Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(18)

“Dear God.” Lily looked down. Her breasts were as red as she imagined her face to be.

Daniel grinned. “Vermeer himself couldn’t do you justice right now.”

Lily squirmed on the bed, the tender spot between her legs burning. “You shouldn’t talk like that.”

“Hush. I’m going to run your bath. I’ll call you when it’s ready.” He walked, naked, to the bath chamber.

She heard the rush of water as he filled the tub. I could be happy here. She lounged lazily on the bed. If I never left this chamber again, I think I could be content. Such musings surprised her, given her desires for art, writing, travel, so she banished them quickly from her mind. She couldn’t get attached to a man like Daniel. He had a renowned sexual appetite and would never be satisfied with just one woman. But for this one day, she would let him care for her. They had shared something intimate and beautiful, and she didn’t regret a moment of it.

“You can come in now,” he called.

She padded quickly to the door of the bath chamber and gasped. Gold veined marble walls encased a large room, in the center of which stood a giant porcelain tub with lion’s claws for feet. To her surprise, Daniel was already relaxing in it.

“I thought I was going to bathe,” Lily said.

“Of course you are. This tub is plenty large enough for two. You wouldn’t deny me the pleasure of bathing with you, would you?”

“I haven’t denied you any pleasures so far today, have I?” She couldn’t help smiling.

“Come to me,” he said.

She stepped into the tub. The water was warm and soothing as he nestled her back against him.

He touched her between her legs. “Does it hurt?”

“Not too much,” she said. “Just a little residual soreness. The warm water feels heavenly.”

He reached for a bar of scented soap and a soft cloth. He wet the cloth in the water, rubbed the soap on it, and placed it between Lily’s legs. “Let me wash the blood from you. I’m so sorry to have caused you pain.”

“You didn’t.” She gave a nervous laugh. “That is, I didn’t mind.”

“I’m glad.” He wrung out the cloth and placed it on the side of the tub. He grabbed the soap again and smoothed it over Lily’s body, caressing her with its lather.

“Mmm,” Lily said, breathing deeply, “that’s nice.”

She opened her eyes and took in the sights of the chamber. The golden faucet was in the shape of a lion’s head. A basin stood on a pedestal, also made of creamy white marble. A small door beyond led to a water closet, she assumed. “This is a beautiful bath chamber, and so modern. How long have you had it?”

“It’s all new actually,” Daniel said. “My mother had all the master bath chambers redone with the most efficient plumbing available after my father died. I was surprised to find it all when I returned from the continent.”

“It’s just decadent.” Lily closed her eyes and inhaled the natural scent of bodies in warm water. “I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a bath more.”

“Is that due to the modern plumbing, or the company?” Daniel smoothed his fingers over her breast and pinched her nipple lightly.

She swallowed. “I guess I couldn’t have one without the other.”

She angled her face toward him and he caught her lips in a delicate kiss. Carefully she turned around so she was facing him, her legs straddling his.

“If you’re going to sit on me like that, I may have to take you again.”

She ignored his comment and gazed into his eyes. “You know, you have the most amazing eyes I have ever seen. They’re almost the color of emeralds, but not quite. There’s a touch of blue in them, but not enough to call them teal or turquoise. I can’t really describe the color, which is quite maddening, actually. There’s almost an undertone of…violet, if that makes any sense. Violet, yes, and a midnight blue. It’s like someone took an emerald, added just a touch of amethyst to it, and then melded it with a sapphire, but only on the bottom.” Lily ran her thumbs lightly across his eyelashes. “So beautiful.” She pulled him toward her and touched her lips lightly to his temple. “If I had some oil paints, the first color I would try to mix is the color of your eyes.”

Daniel stared at her. He started to speak, but she continued, lacing her fingers through his hair.

“And your hair. It’s so rich and thick. The color is like the afternoon sun shining through those high wispy clouds. I see highlights of burnt gold, and amber, and chestnut brown, and just a touch of silver.”

“The silver is grey, Lily.”

She reveled in the silk of his hair entwined in her fingers. “It feels like soft suede. I love how it falls in waves and touches your shoulders.” She smiled and paused for a moment. Then, “I want to wash it for you.”

“What?”

“Did I stutter? I said I want to wash your hair.”

Daniel shook his head, smiling. “You are, without a doubt, the first woman who has ever asked that of me.”

“I never claimed to be like any of your other women.” Lily batted her eyes. “Now, may I wash your hair or not?”

“I could never deny you anything, love,” Daniel said.