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He shook his head. “It’ll be an adjustment, but I’ll help you.”
She gave him a glowing smile. “I know you will.”
He poured the water into the tub and then crossed to her, his fingers making swift work of her buttons.
She’d been naked in front of him before but never in the light of day, and nerves prickled all along her skin.
He seemed to sense her hesitation and in answer, he stepped closer, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing other than we’re alone—”
“We’ve been alone before.”
“And it’s daylight…”
“Ahh, I understand.” He began working her sleeves down her arms before she stepped out of the dress. “First. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, in clothes or out.”
“Oh,” she replied in a whisper, her voice unable to be any louder.
“And second, as my wife, there will be no secrets between us.”
At that she smiled even as her skin shivered with excitement. “I like that very much.”
He made quick work of the rest of her clothing and helped her step into the tub. She sank in on a sigh, the water deliciously warm. He placed a cake of soap in her hand, and she caught the scent of lilies before she began to scrub the dust from her skin.
She caught sight of him removing his shirt out of the corner of her eye and stopped her movements, excitement pooling between her thighs. Did he mean to join her?
“Lean back.”
She did as he asked and a moment later, more water poured through her hair. When he dipped his hand into the water to grab the soap, she gasped, her nipples pebbling, but he only pulled the cake out and began working a lather up in her hair.
His hands felt wonderful, steady and strong as they massaged her scalp and worked down the strands. By the time he rinsed out the soap she was both incredibly relaxed and aware of his every small gesture.
When his stubbled cheek brushed hers, she turned toward him, nuzzling closer. “Are you finished washing?”
“I am,” she said against his skin.
“Mind if I take a quick turn?”
Her nipples hardened all over again. To see him naked, to watch him bathe. The ache between her legs pulsed as she pushed up, water cascading down her limbs.
He wrapped her in a towel and helped her from the metal tub. He quickly shucked the rest of his clothing off, leaving her to stare in wonder at the hard planes of his body.
She’d seen him before, of course.
But never in so much light. It had its advantages.
As she watched his muscles ripple, her own pulse beat faster.
He scrubbed himself with the sort of efficiency she’d come to expect from him and then rose from the bath, rivulets of water highlighting the cut line of muscle.
When he reached for her, he pulled her to him, still wrapped in her linen towel. “I only brought the one.”
“Oh dear,” she whispered. “What shall we do?”
But even as she said it, she unwrapped the ends and tucked them about his sides, wrapping them both in the same rectangle of fabric.
Their damp bodies pressed together, and Lily knew that this bath had been a very good idea.
