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Chapter Fifteen
For the second time in the space of a few days, Clara occupied her dewy body in its entirety. She was mindful of the sensations in all her limbs and in between, not of comportment or posture. Perspiration rolled down her body, yet shame was absent.
It feltmarvelous.
A suppressed giggle echoed in the large, domed room, followed by an eruption of snorts and laughter.
Clara smiled and allowed her head to loll, making amused eye contact with Stella, who shared the large, sloped divan with her.
“I’m sweatin' like a `oore in church!” Minnie called out.
More laughter.
One of the older Violet House residents shushed the others, effecting about ten seconds of silence in the tiled room before Minnie crowed like a rooster and Jess whinnied like a stallion. Before long, barnyard sounds took over the Sultan Hammam.
“Animals, the chuffin' lot of yer,” came the gruff reply once the women quieted again.
After more titters, a new blast of dry heat pumped into the room through ornate grates. Soon, the only noises were occasional sighs and blissful groans.
“I’m warm to the depths of my bones for the first time since last summer.” Stella’s languid observation floated in the hot air.
Clara murmured assent automatically, but the agreement froze in her throat, remembering that two days earlier she’d glowed from the inside out. She exhaled dreamily, remembering the powerful well-being she’d known after climaxing, then falling asleep next to James.
Her head rolled, and she stared at the ceiling. Even with the lanterns’ glow, she could make out only the largest cut-out in the domed ceiling—an eight-point stained-glass star in the center.
How exquisite it would be to frequent the room when sunlight poured through, casting colors onto this paradise.
Would James ever visit?
“Thinking of your J.R. again, are you?” Stella mused.
Clara’s brow furrowed. “How did you know?”
“Your smile.”
She glanced about the room. “We’re all smiling.”
“Yes, but notthatsmile.”
“Very well,” she admitted.
She felt boneless. The heat and perspiration were cleansing and invigorating. Her blood was pumping vigorously through her entire body. Until this week, she couldn’t recall a time since childhood that she’d been permitted to know such a feeling.
“When I was a girl, I ran through the meadow at Anterleigh. I used to run until I collapsed into the tall, sweet grass, and lay there hidden. I haven’t thought of that in years.”
“What made you think of it now?”
“The ground was hot from the sun. This feels like that.”
“Hmmm.”
Clara lifted her damp shift from her chest. “I call on him again tomorrow.” Her body was lax, except for the facial muscles that pulled her lips into a smile.
Stella rolled onto her side, head on her hand. “You can hardly wait!”
“It’s true. Last night I spent an entire play wishing I was with him instead of watching grown men prance and pretend on stage.”
Stella rolled onto her back again, draping an arm over her brow. “I thought you enjoyed the theater.”
