Page 63 of Love Lessons
So now I’m nervous.Obviously. The perfect sunset is forgotten as I realize that Ian is expecting me to seduce him. I drink my second glass of prosecco in nervous gulps. Because I don’t have a plan.
At all.
There’s always lingerie, my inner voice reminds me.If you can’t be original, you can still dress well.
I carry my empty glass into the kitchen and wash it. Then I march upstairs and open up my lingerie drawer.
There are lots of choices, because I believe in dressing well from the inside out. I pull out a sexy red camisole trimmed with lace. But then I remember how Ian is sensitive to synthetics. So that’s out. In fact, most of my lingerie involves lace of one kind or another.
Uh-oh. Now I’ve spent ten minutes rifling through my own underwear drawer. That’s not seduction. That’s indecision.
Crap.
I pull out my travel candle and a book of matches, and I light the candle, placing it on the dresser. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Then I hurry into the bathroom, put the plug in the tub, and crank the faucets. I pour in some bubble bath that I’d brought along, because Charli had told me about the clawfoot tubs in every bathroom. I haven’t tried mine yet, because I was worried about Ian walking in on me.
But now that’s kind of the point. As I watch the bubbles rise, I twist my hair into a topknot and shed my clothes. Back in the bedroom, I douse all the lights but leave the candle glowing on the dresser.
Then I slip into the hot water, sinking down to hide the part of my body that’s not very sexy. It feelsgreat. I immediately relax, because baths are one of my hobbies. This is my favorite way to chill out at home, too, even though the surroundings aren’t nearly as glam.
I’ve been soaking for only a few minutes when I hear Ian enter his room. A moment later, the bathroom door opens after a polite tap. He peers into the room, spots me in the bath, and smiles. “Nice work, contessa. It’s a simple setup, but classic.”
“Right?” I agree. “I’m all, ‘Oh, I’m just here taking a bath, don’t mind me.’”
His sexy smirk appears. “Meanwhile you’re wearin’ nothing but the bubbles. Men are visual creatures. You got all my attention now.”
“Excellent.” The praise lights me up more than I would like to admit.
Ian sits down on the edge of the tub and strips off the merino T-shirt. He folds it and sets it on the towel bar.
For a moment I just blink up at his chest. It’s like a brand-new miracle every time I see it.
“I am invited in, right?” He tests the water temp with his hand.
“Sure. Yup,” I prattle, busy watching his arm muscles flex as he unzips his shorts. My tongue is practically hanging out as he pushes them down, revealing strong thighs, the most muscular ass I’ve ever seen in person, and a thick cock that’s already half hard.
I know I saw it all last night, but apparently, I’m not over it.
“You see something you like, honey?”
“Uh, yes?” I drag my eyes off his penis and try to meet his gaze. “I’m messing this up already, aren’t I?”
“No way.” He flexes a muscular thigh and steps into the bath. I bend my knees to make room, and he sinks down opposite me. “B-minus for the conversational skills, but the look in your eye gets top grades from your tutor.”
He’s grading on a curve, because you’re naked and he’s horny, my critical voice announces.
“You fluster me,” I admit. “You’re kind of an impressive specimen. Maybe I’d be less of a wreck with an ordinary guy.”
Doubt it, my inner voice cracks.
Ian props one magnificent arm on the side of the tub and places his chin in his hand. “So tell me about this ex that you want to impress. Is he an ‘ordinary guy?’” He puts air quotes around that last part.
“Well…” It seems weird to talk about Danforth when I’m sitting in a bathtub with Ian. “I’ve known him since I was nineteen. He was always a smart kid, and I admired him. We werebothsmart, but he was on a whole other level.”
Ian’s smile fades. “Okay. So you like brainiacs. What else?”
“He’s just finished Harvard Business School. He’s ambitious.”
