Chapter 7

Seven

A thena set her reticule on her bed, then flopped down next to it and sighed. It had been a long journey home, but she had finally arrived. Her reticule held the pendant from her mother's box, and she hadn't wanted to lose it. She should put it away to ensure that would never happen. It would be safe in her reticule a little while longer. Where would it disappear to in her own bedchamber?

She pulled the bell by her bed to summon her maid. Now that she was home, she wanted to go see her horse and then take a swift, exhilarating ride. It had taken her three extra days to make it back to the country estate. Her father had insisted that they travel at a more sedate pace, and the coachman hadn't wanted to upset the Earl of Harwood. So he had followed her father's instructions to the letter. They had stopped overnight at three inns on the journey home. If the coachman had listened to her and changed horses at each inn instead, she would have been home much sooner.

Her maid came into the bedchamber. "You need me, my lady?"

"Yes," Athena said. "Help me out of this gown. I'm going for a ride." She didn't need assistance in to the trousers she used for riding, but the gown and her corset was impossible to remove on her own. Men's garments were infinitely simpler to manage. A lady had too many laces and buttons to do them all on her own.

It didn't take long for her maid to undo the buttons on the back of her dress. Athena stepped out of it and her maid hung it on a nearby hook to be cleaned and pressed later. "Do you wish to remove your stays as well?"

"I do," Athena answered. "They are too constricting to ride in." Isla had chastised her for removing them, but her older sister didn't understand. Athena liked to breathe while she was racing through the fields. The last thing she needed was to faint while her horse galloped along. She'd be dead for sure once she fell off and broke her neck.

Her maid loosened the laces on her corset. Athena sighed as she pulled it off and set it on her bed. It was always a relief when she was able to remove her corset. She went over to her armoire and found her riding clothes, then quickly dressed. She sat on her bed and pulled on her riding boots. Another item that was usually reserved for men and she'd had made specially for her. Luckily, none of the shops in town wanted to offend her father and had reluctantly agreed to make the items for her. Though the bootmaker was easier than the tailor to convince. They were not as good as Hessians, but she didn't care. They were not something she wore out in society. All Athena needed was something comfortable and durable.

"I don't know how long I'll be," she told her maid. "I'll ring for you when I'm back in my chamber if I need your assistance."

"Very well, my lady," she replied, then curtsied. "I'll unpack your trunks and have everything organized for you."

"Thank you," Athena replied. She smiled. "It's so good to be home."

That smile remained on her face all the way to the stables until she reached Hades' stall. Her horse made a loud whinny when she stroked his mane. "Did you miss me" She held out some sugar cubes for him and he licked them off her hand. "I definitely missed you. Let's go for a ride."

Athena gestured toward a stable hand to help her. She prepared Hades herself as much as possible. Once the saddle was secured, she led Hades over to a mounting block. She could climb on without one, but she preferred the extra help when it was available. Her bag of snacks, along with her mother's journal, was already in her saddlebag. She had made a lot of progress since she'd first started reading it. There wasn't much left of the journal and she would have to pass it on to Maeve. Isla wanted to be the last to read it.

She kept Hades at a sedate walk until they were some distance from the house. Then she pressed her knee into his side to tell him she wanted to go faster. Hades took off and raced across the field. Athena leaned down and enjoyed the wind whipping across her face. There was no better feeling than riding her horse as fast as she could. She pulled back on the reins. It was time to slow down. They had already gone farther than usual. The pond she normally stopped at passed by in a whirlwind. Perhaps she should circle back…

Hades buckled when he stepped into a hole, and she went flying off his back. Athena hit the ground hard, but fortunately, Hades had already slowed. Her pride was more bruised than anything. She started to pull herself up and winced. Her hip burned with pain, and every movement sent a sharp ache through her.

Hoofbeats pounded on the ground. It wasn't Hades. Her horse, thank heavens, hadn't been injured either. He trotted next to her and whinnied. Athena glanced around her and that's when she noticed him. Another rider was barreling towards them at a breakneck speed. He slowed down as he reached her. "Are you all right?" he asked.

She frowned. "Why are you here?" The Earl of Kendal, Roman, had come for her. Athena was certain of it.

"You didn't answer me," he said, his tone edged with concern. "Are you hurt?" Roman slid off of his horse and walked toward her.

"I'm perfectly all right," she said and jutted her chin upward. "Now you can leave."

He laughed. "Darling, I'm not going anywhere without you."

In response, the sky opened up and a deluge of rain poured over them. She glanced up and cursed the unfortunate weather. She was drenched through. "We need to get out of this rain." She couldn't walk far, and incidentally, they wouldn't have to. "Follow me. There's an old hunting cabin not far."

They would have their confrontation in something resembling shelter, at least…

Roman held the reins of his horse and followed her as she led her own horse to wherever the hunting cabin was located. He didn't know the area well enough to be certain there was actually a cabin nearby. Though he didn't think she would have any reason to lie to him.

Finally, they reached a building. Not that he would call it much of a hunting cabin. When was the last time anyone had come out here? Though not entirely in shambles, the cabin was clearly abandoned. "Why is this no longer in use?" he asked.

She shrugged as she tied her horse to a nearby post. "This belongs to the Duke of Thornridge. You would have to ask him." He did the same and then they went inside. It was dusty, but it still had all of its furnishings. He went over to the hearth and luckily there was kindling nearby that they could use for a fire. Roman arranged them and quickly lit a fire. It took a while for it to grow enough to provide warmth, but he was satisfied with his work.

He turned toward her. "Now tell me how badly you were injured?"

"I told you I am all right," she insisted. "My side will have a bruise, but it'll heal. Nothing to concern yourself with."

Roman sighed. She was so damned headstrong, but he liked that about her. "I won't ask again then." He stared at her. "There are other things that are far more important we need to discuss."

She lifted a brow. Her ice-blue eyes held curiosity and something else he couldn't quite identify. "I am glad you have your priorities, my lord."

He shook his head and sighed. "We're back to formalities, are we?" Roman moved over to her side. "I thought we had progressed past all of that."

"We had," she said. "But that was a mistake."

"We are not moving backwards," he said in a firm tone. "Your sisters were not forthcoming, but I can guess what the issue is. I won't let you run away and hide."

"What do you think you know?" She had that defiance in her tone that he almost admired, if it wasn't being used against him. "We've barely had any time together. It's been nothing but slips of time that can be easily set aside. You're better off not having me in your life."

"I don't agree," he said. Roman had known the moment he met her she was the woman for him. He had also known that she might require convincing of that fact. "The only thing I'll ever regret is walking away from you. Nothing in life is easy, and sometimes the things that are the hardest are the most worthwhile. I've seen a lot of atrocities, but you're not one of them." He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek in his hand. "You love, are the one thing I have always wished for and never imagined I could have. I'll never be able to let that go. Don't ask me to."

She closed her eyes. "My family…"

"Is not the reason I started courting you." He smiled. "I know what they say about your mother." Roman pulled her into his arms. "Let me be clear. Even if that nonsense was true, I would not care. I want you despite it, perhaps even because of it. Either way, I don't give a damn. The ton can go to hell for all I care. You're the one thing I cannot live without. Do you understand?"

Athena sighed. "You might come to regret that."

"No, love," he told her. "I won't ever regret you. I promise you that. The only things that are ever worth regretting are the things we do not do, and loving you had made me happy."

Roman's heart raced inside his chest. He had to make her believe that he couldn't live without her. This all had happened so fast, but all he could do was be honest with her. In a more perfect world, they would have time to sort it all out. If the ton were not full of bigoted fools, she wouldn't have run home. But none of that mattered in the end. As long as they were together, they could find their way through anything.

"You make me happy too," she admitted. Athena licked her lips. "Kiss me.

"There's nothing I'd like more," he said. Roman had dreamed about kissing her every night since the first time his lips had touched hers. He wanted too much more with her, but this might not be the time for that.

He pulled her flush against his body and kissed her deeply. She sighed, and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Her clothes were soaked, but then again, so were his. He could kiss her forever and it wouldn't be nearly long enough. Roman had to stop, though. "If we stay in these wet clothes, we might catch our death."

Athena's lips twitched. "Why, my lord, are you trying to seduce me?"

"I…" Roman was speechless. "No… I mean…"

She winked and then pulled her shirt free from her breeches. The white fabric was so wet it was nearly transparent. Her chemise underneath was the only reason he couldn't see her plump breasts, but that wasn't much of a barrier, either. Athena yanked her shirt over her head and undid the strings of her breeches. She pulled off her boots and let her breeches fall to the ground. "Don't worry, love." She stood before him in nothing but her chemise. "I want you to seduce me. Now it's your turn. Take off those wet clothes and come keep me warm. I don't know that we have any blankets to help with that endeavor."

Sweet torture. She was so damned perfect. Roman had never undressed so fast in his entire life. Once he stood before her in nothing but his smalls he stepped toward her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he lowered his head to kiss her. He slid her chemise up and caressed her stomach and hips, then slid his hand up until he could cup her breast in the palm of his hand. She moaned as he tweaked a nipple between his thumb and finger.

"Are you certain," he asked as he trailed kisses over her neck. He didn't want to take advantage of her, but she was so damn sweet and irresistible.

"You said we only regret the things we don't do," she said. "I don't want to have any regrets. Make me yours."

Roman groaned and pulled her chemise off and led her over to a settee. It had seen better days, but it still looked comfortable, just worn. He lowered her on to it and then leaned down to press his lips to hers, then he moved down and licked a nipple. She moaned. He wanted to taste her everywhere. This would be her first time, and he wanted it to be good for her.

"I love you," he said. Then he licked her other breast. Roman cupped her between her thighs and slid a finger through her folds.

"That feels…" She moaned as he rubbed her clit. "Roman, yes, do that again."

He smiled and decided to taste her sweetness. Roman wanted to hear her scream his name as he licked her into her climax. He spread her thighs and kissed her sensitive nub. She began to writhe beneath him. Athena's breathing became ragged. He slid a finger into her core as he sucked her sensitive nub into his mouth. "Roman," she screamed as her body shook. "I've never…"

"You are perfect," he said as he slid his smalls off. He had to be inside her.

"I'm not," she said. "But I'm glad you think so."

Roman joined her on the settee and started to kiss her again. "This might be uncomfortable. At least the first time."

She nodded. "I know. I don't want to stop."

Thank heaven… He settled between her thighs and began to push inside of her. Roman kissed her as he slid slowly inside her heat. He had to make her feel good, but he couldn't be certain she would enjoy this part, at least not the first time. Finally, he was all the way in. He gritted his teeth and stilled.

"That wasn't so bad," she said. "Is that all?"

He laughed. "No, love," he said and pulled back out and then slid in again.

"Oh…" She moaned. "Yes. Do that again."

She was so demanding, and he loved it. Roman thrust into her again and again until she writhed beneath him again. He was so close to his own climax, but he wanted her to find her release again. He wanted to feel her squeezing him as he came. Roman reached beneath them and rubbed her clit as he thrust inside of her. She moaned and shattered, and he quickly followed.

Everything went black as his own release spread through him. He'd been with other women, but it had never been like that. He rolled to his side and pulled her with him. "Marry me," he said. He should have asked her before he'd taken her virginity, but he hadn't been thinking clearly.

"I thought that was a given," she said, then chuckled. "I love you, Roman. Of course, I'll marry you."

"Good," he said. "Otherwise, I would be kidnapping you and we would make a mad dash to Scotland."

She laughed. "I don't believe an elopement of that magnitude will be necessary. Though you will have to speak with my father. I do want his permission, but I will add that on the chance he says no that mad dash would be acceptable to me"

"I shall speak with him at once—once the storm has passed. It doesn't appear to be letting up. We might be trapped in this cabin overnight."

Athena pressed her lips to his then settled back into his arms. "I'm all right with that. There are far worse things than sleeping in your arms. It truly is one of life's greatest pleasures. At least in my opinion…"

"Mine as well," he agreed. "Rest, love. I'll keep you safe." He closed his eyes and fell asleep with her in his arms. Life was good. Nothing could go wrong as long as he had Athena.