Page 93 of Cocky August Rake

Nothing left of him.

Only Rose beneath him, her arms holding him close while a few late tremors took everything he had.

For several moments afterward, Reginald could hear only their breathing and the quiet groan of the ship around them.

Everything was perfect.

She was perfect.

He didn’t want to move, but when he finally did, he shifted carefully to her side and drew Rose with him, pulling her across his chest.

“Mmmm…”

She settled against him, one leg tangled with his, her cheek resting on his chest.

“It was worth the wait?” she asked softly.

Reginald looked down at her.

“I wasn’t waiting for this,” he said. “I was waiting for you.”

A tremor passed through her.

For a moment, she only stared at him. Then her eyes closed, and she turned her face into his palm as though the words had struck somewhere too deep for an answer.

The ship moved gently beneath them, the timbers creaking with the river. It reminded him of the last week. Waiting…

“You cannot know the terror I felt,” he said at last.

Rose turned her face back to him. “Terror?”

“When I saw you crossing in that boat.” His hand moved slowly along her back. “I thought perhaps you had come to tell me goodbye.”

“Reginald—”

“I know what I asked of you. What I am still asking.” His gaze focused on the ceiling. “But I could not bear the thought of losing you.” He looked back down at her then. “What changed your mind?”

Rose went very still.

“I don’t know that anything changed,” she said carefully. “I only knew I wanted to be here. With you.”

The answer should’ve reassured him.

Instead, something in her careful tone kept him from relaxing.

His gaze searched hers. “No regrets?”

“No.” She traced one finger lightly across his chest. “Right now, this is exactly where I want to be.”

Reginald watched her, waiting for the rest.

Whatever else she might have said, she kept it to herself.

“Is your brother disappointed,” she asked softly, “that you’re leaving?”

Reginald gave a short laugh at how easily she could complicate this conversation.

“Reginald,” she prompted when the silence stretched a little too long.