Page 136

J ulia had never been so cold in her entire life. She could barely think for the shivers rattling through her. William’s strong arms kept her pressed against him, no matter how violently she shuddered, up the stairs, through the door, and into the privacy of their chamber.

“I know you’re cold, my love.” He lowered her to her feet before a bath tub. “We need to get you out of this gown and into the water.”

She hugged herself in an effort to trap in some heat. “I c…can’t?—”

“I’ll do it.”

She faced the steaming water, while he worked over the fastenings.

At one point, a quiet rending interrupted the pop, pop, popping of the line of buttons.

She didn’t care. All she wanted was heat.

The gown fell heavily from her body and slapped in a wet pile to the floor.

Her corset followed, then her shift. Next was her stockings, and she was left completely naked and shivering in front of him.

Ordinarily, she would have been embarrassed, but there was no thought of that. Not now. Not until she was submerged in the heat of the water and the initial pain faded to the prickling tingles of heat that warmed her body to something languid.

“Do you want some tea?” William asked once she’d stopped shivering.

“In the bath?” She couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Are you still cold?” He frowned and put a hand into the water. Ripples arced away from his hand and lapped over her skin.

“It’s wonderfully hot.”

Noting the relaxed tone to her voice, he shifted his focus to her face, his brow still furrowed. “Lady Venerton threw herself at me. Quite literally.”

“I belatedly realized as much. I only reacted as I did because of my father, because of what he did to my mother.” Julia sighed, and the swell of her breasts rose slightly from the water.

William’s gaze slipped to the rise of her bosom for one pulse-stopping moment before returning to her face. “I’m devoted to you, Julia. When we were courting, and now, and on through forever. I want you and only you.”

“You want me?” She sighed again, long and purposeful.

His gaze lowered once more, and he swallowed. “There’s nothing I want more in my life.”

“I believe you said I’m owed a prize still.” She shifted in the tub to arch her back. “Is that correct?”

He nodded.

The swish of water against her skin went from soothing to sensual, each sway and brush against her skin made her body hum with pleasure.

“In the bed?” She tilted her head in a wicked grin. “Or in the tub?”

He hesitated. “Are you sure? This night has not been kind to you.”

“Then make it so and answer the question.” She slipped a wet, naked leg from the water and let it dangle over the edge in front of him.

His stare followed the action. “Definitely in the tub.”

“Not with your clothes on,” she chided.

If he’d removed her attire with haste, he did so doubly fast with his own until he stood before her, chiseled with muscle and wonderfully nude.

The firelight flickered golden shadows over his beautiful body.

He was perfect. Even the scars crisscrossing jagged lines over his arm made him even more so, a symbol of his survival, of what he’d lived through and overcome.

Julia’s gaze trailed down the expanse of his chest and lower still to where the hard maleness of him jutted in anticipation.

“I won’t hurt you,” he promised.

“Don’t be too careful, either.” She curled her finger to beckon him closer.

He obeyed, stepping carefully into the tub and sinking into the fragranced bath with her. Waves slapped against the side of the copper tub, but she scarcely noticed. Their knees were pushed against one another, everything touching in the snug confines of the otherwise large tub.

She sat up as he leaned forward, their mouths coming together in hungry, panting breaths, their bodies slick and hot pressing to one another.

The light sprinkling of hair on his chest and legs crinkled against her skin, sending lovely ripples of pleasure through her.

“You’re so beautiful, Julia.” He trailed kisses down her chest.

She pushed her bosom toward him, hungry for the heat of his mouth on her again. He suckled first one nipple, then the other, his tongue flicking teasing circles against the little nubs. Her hands moved beneath the water, seeking and ultimately finding, the hard staff of his desire.

He grunted against her breast.

She froze. “Does that hurt?”

“Only as much as this.” His hand slid up her inner thigh to cup the apex of her thighs. A finger slid up her center, gliding with the most delicious friction.

She gripped him more firmly and slid her hand from length to tip. She explored him thus as his fingers deftly brought her to the brink.

“Not yet.” He dragged his mouth from her breasts to her neck, kissing, nipping. His breath rasped in her ear, his voice silky when he spoke. “Part your legs for me.”

His arm slipped behind her shoulder blades, softening the hard edge of the tub. She did as he bade, spreading her knees to accommodate the weight of him between her thighs. The tip of his staff bobbed clumsily at that intimate place.

With one hand in the water, he watched her carefully with eyes so dark they appeared black. The clumsy bumps ceased and something firm pressed at her entrance. She gasped in delight.

The banded muscles of his stomach clenched, and he slowly flexed his hips forward. His length eased into her, only an inch or so. But it was enough to make her want more. She whimpered in frustration and lifted her hips higher to meet him.

He took her mouth in a kiss where teeth scraped lips and tongues stroked with abandon. The gentle push inside her worked into small thrusts, each one sinking deeper than the last. Waves undulated the water, lapping and sloshing as he filled her one careful inch at a time.

She locked her legs around him, holding him to her. He drew out and back in, pumping pleasure through her while she rocked against him to catch every sensation. His hand moved between her thighs to stroke the bud of her sex. Her body tensed, knowing what was coming, and welcoming it.

“I love you,” she panted. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” On the last phrase, the exhilaration overwhelmed her. She flew over the edge of her climax as William’s thrusts shortened into hard, fast jerks.

He buried his face against her neck and groaned. The fullness inside of her pulsed and she knew she had what she wanted. Only this time, she did not wish for a child so she could have a life on her own. She wished for a child to begin the family they would build together.

William cradled Julia against him. Long after the bath had been cleared away, and the house had gone quiet with sleep, they had lain awake together. Sometimes touching, sometimes talking, learning one another in every wonderful way imaginable.

“Country estate, or London?” he asked in her ear.

“Wherever I’m with you.” Her voice was slurred with the need to sleep.

“I like that answer.” And he did. She had faced her own fear and pushed through it to trust him. It was a tender, fragile thing he held in the cradle of his heart. One he would never break.

Her cheek moved against his and he knew she was smiling.

He pressed a kiss to the shallow dip just below her ear. “Thank you.”

“Hmmm?” she hummed in a lazy tone, clearly somewhere between sleep and wakefulness.

“For giving me your trust.”

She rolled over and lazily regarded him with tender affection. “And thank you.”

He lifted his brow for her to go on.

She chuckled. “For teaching me to love so beautifully.” Her wink was coquettish. “For saving me. Twice.” She stroked a hand over his jaw. “For letting me discover you.”

“My love.” He pulled her into his arms and lay her head on his chest. “It has been my pleasure.”