Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(16)

Cameron stroked Apollo’s mane. “My lady…”

“Yes?”

“I would like to apologize for—”

“No,” Rose interrupted. “You don’t need to apologize for anything. It was my fault. I just…well, I just shouldn’t have put myself in such a position.”

Cameron snorted. “What position? Being compromised by a mere tenant?”

“Here we go again.” Rose sighed. “Why do you make such a fuss about our respective stations?”

“Because our stations are a fact of life.”

“Nonsense.” Rose mounted Begonia and secured her riding habit. “If you’ll show me the way back now, I would be obliged.”

Cameron mounted and maneuvered Apollo so that he and Rose were next to each other. “Whether you think it was my fault or not, I want you to know that I regret…what I said to you as you left.”

“It’s no matter.” Rose turned her face away from his.

Cameron reached for her cheek and turned her to face him. “I regret a lot of things about my life, Rose,” he said, “but none so much as hurting you.”

His silver eyes penetrated her soul. “It was my fault, Cameron.”

“No.”

“Yes. I…didn’t know that I would cause you…pain if we stopped.”

Cameron chuckled. “I’ve been in worse pain, sweetheart. Although at the time it seemed insurmountable.”

Rose’s skin tingled at the endearment. “If we had it to do over again, I would…”

“You would have left before we danced?”

“No.” She looked away.

“Then what?”

“I would…” Her heartbeat was rapid and her skin cold and prickly. She spoke quickly. “I wouldn’t have stopped you.”

He caressed her cheek and stared into her eyes.

“I got frightened. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry.” He lowered his face to hers and kissed her lips lightly. “I’ll show you how to get back now.”

“No.” Rose touched Cameron’s jaw. He hadn’t shaved, and his black night beard was rough under her touch. She pulled his head to her and kissed him, parting her lips and exploring him with her tongue. She sucked on his luscious lower lip, nuzzled the top one. Kissing him was pure heaven. As their tongues coupled and twirled together, she moaned softly.

“Come here,” Cameron said.

He lifted her from her sidesaddle and onto his saddle, facing him. Sitting astride, her riding habit was rumpled about her waist and rode up her legs. She was snug against Cameron’s hard chest, as little room existed on his saddle for two people. He embraced her and sought her mouth again, kissing her with a passion that she had only known in her fantasies. He covered her face with tiny moist kisses.

“Oh, Rose,” he said, “I dream of nothing but you.”

“Yes, I know,” she whispered, “because all I dream about is you.”

Cameron’s heart thumped against her chest. Her breasts swelled and her nipples tightened.

He kissed her ear and her neck, raking his hands through her tumbling locks that had come loose during her ride. “I can barely breathe when I’m with you. You make my heart race.” He nibbled on her neck. “If only I could have you.”

She shuddered against him. “You can, Cameron.”

He pulled away from her. “What about Xavier, Rose?”

“I…I don’t want him the way I want you.”

“But he’s a perfect match for you.”

“Yes, and I’m…fond of him, but I don’t desire him.”

“You desire me?”

“Yes, oh yes.” Rose sighed, kissing his face and neck, lacing her fingers through his coal black hair. “I…think about you all the time. I have since we first met.” She giggled. “Oh, this is embarrassing.”

“Don’t be embarrassed. I think about you all the time too.” He caressed her back in soothing circles. “But we can never be together.”

“Why not?”

“You know why, sweetheart.”

“Yes.” Rose sighed. “I guess I do.” Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “Please, Cameron, won’t you kiss me again?”

“It’s better if we stop.”

Rose sighed and swung her leg over Apollo’s saddle, dismounting expertly. She mounted Begonia as a tear fell down her cheek.

“Don’t cry, sweet.”

“I…I can’t help it. I want to be with you. It’s tearing me up inside.”

“I know,” he groaned. “But it would hurt more to make love and then leave each other, wouldn’t it?”

“If it’s going to hurt anyway, what does it matter?”

Before Cameron could answer, another rider galloped toward them. It was Cameron’s younger sister Patricia.

“Cam!” she shouted. “Thank God I found you. You need to come home quickly!”

“What is it Tricia?” he asked.

Patricia caught her breath. “It’s Kat. She’s taken sick.”

“What in bloody hell happened?” Cameron demanded.