Page 15 of The Countess's Awakening (The Lovers’ Arch #3)
CHAPTER 15
T he wonderful sight of Kai’s naked buttocks greeted Esther as she opened her eyes. His muscular, well-formed buttocks. A wash of heat swept through her at the memory of how they had flexed and contracted as he thrust into her. It was her favorite spot to place her hands when they made love. The powerful muscles of his back were a staunch competitor for the honor, and she loved to map the flared contours that narrowed down to slim hips. But once he started moving inside her, the buttocks called to her. It was as if, with their flexing, she could anticipate the exhilarating slide of his flesh into her.
The pearly light of down caressed the outline of his body as he stood in the small tin tub, washing his body with quick, efficient movements. The soapy washcloth left a glistening trail of foam over his back, his arms. His body was so beautiful. All sleek muscles and feline grace. She wished he would turn around so she could see the front. Imagined the bubbles sliding down this chest, over his abdomen, and down below, to his rod. She would love to help him wash. The soapy water would provide slickness for her hands to slide over his body, providing just enough friction to drive them both to distraction.
She enjoyed these intimate moments of domesticity. In the week since they departed, she had discovered that sharing accommodations differed greatly from just sleeping with someone. It gave her the opportunity to observe all these little habits of daily life that you don’t get to see when your partner has somewhere else he can go to get ready. In almost two decades of marriage, she had never seen her husband perform these daily rituals.
Kai rose very early. The man moved with the stealth of a shadow, and most days, she wasn’t aware of him leaving the bed. But she often saw him on his return, entering the room with the same stealth, sweaty, and carrying a bucket of hot water. He had explained that he liked to exercise in the mornings, practice his kung fu. To avoid disturbing her sleep, he went to the parlor, where the room steward set up a cot for him every night for appearance’s sake, even though he had not used it once.
She had almost called good morning when he came in this morning, but then he set the bucket down and started stripping. It didn’t take long for him to be naked, for he wore only a loose belted tunic and wide pants.
As soon as his chest was exposed, she had lost the desire to speak or even think. It was so much better to indulge her sight.
So she lay, not daring to move, controlling her breathing so as to not disturb the fascinating activities of her lover getting ready for the day. Her lover…the word felt right. Sensual, wicked. She rather liked the idea of having a lover. Of being loved. Wanted. Desired. Lusted after. It was something she had not felt in such a long time. Perhaps ever. At least not with this intensity.
His arms moved as he scrubbed his front. She watched, fascinated, as the muscles of his legs bunched when he crouched to grab a little tin cup. He used it to sluice water over his body, rinsing away the soap that slid down his body with reluctance, as if wanting to cling to him.
She was sorry when he wrapped a towel around his waist after a brisk rubdown. Small droplets of water clung to his back, like dew on leaves. Still undressed, he went to the washstand where his shaving supplies were laid out and performed the manly ritual of taking a razor to his face.
His shaving concluded, Kai moved beyond her sight, to the other side of the room where the wardrobe stood. Now he would dress, ensuring he was properly attired for when her maid arrived to help her dress. He was always so circumspect she was sure even the steward who came in every morning to tend to the room believed that he slept on the cot.
She sighed and started to turn, only to feel the mattress dip and his naked body slide next to her, embracing her from behind.
“Got a nice eyeful?” he whispered. The fresh and spicy scent of his shaving soap washed over her as he nibbled her ear.
She mewled like a kitten, melting into him. The sensations cascading through her body were too wonderful to articulate.
“You knew I was looking?”
“Mm-hmm. Felt your gaze like a caress, touching me everywhere.”
Just as he was touching her right now, sneaking his hands under her chemise, gliding them up her torso to cup her breasts.
“Why didn’t you say something?” she breathed.
“What, and ruin your fun?” She heard the smile on his tone.
“Then why didn’t you turn around and gave me a proper look?” Oh, she was feeling quite naughty this morning.
“Because I was hard as iron.” He tweaked her nipples, tearing a moan from her lips. “It took a good scrubbing, and all my mental discipline, to get my cockstand to subside, knowing you were watching me.”
His fingers teased her nipples, driving her mad with want. Turnaround was fair play. She wiggled her bottom against him. “It doesn’t feel like it subsided at all.”
“It never stays down for long around you.”
She smiled with all the feminine power that statement imparted. It emboldened her to take the next step. Give in to the temptation that had been simmering in her mind. Turning within his embrace, she pushed him back and wiggled down his body, kissing his neck, his chest. He helped her maneuver, always attuned to her needs.
Her chemise rucked around her hips, exposing her legs and bottom as she continued to slide down his body. Kai lifted himself from the bed, his abdomen contracting as he braced himself on his elbows to watch her.
“Esther, what are—” His sentence dissolved into a groan as she closed her lips around his cock.
She hummed in pleasure, exploring its shape, running her tongue over the edge of the flared tip, teasing the little patch of rougher texture at the underside of its head.
He grunted, falling backward onto the pillows as if his arms couldn’t hold him up anymore. She had done that to him. He was all power and sleek strength, yet she, who had no physical power at all, had him under her control with her hands, her mouth. It was a heady feeling. It was glorious.
She had heard about this act years ago, when she still moved around in society. It had sounded intriguing, but she had not understood how a woman could find pleasure in that. Now she knew. Every groan he emitted. Every involuntary tightening of his muscles. Every jerk of his rod in her mouth ratcheted her pleasure.
When his hand grabbed her hair and commanded her head, she moaned as a rush of moisture soaked her intimate parts. He guided her with his hands, with the undulation of his hips. She took everything he offered, and more. She was greedy, insatiable. Wanting it all. The tightening of his muscles announced it was near. She redoubled her efforts, sucking, caressing. She was ready, so ready. Any moment now…
He yanked his cock out of her mouth with a wet smack, holding her head away.
“Stop. Wait,” he panted.
No! Not again. She wanted him to fall apart in her mouth. Wanted to taste his release.
“Why do you always interrupt me? Am I not doing it right?” she pouted.
The sound he made wasn’t quite a laugh, more like a grunt of disbelief. “On the contrary. It feels sublime. But I’m about to lose control—”
“Then let go. Lose control. Release.” Her voice was lower. Sultry. She barely recognized herself in the seductive tones. But this new persona felt right.
“Esther, I can’t release in your mouth.” His voice was tortured now, his gaze frantic, as if fighting a losing battle with himself.
“Why not?”
“Because you are a lady—”
“I’m a woman. And right now, I’m desperate for a taste of my man.”
He muttered something in Chinese that she thought might be a curse or a plea. Or maybe an acknowledgment of surrender, because grabbing his cock with his other hand, he presented it to her, easing her hold on her hair so she could move closer and take it.
This time, she gave no quarter. Allowed no retreat. And received her reward when, with a groan, he surrendered. Warm liquid exploded in her mouth, but she was ready. More than ready. Without pause, she swallowed it all, staying with him until the last tremors left his body and he opened his eyes again to gaze at her. High color tinted his cheeks.
“I can’t believe I did that. How are you?” His tone was cautious, as if she were a porcelain doll that might shatter.
She smiled with female satisfaction and licked her lips for good measure. “Never better.”
“Minx.”
Maybe she was. She felt wanton, bold, seductive. Today she had taken the initiative, had claimed some power. She had conquered her indomitable lover, and his sensual surrender made her feel powerful.