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Oh, no. What have I done?
The last time she was this naked before him, it was completely dark, and they were both drunk with passion. Now, as she shivered in a room full of candles, a fireplace burning and illuminating the room with a yellow glow, she was afraid she’d made a huge mistake.
She smiled sheepishly and covered her breasts with her arms. Sebastian stepped closer and kissed her softly on her lips.
Lavinia’s eyes fell closed, and her body melted into him. When they kissed, nothing else mattered. It didn’t matter that she was completely naked before him. It didn’t matter that he was not. All the problems of the world had disappeared, and it was just her, Sebastian, and their kiss.
God, how she’d missed his kisses. It had been less than twelve hours since their last kiss, but it seemed like forever.
He snaked his arms around her waist and pressed her closer to him, his hard length pressing against her belly.
She chuckled as she pulled away. “I… um… Let me bathe first…”
Sebastian raised his brow. “First? And then what?”
She looked down, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
Sebastian smoothed her hair on her head and pressed one kiss on the crown. “Come. I shall help you.”
He held her hand as she stepped into the bath, hissing at the hot water. The cut on her foot burned, and her muscles ached, but the overall sensation was pleasant. She lowered herself fully into the bath and moaned.
Sebastian’s gaze traveled down her body. He studied her breasts, her belly, then his gaze paused at the juncture between her legs. Lavinia squirmed uncomfortably.
“Do you mind passing me some soap?” Lavinia asked.
Sebastian’s gaze returned to her eyes, and he smiled. “Of course.”
He handed her the soap, then took off his coat and waistcoat, rolled up his sleeves, and crouched before her. “I wish the bath was large enough for both of us,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I would have loved to join you.”
Lavinia’s cheeks were heated either from the hot bath or perhaps from his words.
She started soaping her arms, hoping the soapy water would cover her form soon.
What devil had prompted her to disrobe in front of him? Granted, he didn’t seem repulsed by her, quite the contrary. But her foolish heart was beating loudly in her chest, clouding any rational thought.
“You’ve been trying to paint me naked since we first met. So here I am, naked, and yet you’re not painting me,” she teased lightly, to cover up her discomfort.
A glimmer of a smile appeared on his lips. “I find I’d rather be right here. Close by. We’ll have enough nights for me to paint you later. Provided I would ever choose not to be sitting by your side.”
The smile left her lips, and Lavinia looked down. She wished his words were true. But it was unfair to promise him that, without telling him the full truth, the full extent of her troubles. “Sebastian, about our marriage—”
“There is nothing to say. The duke said it is settled,” he interrupted softly.
“It is not his decision to make.”
A coy smile tugged at his lips. “Well, did you have to sound so enamored with me when you talked about me?”
Lavinia’s cheeks heated even more. “I did not sound enamored!”
Sebastian chuckled. “Oh, yes, you did. You said you’d be the luckiest woman on earth to marry me.”
“I did not say that.” She splashed water his way, a timid smile on her lips.
Sebastian turned away from the scattering droplets, then caught her hand and kissed her wrist. “Let us not argue about this anymore. Not tonight. I just want to sit by your side and watch you bathe.”
Lavinia nodded. She soaped her arms, watching him from under her eyelashes.
Perhaps he was right. They’d had a difficult day, and they deserved a lovely, calm evening in each other’s company.
