The thunder and rain started early the next day.

Everyone was forced to stay indoors, back into the comforts of the countless rooms in the Humbrick estate. Most had turned to their old favorite parlor games and music and dancing. By luncheon, it seemed that the storm was not letting down.

Sasha made an untoward decision to pack up and leave when Ruby said that she was leaving with Aaron who had to immediately return to Coulway for an important estate matter. The decision to go with the pair was encouraged by Sasha's own concern for Iyana and Briana who had not yet sent any note of whether they had arrived safely in Coulway.

After she was done packing, glad to finally be leaving Humbrick and the constant sounds of the hundreds of people all over the estate, Sasha set out to find West to tell him that she was leaving for her quiet life in her villa.

"I already know, Sasha, that you can be quite insane and a little adventurous on some occasions, but this is just beyond ridiculous." He waved at the window that displayed nothing but the heavy rain and wind, washing the landscape outside with no other colors but white. It did not help that thunder rumbled as West spoke his last word.

"Coulway is just under an hour away, West."

"Which could be two under this weather. Or eternity if you bloody die out there." He shook his head. "You are staying here."

Sasha hesitated. "Ruby and Aaron are not planning to leave now. We are waiting for the storm to lighten a little before we depart. And I heard a number of people have decided to leave as well."

"Did you hear that?" he asked as another thunder rumbled outside. "I do not think this storm is going to mellow any time soon, Sasha."

"I need to know if Iyana and Briana have safely arrived. I have not received a note from them."

He nodded. "I understand your concern, but if you set out now in this weather, darling, you are putting yourself in danger. You go home the moment the storm stops."

"But—"

"I will strap you to your bed if you as much as set foot outside this estate, Sasha. Do not take my warning lightly."

Sasha looked out the window once more. Perhaps he was right. "The moment the storm stops, you take me home."

A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips. "At the very last drop of rain."

Sasha nodded and started to turn, intending to find Ruby and Aaron to tell them that she was not coming—and perhaps also try to encourage them to do the same—when West caught her by the arm and pulled her close to him.

Her eyes widened in near panic, looking around the busy parlor. Everyone was discussing a new game the Lord of Hern suggested, all eager for more entertainment. "What are you doing?" she hissed when he bent his head close to her ear.

"You smell of roses."

"Compliments to the Lady Renee's rose soap," she said, pushing away. "West, we are not alone—"

Sasha managed to stop the yelp of surprise when he swiftly turned, carrying her with him. Suddenly, she found herself pressed against him just outside the open doorway of the parlor that opened to an extended room which was currently unoccupied, but still very much open.

His mouth found hers as though it was the easiest thing to do. Sasha chuckled against the kiss, her arms wounding around his neck, laughing at his bold, absurd act. But the laughter was soon gone as he pressed her against the wall. Their breathing turned heavy and needy, his hands seeking.

"Stop," she said, pushing him away. "West, we are being ridiculous."

"No, we are not. Everyone else is. Hern's bloody game is never going to start because no one seems to understand it," he murmured against her neck.

Sasha chuckled. "West, we must stop," she said with a grunt, pushing hard. When he allowed a little space, she ducked under his arm and laughingly ran to the center of the empty room. "No, you stay away," she said with warning, warding him off with one hand. "I have to find Ruby and Aaron."

West sighed. "Very well."

With a secret smile, Sasha left him, wondering if that was their last kiss.

If the storm would come to an end soon, so would their time in Humbrick.

*****

Unfortunately for West, the bloody storm left as fast as it came.

Before everyone came down for the ballroom, the last drop of rain had fallen. Sasha, who had not even bothered to dress for the ball, was fast to find him. She was still in the same dress she was in that afternoon in the parlor, but this time she was wearing her lace mob cap and bonnet.

"Sasha, the roads may not be in the best condition at the moment," he tried, but then he sighed when her eyes narrowed to slits. "Very well." He looked around, thinking of another way to dissuade her.

"You may lend me your carriage if you cannot leave this place," she said. "Ruby and Aaron are long gone."

"Sasha—"

"Very well, I shall ask Jade if she can ask Trent to lend me his." She whirled around and he followed.

"Go and have your things carried to the door. I will call for my carriage."

"Thank you," she said over her shoulder before lifting her head to continue her journey back to her chamber.

As West watched Darren load his trunks on the carriage, his mind drifted from one thought to another, all of whom of varying degrees of stupidity.

He was about to go home, his last trunk being strapped on to the carriage, and yet he was still thinking of ways to stay at Humbrick. And in the five years he had been attending this bloody party, he had never considered staying up to the last day. He always left on the third.

Sasha's face appeared through the window. For a flashing second, something in him stirred at the sight of her in that carriage—his carriage.

Her brows raised, she silently sent him a message.

West sighed, looked up at the sky. It was still as bloody clear as it could ever get. Bounding down the stairs, he joined her inside the carriage.

"We are ready, my lord," Darren said outside with a big smile.

West only nodded. His valet ran and joined the driver.

In no time, they were pulling away from Humbrick.

*****

Sasha could not tell what was on his mind.

It seemed as if the West that she knew in Humbrick had decided to stay behind.

She was once again with the Duke of Eaton.

He had been staring at her for the good twenty minutes of their journey.

As Humbrick was not too far from Coulway—the main reason why many could afford to leave the vibrant scene of the season for a week-long party—Sasha began to feel the regret. Should she have stayed until the last day? With him?

Mentally shaking her head, Sasha knew she made the right decision.

She had managed to make him kiss her—multiple times. And that spoke volumes. He desired her. And that desire did not just stem at Humbrick. It had always been there. They had both felt and suffered through it in Coulway.

She just needed to figure out how she could bring back what they started in Humbrick.

She could not fail now.

The silence between them was starting to get uncomfortable that Sasha hoped she had not packed her book with her gowns. She looked out the window, at the wet and fresh scene that passed which was passing too fast in her opinion.

"I plan to go back to Belcourt and look at more records," she said.

One thick eyebrow lifted. "And the report on Willoghby?"

Sasha blinked away from his gaze. "That will also be delivered."

With nothing else to say that might at least extract a longer sentence from him, Sasha bit her lip and focused on the view outside. Her fingers fiddled with the lace of her gown.

"Sasha." Hearing him say her name was no longer a strange thing, but the tone he used when he said it brought forth a wave of tingling sensation throughout her limbs, to the tip of her fingers and toes.

Sasha turned and found him looking at her. Sasha gulped. She knew that look.

He extended his arm, palm up. "Come here."

Her eyes flickered to his hand.

With a sigh of impatience, he leaned toward her and grabbed her hand. In one fluid motion, Sasha found herself on his lap.

"Kissing is not against the agreement," he whispered, adjusting her position so she straddled him, the skirts of her gown a big pile between them. He pulled at the ribbon of her bonnet and let go, letting it fall freely on the floor. "This carriage is enough for that," his low voice said before his hand came to rest at her nape, pulling her face down to meet his kiss.

Suddenly, they were back in Humbrick.

The intense heat consumed them, the same heady desire burning them to move. She could not get enough of him. Could she ever?

His hands went under her skirts, faster and smoother than the last. As if they had practiced the same motion hundreds of times before. He slid down the seat so she could snuggle fit against him.

But that was just as far as they could go.

Despite the wanting, the ever relentless reminder of their limitation hovered above them, stopping them.

Yet that did not stop Sasha from taking what she could. She ground her hips, loving the low, guttural sound that escaped his throat, swallowing his breath into her mouth, tasting him as he unbuttoned her dress from behind, popping three buttons from the top, allowing her sleeves to slide down her arm.

And suddenly, his head dipped down and Sasha let out a gasp of surprise and pleasure.

How in the bloody hell—

The bastard managed to expose her breast and was now—

Good lord, he was doing—what was he doing?

Sasha found herself caring less.

It felt sinfully wonderful and exciting.

Her fingers raked his hair, her hot breath escaping her parted lips, brushing against his curls.

"West, this is insane," she whimpered, moving her hips against his groin, the rough fabric of his trouser grazing her skin at the right places, making her want to feel more. Just a little more painful, just enough to... bloody hell, she was not even sure what more she was searching for.

"We have to return to Humbrick," he whispered against her breast. The hairs on the surface of her skin stood to their ends as his breath washed over her damp skin, cooling it.

She shook her head. "I have to return..." Sasha buried her face in his neck as his fingers searched amidst the flurry of fabric and his mouth covered the tip of her breast.

Sasha could feel it happening again. The journey to the peak that she would never reach because he would stop. And he did.

Like that night at the library in Humbrick, Sasha felt the hungry need for more. But she was too embarrassed to demand it. For how could she?

She signed an agreement.

She pulled his head back from her breast. She dipped her head to claim his mouth with hers, shuddering with unspent pleasure.

It was the furthest they could go.

*****

By the time they reached Coulway, night had fallen and Sasha was back in her seat across from him.

Her bonnet back on top of her head, her dress properly fixed. Apart from the missing top button of her dress, she was looking rather presentable.

And West was looking like the Duke of Eaton once again.

The rain had started just as they were driving down to her villa.

She looked out into the darkness and at the lit windows of her home. She was far from relieved as she was not yet certain of Iyana and Briana were indeed home.

"Thank you," Sasha said to West when the carriage came to a stop outside her doors. She tried to smile, but he was making it difficult.

He was back to his duke-ish mien.

The bloody bastard. He just ravished her in the same carriage and now he was looking at her as if she was a particle in the air.

West nodded in acknowledgment as Darren opened the door for her.

"Very well, good night," she said before she climbed out of the carriage. "Thank you, Darren. You may leave my trunks outside. My maid will collect it," she added to the valet as she rushed up the stairs, just in time for the door to open to reveal Iyana. "Thank goodness you are safe," she said to her maid, hugging the woman. "And Briana? Why have you not sent me a note!"

"We are fine, my lady! We sent a note. It must have been delayed. You know how the post can be during this time of year. Rush inside, my lady! It is pouring!"

Sasha looked over her shoulder. The carriage was still there as Darren and the driver were still unloading her trunks in haste. And West was hidden inside.

She sighed and entered the door, brushing droplets of rain off her dress, all the while thinking about how she could get a consistent West from Humbrick in the days to come.

*****

Hours later, Sasha was drinking her tea in the parlor as the rain continued to pour heavily outside.

Iyana and the others had long retired upon her insistence. She needed a little quiet alone with her book.

But she found she could not focus as the events in Humbrick came back to her. She turned to look out the window. Fear was fast to attack her, enveloping her like an icy cold blanket.

Willoghby, that bastard.

She had never felt such immense fear before. Not for fifteen years.

And that bloody pig just had to remind her of what it felt like to be utterly alone and helpless. Sasha closed her eyes to keep the memory of Willoghby dragging her into that garden, only to open them again when his voice echoed in her head, saying, "Be a good girl..."

Sasha jumped in her seat at the sound of the knocking on the door. She stiffened, suddenly alert.

She was no longer in Humbrick. She was no longer protected by the hundreds of people that constantly surrounded her. West was not here. So were her friends.

Her servants might take a few minutes to get to her. And there was no assurance that they may be of help.

She flinched hearing the brass knocker pounding outside three more times.

Looking around, Sasha stood and grabbed the fire iron by the fireplace.

Her knuckles white as she grasped her only weapon tightly, Sasha felt her legs shake as she stealthily made her way to the front door.

She jumped when three more knocks came.

Her back pressed to the wall, she inched her way to the window and peeked.

Then she frowned, her fear suddenly replaced by pure bewilderment.

Her shoulders dropped, relaxed.

Three more impatient knocks.

Sasha unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Suddenly, the strong wind greeted her, carrying with it fine droplets of rain. "What in the world are you doing here?" she demanded, scowling at West who was drenched from head to foot.