Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(31)

“You haven’t changed a bit, Iris.”

She turned, gasped, and stood only a hair’s breadth away from David Xavier, the Earl of Brighton.



Rose was sitting alone on the front terrace when Evan appeared.

“Where are your cousins?” he asked.

“Sophie got a chill, and Ally went upstairs to write a letter to Mr. Landon.”

“Good,” he said. “Not that I mind their company, but I’m glad to spend some time with you alone. Would you care to walk a bit?”

Rose sighed. This was her destiny. This nice, honorable man, who clearly adored her. She was fond of him, but she didn’t love him. Would never love him. She loved another. Would always love another. But Evan, not Cameron, was her future.

“Of course.” She stood and took his arm.

Together they walked toward the stables and turned down a small winding path.

“Could we stop at the kennels?” Rose asked. “I’d like to see Brandy. I promised Lily I would take good care of her.” Brandy was a St. John’s Dog puppy, a gift to Lily from the duke.

“Yes, that’s fine,” Evan said.

But he stopped, turned Rose to face him, and lightly brushed his lips down upon hers.

Evan’s kiss.

It was sweet and gentle. Enjoyable, but not astounding. Pleasant, but not life changing. Rose wanted more. She flung her arms around Evan’s neck and drew her to him, taking his mouth with hers. Perhaps it wasn’t Cameron that made their kisses so special. Maybe she could kiss like that with any man. She intended to find out.

She plunged her tongue into Evan’s mouth and slid it over his smooth teeth, his soft gums, the warmth of his inside cheeks. He responded, soft moans escaping from the back of his throat. She had never kissed him like this before. He clearly liked it.

Rose sucked lightly on his lower lip and then took it between her teeth and nipped it gently. She traced his full lips slowly, seductively, and covered his chin with tiny moist kisses.

“Rose,” Evan rasped. “What has gotten into you?”

“Kiss my ear, Evan,” she said.

He moved his lips to the outer rim of her ear and traced it lightly with his tongue, nibbled on the top, the lobe.

“Put your tongue in my ear.”

He obliged, thrusting into her ear canal with more force than she wanted.

“No, not like that,” she said. “Lightly, softly.”

He licked the inside of her ear, moving his tongue into each little crevice. Rose squirmed. It was pleasant, but not quite right. Evan moved to her neck, nibbling and kissing her, trailing down to the hollow of her throat.

Rose wanted more. She grabbed his hand and ran to the side of the kennels, bracing her back against the hard outside wall. Inside the dogs barked and whined, but she ignored the noise. She was determined to find what she had lost. Surely she could have those feelings with another man. It didn’t have to be Cameron. Anyone could fill the emptiness.

“Touch me.” She led Evan’s hand to her breast.

“Rose…”

“Don’t you want to touch me?”

“Of course, but…I didn’t think you wanted…”

“Then touch me, damn it!” She took his hand and forced it under the neckline of her gown, beneath her corset and chemise, onto her bare breast.

Evan gasped. He fumbled, but her corset was too tight. He couldn’t move his hand.

“Here, undo me,” she said, turning.

He began unfastening the back of her gown. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, yes. I want you to touch me.”

She drew a deep breath as he loosened her corset strings and eased her gown over her shoulders. She turned to face him. The moonlight cast a silver glow upon his handsome face, and his eyes were ablaze with fire. He was no pagan god, but a fallen angel, come to take her. Slowly she pulled her corset down, baring her breasts to his gaze.

“Kiss my nipples, Evan.”

“My God, Rose.” Evan gulped. “You’re lovely. Your skin is like white marble in the moonlight, your nipples… I haven’t the strength to deny you.” Slowly he lowered his mouth, stroking her nipple with his soft tongue.

She moaned. “Yes, yes, that’s it.”

His mouth felt…good. Not the soul-inspiring sensation she felt when Cameron touched her, but still, it felt good.

He gently circled her rosy areola and then sucked the taut nipple into his mouth. He moved to the other one, tugging on it softly as he caressed the first breast with his fingers and pinched the nipple lightly.

Rose entwined her fingers in his blond hair. “Evan.”

He didn’t respond.

“Evan.” A little louder.

He released her nipple with a pop and looked up. “Yes?”

“I want you to…”

“What?” he rasped.

“I want you to”—her hair tumbled out of its chignon, falling around her naked breasts in honey curls—“make me”—her voice husky, her skin warm and radiant—“come.”

Evan stepped back, his eye wide. “Pardon?”

“Pardon?” Rose shook her head. “You heard me.”

“How do you even know…?”

“I have a married sister. Goodness. I know just about…everything.”