throat. His black hair was mussed as if he'd run his hand through it several times, and his eyes were bright with curiosity.
Funny, but she hadn't thought past climbing into his room. Now here she was, punch-drunk on her own bravado, and with nothing to say. She knew what she wanted, though.
The deepening of his gaze told her that he knew, too.
Lifting her chin, she untied her cloak and tossed it over a nearby chair. ”I won't be needing this.”
”No you won't.” He chuckled and walked toward her. Never had he looked more lionlike than now, his muscled thighs rippling as he approached her, his broad shoulders outlined against the fire. She remembered how easily he'd plucked her from the trellis and her skin warmed, as if she were already in his arms.
He stopped in front of her and ran the back of his hand down her cheek. ”I am so glad you came to me.”
”So am I.”
”You look cold.” He picked her up as if it were the most natural thing, and carried her to the fire. He hooked his foot about a chair leg and turned the chair closer to the flames, and then sat, cradling her to him.
He grinned, his teeth white in the dim room. ”There. You like, nyet?”
She rested her head against his shoulder. ”I like, yes.”
”Good.” He paused to slip her spectacles from her face and place them on the small table at their side. ”There. More comfortable?”
”Much more comfortable.”
It was quite warm wrapped in his arms, toastier than any fireplace. Since they'd sat down, his hands had never been still, one stroking her back, the other her knee.
She looked at his hand, noting the signet ring with the gleaming emerald. He had such beautiful hands. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine them touching her, stroking her, making her writhe against him. The memory made her squirm.
Alexsey's hands stilled, then clasped her to him. ”Please do not move like that, Roza.”
Startled by the husky tension in his voice, she turned to look at him.
His jaw was tight, his mouth pressed into a white line.
”I'm sorry. Did I hurt you? I'll get up-”
As she moved, his arms tightened. ”Just . . . stay still a moment so I can compose myself.”
She clamped her lips over the rest of her sentence and sat quietly until his breathing slowed. ”I'm sorry, but I don't know what happened.”
His smile was tight, but less pained. ”A man's excitement can only be repressed for so long. I have been thinking and dreaming about you all day, and I am a powder keg. And now you are here, the match to my powder.”
She smiled. ”Perhaps we should explore this powder keg of yours more closely.”
His eyes darkened, and he whispered, ”Where have you been all my life?”
She felt her smile quaver as she whispered back, ”Waiting for you.”
His arms tightened about her. ”You have taken a great chance this evening. I am honored.”
”I surprised myself. I never imagined I'd do anything like this-visiting a man in his bedchamber.”
”The Romany would say your spirit is as strong as it is beautiful. There is no higher compliment among them.”
”One day I would like to meet them.”
”We will visit them in the fall, when they return after their summer travels.”
And just like that, he enfolded her into his future. It was imaginary, of course, but lovely all the same. ”I would like that.”
”It is beautiful, Roza-tents and caravans as far as the eye can see, all lit with gay lights.” As he spoke, he slowly ran his hand up and down her back. ”There are a thousand campfires, and songs aplenty. The music pulls at the heart.”
”And one day, you will lead them.”
His smile disappeared, a sudden darkness resting on his face. ”I will,” he said grimly. ”There is more than one way to find your destiny.”
She tilted her head to one side. ”What do you mean?”
”Nothing, little one. A small obstacle I must overcome, that is all.”
He looked so serious that she impulsively caught his face between her hands and nuzzled his neck. ”You may overcome it tomorrow. Tonight there is us, and nothing else.”
His breath quickened as she trailed her lips to his ear.
”Please,” she whispered, trying unsuccessfully to keep the quiver from her voice.
”Of course, Roza. Just us.” Without another word, he stood and carried her to his bed.
Roland looked at Lucinda's small hand, tucked into his. There were times in a man's life when a decision had to be made. Now was that time, and his heart warmed at the thought.
-The Black Duke by Miss Mary Edgeworth Bronwyn slowly came awake, aware of a comforting weight about her waist. She opened her eyes and, in the flickering light of the candle, saw Alexsey's arm wrapped about her, his chest pressed to her back as he cuddled her to him, their legs entwined.