Page 60 of In Compromise with the Earl
As he entered his room, he came across a pacing Aphrodite. Instead of asking her why she was upset, he closed the door, went to her side and wrapped her in his arms.
“I know, Sweetling, I know,” he kissed her temple. “It is going to take a while, but she will come around.”
Resting her head so her ear rested right on his heart, she sighed, “I know but when?”
“I don’t know, but despite that, I am not going to let you bear the brunt of her displeasure,” he replied. “Let us take a bath, and I’ll send for dinner.”
* * *
The flickering light of the candle sconces lit the bathing chamber in a warm golden glow. The copper tub was filled with jasmine-scented water and Aphrodite smiled at the warm embers under the tub.
Undoing the peach silk robe, she stepped into the water and she sank in the comforting embrace of the hot water that felt heavenly against her skin. The smell of lavender curled with the steam into her nose and her body began to grow lax. Reaching for the soap, she lathered her hair and washed it, digging her hands into her scalp.
“Let me,” Oswald said while he perched his hip on the edge of the tub and slipped his hands into her hair. His rough hands were tender while rubbing her scalp and she nearly moaned at his touch.
He braced the back of her neck while using a pitcher to rinse and when she smoothed back her wet hair, feeling more refreshed than she could remember, Oswald did away with his black robe and stepped into the tub with her.
Resting between his legs and on his chest, she smiled contentedly. “You have wonderful hands.”
“Hm,” he said while he reached for a sponge and drew it languidly along her arm. The sponge grazed her erect nipple and she let out a small moan. She closed her eyes while feeling his length thicken behind her. She shivered at the memory of how it had felt inside of her, how masterfully he had turned her inside out and how forcefully she had shattered under his touch.
Dropping the sponge, Oswald brushed aside her hair and kissed just under her ear and then down her neck. As he continued to plant light kisses along her neck and shoulders, he slipped both hands under her arms and cupped her breast. Aphrodite let out a shaky breath as she felt her nipples harden beneath his palms. She threw her head back and grabbed at his thigh while arousal bit deep into her belly. He massaged her breast while kissing her wet skin.
His right hand left her breast and pressed on her belly, before it slipped between her legs “My God, you’re slick,” he remarked, sliding his fingers along her mound.
She moaned as he inserted a finger into her, spiking want and need up her spine while he rubbed the swollen nub nestled between her folds. He pinched the nub playfully before withdrawing his hands.
“Not here,” he kissed her ear. “I want you in my bed.”
Instead of joining them, he went on to wash them as if he was oblivious to the throbbing proof of his arousal that was between them. He teased her, brushed her breast, kissed her wet skin, trailed his fingertips over the sensitive skin of her sides, stroking the fire inside her into a fever pitch.
“Oswald,” she panted. “Take me to bed—now.”
“Patience,” he whispered in her ear before nibbling on it. His hands smoothed over her body once more before cupping her aching breasts and sucked a mark into her shoulder. “Good things come to those who wait.”
“You’re evil,” she turned her head to the left when his lips made heated contact there.
Shuddering under his ministrations, she reached a hand between them to grasp his turgid length when he batted her hand away. “No.”
A wry, forced laugh left her. “I’ll be a candidate for Bedlam after you’re done with me.”
“Arousal is a fire,” he kissed he jaw. “Sometimes its best while raging, other times it best when its smoldering. I’ll show you,” he said.
The dulcet tones in his voice made her shiver; God knew she loved it when his voice deepened like that. Aphrodite loved it even more when he lifted her into his arms as if she was thistledown and carried her out the bath.
Grasping a towel, he pattered them dry then with another lift, carried her into the chamber and rested her onto the bed. With one knee on the bed, she reached out and touched the chiseled planes of his chest, which were sprinkled with the short hairs she loved to touch.
Though she’d had close to a month to get used to his raw masculinity, her breath still caught at the sight of him. Strength and raw beauty infused his every aspect. She loved the rippling of his muscles when she touched him and loved more the smooth flex of his back when he joined them.
She skimmed her hands over his wide and heavy shoulders as he slitted himself between her legs and she drew her palms over the hard planes of his ridged torso against her soft curves as he made love to her.
The touch of his chest to her breasts and his hand slipped under her knee to cock in over his hip. Her eyes glazed over as he captured her breast in his mouth and entered her body. Sinking one hand into his back while the other clutched at his hair, she felt the strange sensation of lingering between being grounded and soaring beyond the bounds of sanity.
His thrusts grew harder, deeper, filling her so utterly and while desire was thick in her veins clamoring for capitulation, yet Oswald was not in a hurry. He moved as leisurely as a slowly ebbing seashore, yet bliss grabbed a hold of her and did not let go. Arching back, she sunk her hands into his hair. It was heavenly and she did not want it to end.
I suppose this is what they mean by making love.
* * *
