“Aubrey,” she scolded him. “You are rotten for saying something so appallingly rude to me. You really ought to apologize.”
“I will later.” He winked as he rose from his chair and rounded the table to her side. “I’ll join you in the bath and make certain you’re cleaneverywhere.”
Heat pulsed to life between her legs. “That sounds acceptable.”
“Acceptable, eh?” He bent down and kissed her nose. “Until later, minx.”
She watched him stride from the kitchen, admiring him as he went, taking her poor heart with him.
CHAPTER 15
“You see? I told you that it’s possible to fuck in a tub.”
Rhiannon was still breathless from the staggering climax that had roared through her as Aubrey had made love to her in the bath. She was in his lap, a boneless heap, arms wrapped around his neck for purchase to keep her from sliding limply beneath the water.
She could hear the smug grin in his voice, but she didn’t object. Oh, the arrogant, wonderful, beautiful man. He had returned to her with a night rail, his own soap and shampoo, a brush for her hair, and a far more sensible pair of slippers for her feet. A host of servants had arrived with their luncheon and then departed for the manor house, leaving the two of them alone, lost in their own little world yet again.
“Mmm,” she murmured, all she could manage for the moment. The water was hot from the range and decadently scented as it sloshed around them.
The floor was a sopping mess they would have to navigate with great care when they emerged. But she wasn’t concerned about that just now. In fact, she wasn’t certain she cared about anything.
Unless it was the man in her arms.
He kissed her ear, her throat. “I will admit that it was hardly a chore proving you wrong in this particular instance.”
Helpless laughter bubbled up in her throat as she turned her head toward him, dazzled by his gorgeous face and the way his smile lit up his emerald eyes. Dazzled by him in every way, full stop.
“I suppose I’ll allow you your small victory for now,” she teased lightly.
Her heart was so full. Overflowing. The day had been nothing short of wondrous.
“How generous of you, my lady.” He cupped her nape and tipped her head, bringing her mouth to his for a long, slow, and thorough kiss.
“I am a remarkably generous woman,” she said when his mouth left hers.
“And modest.”
“The most modest.” She kissed him again before lifting her head to study him, committing every detail of this moment to her memory so that she could recall it later, like a treasured picture in a frame. “Thank you for bringing me here to this cottage.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “You needn’t thank me, minx. I can assure you, the decision was a wholly selfish one. I intend to spend as much time on your lessons as possible until the house party is at an end.”
“I have been enjoying my lessons immensely.” She smiled down at him.
“As have I,” he said. “Although I must admit that it rankles to think of you wedding the Earl of bloody Carnis. All your sensual fire will be wasted upon him. The man has the personality of a wet counterpane.”
She frowned down at Aubrey, searching his countenance for a hint that he was bamming her.
And finding none.
A hint of misgiving splintered her heart.
“What do you mean?”
He gave a bitter laugh. “Forgive me for insulting your betrothed. But you must know the man is as interesting as a musty old pair of boots. I gather you must have some tender feelings for the fellow in order to agree to marry him, but I dislike him quite intensely.”
He thought she was still intending to marry the earl? After all they had shared together? After he had kept her here at this cottage, nothing but the two of them, making love in every manner possible?
She felt her smile slipping. “I wished to marry him to please my mother. I thought that doing so would grant me her favor, or perhaps her attention, two things she has never willingly bestowed upon me. But all that has changed now.”
