Page 87 of Unforeseen Affairs
The air in the room was thick and steamy, full of a lovely lavender scent that no doubt came from the fiddly little soap cake with a charming design pressed on it that sat in a dish at the edge of the tub. Charlotte watched his every move, heating the back of his neck and agonizing his hard prick even more.
He sat down, shifting his trousers inelegantly. It was no use; her eyes dropped, and she stared between his legs. They were both silent, listening to the sound of water dripping off of her into the tub. Eventually she turned away, and fixed her gaze out toward the bedroom.
In profile she was somehow even more elegant, more removed. He studied the contours of her nose and jawline, the tilt of her glistening lips and the weight of her wet lashes. She held herself with her usual aloof disinterest, but he knew her better now, or so he flattered himself. Now he could detect thesubtle excitement in her expression as she waited, listening like a tawny owl perched on a high branch.
And they were alone.
Colin couldn’t believe he’d agreed to this, that he had acceded to her every wish. He thought of how kind and pleasant her family had been, when they’d welcomed him to their table.
He swallowed and shut his eyes, not wanting to think of how they would rage and bluster when they found out just what he’d done. He’d spent his entire life doing his best to evade harsh judgments; he would sooner cut himself than disappoint someone.
With a gentle splash she lifted a hand from the water, and reached back to caress her neck as she turned back to face him. Colin tried, but he was unable to tear his eyes away. Then she slid her hand down, her fingers tracing absentminded circles just above her breasts.
“Charlotte?” he said, cursing himself as his voice caught in his throat.
“Hmm?”
She was intent upon her quarry; her fingers moved ever so slowly down the slopes of her breasts toward the water, where her nipples were submerged just beneath the surface.
“Have you ever… that is, what are your thoughts on marriage? Are you so… inclined?”
You bloody fucking fool, he scolded himself. Was sheso inclined? Where had all his social graces gone? He’d a reputation for being pleasant company and a good conversationalist; a fat lot of good that was doing him now.
“My thoughts on marriage?”
Her hand froze. Colin held back a groan. Of all the times to lose one’s senses.
Her wide eyes were fixed on him, unblinking. With her hair wet she appeared even more otherworldly. She truly was anundine, a nymph, a siren. He wanted to take her to the coast, in a country where the water was warm and the beach empty of holidaymakers. He wanted to listen to the surf with her. He wanted to swim with her. To embrace her in the water. To kiss her lips, wet and salty.
Colin nodded, too humiliated to speak.
“I’m rather fond of you, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He stilled.
“It’s not,” he choked.
“Well. It’s true, all the same.” She turned away again. “Has been for some time now.”
This time, he noted, she held the edge of the tub with her other hand, as if to steady herself.
“For some time?”
“Yes.”
“Might I ask when—”
“I’ll tell you,” Charlotte said sternly, each word placed after the last with exquisite care, “if you’ll do exactly as I say.” She turned back toward him again and grinned. “Would you do that, I wonder?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Dowhat?”heaskedpensively, his mouth dry. All he wanted was to tup this woman, to make her his wife, and to worship her if she’d let him. Was that too much to ask?
“Remove your shirt.”
She pushed herself up in the tub. Rivulets of water streamed over her breasts; Colin could see her skin prickling against the cool air.
He stood as quickly as if ordered by a training officer and tore off the garment as though it offended him.
