Three years ago...

The amusement was apparent on her beautiful face.

"What seems to be amusing, fair maiden?"

She scoffed at the moniker. "I am no fair maiden, my lord."

"I shall be the judge of that." He squeezed her hand as he turned them around in tune with the music. "Now, tell me what is amusing."

She shook her head. "I simply cannot believe I am dancing with a Town Guard."

"And that is amusing because?"

She shrugged. "Because my cousins would be horrified. My father and his brothers as well."

Ralph's brows furrowed. "Why so?"

A secretive smile touched her lips. "Just so."

"You are beginning to make me utterly nervous."

"Rightly so," she retorted fast.

Although Ralph would love to delve further into her statement but fearing it might lead to the end of this dance, he chose to think of a different question and enjoy this closeness she allowed.

"Have you ever been kissed before?" he boldly asked. It would have still led to her stepping away from him, but somehow Ralph knew it was a question she would take as a challenge.

"Why would I answer that?" she asked, face bare of any hint to the answer he was seeking.

How many men had she allowed to be this close to her, he wondered.

"Truly been kissed. Have you ever?"

"Truly been kissed?"

Her curious eyes mesmerized him. "Yes."

"Perhaps no is the answer," she so honestly provided. "How is it like?"

Ralph's eyes hovered over her moistened lips. Was she taunting him? "I also wonder, but I wager it is magical."

She scoffed, dismissing his romantic display of words.

Grinning like a total fool, Ralph could not take his eyes off her lips.

There would be more time to discover this wonder, he promised in his mind.

*****

Despite what Alex and the ton may believe, Ralph had had very few mistresses in his life.

There were lovers, yes, but not many of them led to a point of Ralph arranging an estate for them. Nor had he ever considered keeping them for long as most of them would have hoped for.

Yet now, as his body became one with this woman, with his Lady in Blue... with his bandit, Ralph merely did not wish to keep her for long. He wanted the time to stop. He wanted it to stop because he knew that while he drugged himself with this woman, others were waiting for most of his time—to save them, to protect them.

For once he was being selfish.

He willed time to cease running.

This was a moment worth revering. Every touch was a tiny speck to remember, every drag and rub a sensation to treasure.

He had never been a patient man, yet he was willing to wait forever until the pain of his first thrust waned from Alex's face. He gathered the remaining of his control, reining them tightly until her whimper turned into a sigh of passion.

Burying his face in the junction of her neck and shoulder, Ralph rasped, "Sorry, sorry."

Her bare breast heaved against his chest. Her hands started to roam over the damp planes of his back. "Bleedin' thank the horses," she murmured in his ear. "I heard ridin' horses aides in stretchin' the sheath—"

Ralph could not allow her to finish. He swallowed the rest of her words with his mouth, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "This is not the best time to make references to horses or any animal of any kind, Alex," he murmured against his mouth as he started to move inside her.

Any witty remark was trapped in her throat, replaced by a gasp, one that of wonder and awe rather than shock. Watching her close her eyes as he ground against her was equally beautiful when watching them staring—or glaring—at him.

Afraid to lose control before she reached her own peak, Ralph bent his head and suckled on one of her breasts while his other hand roamed freely, travelling between their slick heat and that intimate part of her. He hid a satisfied smile, deliberately slowing his movement between her legs, teasing her, taunting her—provoking her. All the while his fingers did their sensual ministrations, mindful of her silent whimper, of her confusion and wonder.

He fondled and explored until he heard that distinct sound of air trapped in her throat, until her hips buckled in response.

The reaction he expected was not the same to the actual one as was always the case with Alex. Instead of crying for more, of helplessly whimpering for him to take her to the climax, she pushed him none-too-gently on his back and took control. The purr that slithered through her lips ignited him even more, breaking him out of his momentary surprise. The grey flame in her eyes brought him back to this insatiable, carnal moment.

Ralph groaned as she straddled his hips, her head bent and her wild, curly hair moving along her sensual pace. Gripping her hips, Ralph fought for control but she would not allow him. When her grey eyes met his hungry gaze, when she bent down to cup his face and crushed her mouth against his, she quickened her pace, giving him what he needed.

His release was met by hers and she cried out into his neck, her arms around him, her nails digging into his shoulders. Ralph thrust into her a few more times before he dropped back against the cushions, sated and his flesh still quite shaken.

The naked and beautiful weight above him started to move but Ralph tightened his arms around her, stopping any movement.

"I can't breathe, guv," she murmured against his shoulder.

Ralph drew a long breath of her scent, keeping her close. "Let us not breathe," he whispered.

"Yer insane," she chuckled, pinching his side.

"Let us will the time to stop."

Alex was strong enough to roll to the side but Ralph went with her. They now faced each other, limbs tangled, body moist with heat and sweat.

Ralph was already waiting when she looked up and their gaze locked. He breathed a sigh as he reached up to tuck her curls behind one ear.

As he gazed at her face now, flashes of memory came to him and he realized something. He gasped as the picture became clearer.

"What now?" she asked wryly and sleepily.

"I remember you now."

"'Cors ye do. I was a beaty durin' yer sister's weddin'," was her sarcastic remark.

"No, I meant in Blucksley." Alex frowned. "You were the one I was chasing."

Understanding and memory flashed all over her face. "Ack," she said with a sigh. "Bleedin' hell. I was hopin' ye would'na remember that."

Ralphs scoffed in disbelief.

"Would'ye like te arrest me now then?" she asked. "Ye'll be three bleedin' years late."

A wicked grin stretched his lips as he grabbed her hands and pushed them above her head while he moved above her, trapping her between him and the bed. "Perhaps."

"Really?" she asked with a lazy smile.

Ralph smiled against her mouth. "Yes, perhaps."

*****

"I'm not certain we should trust 'em," she whispered in his ear.

"Who?" Ralph whispered back.

She motioned her head at the closed doors of the private gaming room. "Them Leaguers." When he made no comment, Alex added, "Jeremy and Aurora met their fate 'cos of their meddlin'."

"They saved Jeremy Briars from prosecution," he reminded her.

"'Cos they wanted somethin'."

"There are good men in the League like there are in the Guards," he calmly stated. "Our groups are mere smaller representations of the entire Town. Evil exists, but good is also abundant."

Alex could only shake her head. She stood to her feet and started to pace the room while they waited.

Ralph allowed her, his own mind bothered by the time they consumed waiting in Willowfair. Osegod could have already made his move, but somehow Ralph was assured by the thought that Osegod would most likely wait for them to make a move and turn it into a mistake.

He was thinking of ways they could not allow that to happen, when the doors opened and the three Haverston brothers rushed in.

Adrien and McKenzie acknowledged his presence as well as Alex's, but it was the eldest, Calan Haverston, who regarded Alex with a suspicious look.

"She is not the enemy, brother," Adrien droned as he took the chair nearest Ralph. "She is a bandit."

"Not very reassuring," Calan said, his dark eyes studying Alex. "Considering I've been attacked by some in the past."

"Do be careful in the future then, guv," Alex retorted, walking to sit beside Ralph. "It won't be the last."

McKenzie and Adrien bellowed in laughter. "She is something, Everard, I tell you that," Adrien said to Ralph.

But Calan did not find anything amusing as he turned his serious look at Ralph. "How certain are you that they are in the Dark Forest?"

"Aurora was found near the Dark Forest. Activities have been reported to happen there."

"Your source said there was no way out of the facility. If so, how did Miss Randolph escape?"

Ah, so Aurora's identity was well-known amongst the Leaguers, Ralph thought.

"Then there must be an exit of sorts," said Adrien, turning serious now.

McKenzie turned to Calan. "As I have said, Calan, we cannot allow this to just pass. You know too well what Osegod is brewing in the background. This could be the break the League has been looking for."

Although he was looking doubtful, Ralph knew too well that any member of the League would dare not allow missing the chance to find this place.

"The rebels are hiding in that damned place, brother," Adrien said, his voice almost cold.

Ralph was not quite privy to the past of these three brothers, but there had been rumors. Their father had once been a member of the Leaders until a few years ago. Their mother, however, as stories would say, was imprisoned for having been part of the rebels and she died in prison.

Adrien's sudden cold behavior upon the mention of the rebels could be a hint, but no one could truly tell with the Haverstons. They were good at keeping secrets like any family out there.

"Going aboveground is not easily done," Calan said, now the only man standing in the middle of the room. He was very much like the eldest of the Everards, Benedict, Ralph thought. "But there is a way around the law." His eyes landed on Alex for a while before he continued. "You ought to take a secure passage and travel to the direction of the Dark Forest. However, it is not certain if you will in fact find another passage there."

McKenzie turned to Ralph. "Should the passage exist in fact, the only way to enter the facility is by going through the same way they do."

"But how do you make certain no one suspects?" asked Adrien.

"I know of someone," said Ralph, his eyes meeting Calan.

Calan nodded. "I can only secure a passage for three."

"I will go with them," McKenzie said.

"Nae," Alex spoke for the first time, her voice even and controlled. "I'll go."

"No—" Ralph started to protest but she held up her hand to stop him.

"Ye'll need a woman."

"No, we do not—"

"A woman slave," she iterated.

Everyone else grew quiet. Ralph's head was already reeling, preparing for a battle. She could not go through that passage for many reasons! It was too much of a risk.

It was Calan who finally nodded much to Ralph's great disappointment. "You enter the facility under the pretense of delivering a slave."

"No, there must be—"

"Don't be complicated, guv," said Alex, standing to her feet. "Ye call yer friend now and let's go te this passage Lord Haverston's talkin' 'bout."

Before he could protest, Calan turned to Ralph. "Be certain to come back belowground, Everard. If you do not, I would be facing consequences and should I do, you know my wife will hunt you down." Ralph believed Calan was not jesting when he used his wife as threat.

"But we shall be exiting through a known passage, yes? What do we tell the Passage Guards? Surely they would question if a woman passes through—"

"I do not have to tell them there is a woman," Calan said dismissively. "We simply tell them you are Leaguers. Gender is never questioned within the League of Founders." Calan turned to walk to the door. Their discussion was done. "Send for this friend of yours, Everard and be ready by tonight."

Adrien jumped to his feet and winked at Ralph and Alex. "You lucky bastards." Walking to the door, he added, "By the by, Mary has a perfect plan to keep anyone from noticing you lot are missing."

McKenzie followed after his two brothers. "Gather your bags. Someone ought to teach you how to survive aboveground."

"Someone? Who?" Alex inquired.

"My wife."