“Helena? You remember you promised me pralines if I was polite?” Amelia said, a bit of cream on her cheek.
Helena leaned forward and wiped it off with a smile. “Tomorrow, I promise. I thought we were tired today.”
Amelia yawned, even as she shook her head.
Helena grinned at her, patting her cheek affectionately. “Tomorrow. This gateau is enough for tonight.”
Silas also yawned. “Speaking of tired…”
Helena looked at him, “Time for bed?”
“Long past,” Silas agreed.
They finished dessert, and made sure Amelia and Charlie made their way to bed before going to find their own rest.
Patricia was waiting for her, lavender-scented bath already drawn, gently steaming in the firelight. She helped Helena out of her clothes and lowered her down into the water.
Helena sank into it with a sigh of relief, her eyes closed. She let Patricia rub her feet, and scrub her back, before she cleaned the rest of her body, dismissing Patricia.
“I’m just going to enjoy the warm water until it grows cold and then I’ll go to bed. You can go Patty.”
“All right then. Goodnight, Your Grace,” she curtsied and left with a smile.
Helena sighed, closing her eyes and letting the gentle lapping of the water soothe her tired bones. The soft candlelight made her somnolent and she hummed to herself in order to stay awake.
“Beautiful,” a low baritone said, and she smiled.
“You’re too quiet. Make some noise when you move,” she said without opening her eyes.
Silas laughed, splashing some water on her chest before rubbing her skin gently.
“Do you intend to steep in the tub all night?” His finger trailed down her torso and she tensed in reaction, butterflies erupting in her belly.
“No. I thought I’d wait for you here.”
He took her hand. “Well, I’m here now.” He helped her to her feet. She stood up, and looked him in the eye, unabashedly.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered.
“Your wish is my command.
He slowly took his robe off, and she saw that he was naked underneath. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. He lay her down, gently and climbed onto the bed, straddling her.
“I await your command, my lady,” he said.
She reached up and wrapped her hand around his neck, pulling him down. “Kiss me.”
He swooped down and took her lips with his. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip before nipping at it then pulling it into his mouth and suckling.
She moaned at the pleasure of it, her body squirming beneath his. He kissed along her jaw, and blew in her ear. She shivered from her shoulders down to her toes.
“Make love to me,” she whispered.
“I am.” He stuck his tongue in her ear and she cried out, body arching off the bed.
“N-no need for that,” she said in a quivering voice, “I’m ready.”
He chuckled against her skin, licking a strip over her neck before trailing down to her breasts. He suckled her left nipple gently, while flicking at the right with his finger.
