A Rose For A Rose

Chapter 1

The wind rustled through the trees, filling the silence around us. The cool summer air brushed over our skin, making mine pucker.

"We shouldn't be here. Not like this. If we're seen," I whispered but my hands had a mind of their own, coming up to rest on his shoulders. His hands ghosted over mine and up to my neck. This was dangerous, but it felt so good.

"We won't been seen," he said brushing the edge of his nose against mine. I breathed in a slow breath and tipped my head back the slightest bit. His scent overwhelmed me, billowing around me like smoke billows around people in the cigar rooms.

"How can you be sure?"

His thumbs brushed down my neck. Even that was scandalous enough to cause talk.

"I promise. Nobody else is here," he whispered, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. I gasped quietly and my eyes found his in the dark, his brown eyes so deep and captivating. They were beautiful and I loved looking at them.

I had never believed in finding someone so easily that I loved, but even after a handful of weeks, I knew. I knew that he was the one for me. I smiled to myself when I felt his fingers twist into my hair, pulling me closer to him. I wasn't surprised when his lips pressed against mine, warm and soft but equally commanding.

I had never been kissed before, but I knew what the fuss was about now. I stretched up on my toes and dug my fingers into his jacket, moving my lips with his.

Even now, I would take the consequences of my actions if I could feel his kiss again.

~~A Rose For A Rose~~

I finished buttoning the back of Lissa's dress and smiled at her in the mirror. Today was the day Lissa made her debut as a debutant in society. The daughter of a Viscount and a genuine beauty. She was a pure soul and it showed. She was what society would speculate as a pearl; delicate and pure to look at but formed to withstand pressure.

Dressed in a beaded gold gown, she looked like a jewel that was waiting to be plucked.

"Are you nervous for today?" I asked, fastening her necklace around her neck. Lissa looked at me in the mirror and shook her head.

"No. Are you?"

I shrugged. I wasn't exactly making my debut into society. Both my parents were away for political matters. Earl and Countess Mazur were rarely home, and I was often shipped off to whatever place they could find. I was lucky when my friendship with Lissa grew to be what it is now; her parents graciously offered to watch over me while my parents were away. But after Lissa's parents passed a few years ago from influenza, the title of Viscount passed to her brother, Andre, and he continued to let me stay with them.

And it was just as well. I had a better relationship with them.

Lissa turned in the mirror and maneuvered me so that I was standing in front of the mirror, her fingers moving and pinning my hair. Usually, Lissa's handmaid would help us, and she did for the most part, but we wanted to do that last bit.

Lissa insisted on picking my dress tonight and I was grateful that she did. I would have gone with something so simple, but she picked out a beautiful lilac silk dress with gold ivy like embellishments cascading down. She pinned my hair back in a way that made it look elegant but still down like I preferred.

Once she had placed my jewelry and deemed we were set, we descended the stairs in search of her brother. AS expected, he was waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs, toying with his pocket watch. Lissa cleared her throat as we got closer to the bottom of the stairs and he looked up, giving both of us a smile.