rejoice in the knowledge that Calliope wasn’t out of his reach. He had succeeded in tearing through her defenses, at least temporarily. He knew it could be done, and he didn’t intend to let up until he had won.
When he felt adequate strength had returned to his limbs, he lifted himself off her.
Her face portrayed an array of emotions—confusion, awe, shock, satisfaction. Her hair was a riot of coils fighting to be free of its pins, her dark eyes glistening, lips parted. She looked so delectable and disheveled that he nearly lost hold of his determination not to finish what they’d started. They needed more time—not just so it could be done properly, so that they could talk over all the things that had gone unsaid.
Finding the glistening streams of his seed staining her lower belly, he grimaced and fumbled about for his discarded coat, rummaging in the breast pocket for his handkerchief.
“It isn’t always so messy,” he said with a chuckle, offering her the linen square.
She used it to clean herself, then folded it and handed it back to him with a shy smile. “Oh, well that doesn’t sound very promising. I don’t quite mind the mess if the making of it is to be so … so wonderful.”
He paused in the middle of buttoning his fall, both surprised and relieved to hear that. He had expected her to withdraw, erecting her walls and shutting him out. For the first time since he’d met her, she looked completely at ease, her eyes open and clear, her lips curving into the sweetest, softest of smiles.
“Have I shocked you?”
Shaking his head, he tucked his shirt in and adjusted his waistcoat, then made sure his cravat was more or less presentable.
“I worried that you might be ashamed or confused. There is still much for us to discuss, goddess … though we haven’t time just now. You are certainly missed, and while it is my aim to win you, I would never want to force your hand with a scandal. Not on purpose.”
She allowed him to help her sit up, pushing her skirts down as he turned her to begin tightening the laces of her stays.
“Dominick …”
“Hmm?” he murmured, lowering his head to kiss her neck.
“Thank you.”
He chuckled, planting another kiss on her shoulder before resuming his role as lady’s maid. “I don’t think I’ve ever been thanked for curling a woman’s toes, but I think I like it. Say it again.”
She turned abruptly to face him, her gaze intent and her voice thick with emotion when she spoke. “I mean it. Thank you. I don’t think you understand what you’ve done. It wasn’t just about the pleasure. It was … the most wondrous thing I’ve ever felt. Is it always like this?”
“No. At least, it hadn’t been for me.”
She raised an incredulous eyebrow. “Knowing what I do about your … habits, I have a hard time believing that.”
He stood, urging her to her feet so he could pull her into his embrace. “There is a difference between doing such things simply to scratch an itch, and doing them with a person you are utterly absorbed with. I can honestly say I’ve never felt anything like what we just did … and I wasn’t even inside you.”
Nick was surprised by the unguarded truth of those words. He’d spent so long chasing meaningless pleasures that he hadn’t realized what true connection felt like. Now that he’d had the slightest taste of it, he was hungry for more. He wanted all of her, and irrationally wanted it all at once.
“I … I am still very confused,” she admitted, lowering her gaze. “I do not intend to toy with you, but here is much for me to consider.”
“I understand. But, I have only one request to make of you for right now. The rest can wait.”
“Yes?”
He ducked his head to snare her gaze, giving her a little squeeze and kissing her brow. “Release me from our contract. I can no longer go on helping you snare Lewes when I want you for myself. I’m afraid my use as your courtesan has run its course.”
She laughed, but then nodded her agreement. “I think that is only fair. Though … don’t you need the funds?”
Nick read the worry between her words, sensing there was another question she’d neglected to voice aloud.
“The state of my finances is my concern, not yours, with the exception of this one promise: my days of being bought and sold are over. There is