Page 79 of Desire
When I glanced back, I saw Liam head toward the well. Garron caught my chin and gave me a quick kiss as Brandle left the cottage with the kettle.
“I’m going to help Brandle with the tea. Relax today, Snow. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
He left me at the door with Eadric, who took my hand and led me to the tub.
“I see Liam was helpful,” he said, touching my untied lacings. He had them loose before I knew what he intended. “Arms up, Sparrow. You can heat the water next.”
He lifted the gown off me and left me standing in my shift as he shook it out.
“Do you want me to give this a wash while you wash?” he asked. “Hmm. When did we last wash anything for you?” He gave me a speculative look. “Best to do it all.”
Perhaps I was overly relaxed from what happened with Liam and Garron. Perhaps I was losing what was left of my sense of modesty. Whatever the case, when Eadric tugged my shift over my head, I didn’t resist or get angry. I allowed him to steal every last bit of my covering and toss it toward the door.
His gaze swept over me, and he grinned.
“A laundering for both person and clothing is due. You have a bit of something here.” He touched my reddened nipple. Sensitive from Liam’s ministrations, it immediately pebbled.
“My mistake. Not dirt, then. But I’m certain you’ll find some in the water once you’re done. In you go.”
He took my hand and coaxed me into the water, which I quickly heated. It wasn’t until I was sitting that I saw Edmund standing behind Eadric. He gripped the soap and a cloth in his fisted hands.
My gaze flicked between him and Eadric.
“Allow me to wet your hair first,” Eadric said. “Head forward.”
I obeyed without thought and closed my eyes as the warm water cascaded over my head.
“There we are,” Eadric said.
Fingers tangled into my hair, rubbing the scalp firmly. I knew it was Edmund and tensed.
“Let me have a bit of that soap,” Eadric said.
A moment later, a soapy palm massaged the breast Liam hadn’t kissed. My center clenched pleasantly, and I forgot my tension.
“There. Isn’t that nice?” Eadric asked.
“Yes,” I said.
Edmund continued rubbing the soap through my hair for several more moments as Eadric toyed with my breast, rubbing it deeply then teasing the nipple.
“Time to rinse,” Eadric said. “Close your eyes.”
Water cascaded over my head, and hands squeezed away the excess from my hair.
“Let me get another cloth,” Eadric said. “The sooner she’s clean, the sooner she can relax. Lean back, Sparrow.”
When I would have glanced at Edmund, Eadric caught my chin and kissed my wet nose.
“I like this,” he said. “If I could do everything for you, I would. Give me your hand.”
I lifted my hand from the edge of the tub that I hadn’t realized I’d been gripping. He dipped the cloth he held into the water then smoothed it over each digit. Edmund lifted my other hand, mirroring his brother’s actions down to the kiss that the tip of each finger received once clean. They moved from my hand to my arms. The pressure they used melted away any hesitation, and I closed my eyes and leaned back as I let them have their way. When they moved to my chest, I sighed contentedly. Eadric took great joy in teasingly cleaning my belly button and drew a smile from me.
When he lifted a foot out of the water, I giggled at the sensation of the cloth between my toes. The feel of their hands on my calves caused a contented sigh. That vanished when theywashed my thighs. Each swipe of the cloth disappeared under the water and brought them closer to that part no one had ever touched but me.
Anticipation warred with hesitation, making my heart race.
Eadric’s cloth lightly skimmed over that place, and my breath caught.
