Page 36 of A Raven Reformed

“Shush.” She quickly removed her bodice and set it aside before dipping a washcloth into the bath and rubbing it with soap.

“Close your eyes.” He was enjoying the sight of her bare arms and the mounds of her breasts above her corset, but reluctantly did as she instructed.

Gently, the warm cloth rubbed across his forehead, rivulets of water running down his face. Using her finger wrapped in the cloth, she meticulously cleaned around each eye and his nose and mouth. Broader strokes wiped his cheeks, chin, and throat, before a stream of water poured over him to wash the soap away. A dry towel blotted gently against his eyes.

“Much better. Now for the rest of you.”

He should tell her she didn’t need to do this, but the truth was, he desperately wanted her to. She moved the cloth leisurely over his shoulder and around to his neck, engulfing him in a haze of feelings and desires.

“Lean forward,” she instructed.

No woman had ever bathed him before. Somehow, he felt both startlingly vulnerable and cherished at the same time as she reverently washed every inch of him. Lifting his arms to wash beneath, careful not to hurt his injury, rubbing the cloth over his back and around his ribs before slowly making her way all the way down to his bottom.

A jolt of excitement speared through him as her soft lips pressed a row of fiery kisses across the back of his shoulders, her tongue gliding along his skin between each one. His manhood swelled a little more with each repetition. Just when he thought he couldn’t take anymore, she was gone, walking around to the other end of the tub.

“Give me your foot,” she said, brushing soap over the washcloth again.

He leaned back. “When did you take lessons in torture?”

A triumphant spark flashed in her eyes, but her expression remained innocent. “I know not of what you speak. I am simply washing away the layers of dirt you managed to accumulate on your body today.”

It was hard not to twitch as she plunged her cloth wrapped finger between each of his toes. When she finished with that, her thumbs sent ripples of exquisite agony through him as they massaged the sole of his foot in time with the throbbing in his groin. The agony was made only worse as she worked her way up his leg, careful not to miss an inch. She even washed behind his knee. His jaw clenched tight as her hand moved farther up his thigh, and he sucked in a breath as the cloth whispered over his hard length. But then, once again, she was gone.

“Other foot,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Madam, you are trying my restraint.”

“If I have to repeat myself, there will be consequences.” She raised a brow, challenging him to disobey, mischief dancing in her eyes. She obviously reveled in repeating his own words back to him, but the quick rise and fall of her breasts belied her cool demeanor.

“Rest assured, my lady, there will be consequences.” He said the words with quiet emphasis. Her eyes dilated as he stared into them, slowly lifting his other foot out of the water. Her lips parted slightly, and she blinked several times before visibly centering herself and returning her focus to the washcloth. After this bath, he was definitely going to have to remind her that it was she who’d taken a vow of obedience.

After washing and rinsing his foot, she locked her gaze with his before lifting his ankle and running the tip of her tongue along the entire length of his sole. A burst of pleasure shot straight to his groin.

“Dear god, woman.” Was it possible to climax without even having any direct stimulation? He just might find out if she kept this up.

Her mouth turned up in a mischievous grin as she began massaging with her thumbs, just as she had his other foot. It was heaven and hell all at once. After working her way slowly up his leg, the cloth feathered, once more, over his manhood, confirming that the last time had not been an accident. It was the only contact before the cloth moved up to his chest.

He snaked his hand around her neck, and she squealed as he pulled her mouth down to his, immediately plunging his tongue inside. He thought he’d regained the upper hand for a brief moment as she gasped for breath, but then she reached into the water, and her slippery fingers wrapped around him. He inhaled sharply as she began to slowly stroke his length, his free hand gripping the side of the tub.

“You need to stop, Belle.” He ground the words out between gritted teeth, but she didn’t stop. He was not going to spill his seed in the goddamn bathtub. He pulled her hand away and stood up, water splashing everywhere.

“Michael,” she gasped. “Sit back down.”

He shook his head and her hand landed with a stinging crack on his backside.

Michael barked a startled laugh. “Did you just spank me?” He spoke the words softly as he slowly turned to face her.

She folded her arms defiantly across her chest. “I haven’t washed your hair.”

“I don’t give a damn about my hair, little miss.” She took a step back and swallowed. “You’ve just earned the spanking I’ve been itching to give you all day long.”

As he stepped over the side of the tub she screamed playfully and ran through the door to his bedroom. His strides were much longer than hers, and he quickly had his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly against him.

“Do you feel that?” He ground his eager erection against her bottom.

She nodded. “Yes, my lord.” Her voice was barely a whisper. He untied her skirts and let them fall to the floor.

“You’ve been a naughty girl, taking advantage of my vulnerable state, making me lose all control of my desire for you.” He bit her neck. Not hard enough to actually hurt her, but enough to make gooseflesh rise on her arms. Her pulse pounded against his tongue as he soothed the skin he’d bitten. He loosened the laces of her corset before turning her around to face him, trying his best to ignore the burning in his arm.

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