She stayed his hand.“Only if you take yours off as well.”
He nodded and shrugged out of his robe.She followed suit.Then gasped as he swung her up into his arms and carried her over to the tub.As he lowered her into the steaming water, he kissed her languidly.The tub was enormous.She sank down until the water covered her breasts.Matthew straightened and walked over to grab a cloth and a bar of soap from the washstand.
He knelt down by the tub.“Let me take care of you?”
His words from last night seeped into her chest like warm honey.Instead of fear, this time she only felt longing.For this man, for what he offered.Trusting that they could have a future together was harder.She wasn’t ready to risk her heart again.But trusting that he would take care of her for now?She could surrender to that.She nodded.
Matthew washed her, running the cloth slowly over every inch of her.Teasing and tormenting her as he kept his touches light, running the cloth over her most sensitive bits without the friction that she craved.Then he moved around so that he could wash her hair.His fingers worked the soapy lather into her hair, scratching gently at her scalp.Making her writhe with how good it felt.
She dipped her hand down to her clit and rubbed small circles to relieve the pressure that had built higher and higher with all his tantalizing touches.Matthew sucked in a sharp breath.“Feeling needy, my girl?”
She tipped her head back to stare up at him.“You know I am; you wanted to drive me mad.”
He cupped his hands and scooped water carefully over her head, washing away the soap.His fingers ran through the entire length, untangling the ends.Then he bent over and gave her an open-mouthed kiss.Tangling her tongue with his, she let him plunder her mouth.
When he stood, she quickly rose to her knees.Water sloshed over the edge of the bathtub, splashing the floor, but she managed to grab hold of the waistband of his pajama bottoms.He wasn’t going to get away this time.She shoved down the pants.His cock hard, the end red and weeping, sprang forth.
“I’m not the only one that’s needy.”She leaned forward and licked the salty tip.The groan that rumbled from Matthew was gratifying, and she gave in to her curiosity, taking him into her mouth.
Running her tongue along the underside, she found a vein that ran the length and made his cock twitch.She raised her gaze to assess his reaction to her efforts.His pupils were blown wide as he stared down at her.His jaw clenched tight.She smiled and then sucked him into her mouth again.He was too long to swallow all of him, so she brought her hand up and grasped the base of his cock.When she gave it a rough squeeze, she was rewarded with another low groan.Mmm.This time, she was going to drive him mad with lust.She would ravish him until he lost control.
She sucked enthusiastically and used her hand in tandem.His moans got louder, his head fell back, and his hips thrust, pushing himself deeper into her mouth.It made her eyes water, but she wanted badly to make him come apart, so she breathed through her nose and swallowed around his tip.
“Fuck,” he moaned.“Lizzie, you are a fucking goddess.”
Then he jerked his hips again, and with a roar, he came.His seed spurted warm into her mouth.She swallowed as much as she could, but it still spilled down her chin as he pumped gently against her tongue.The bliss on his face was worth the mess.She grinned up at him, as he pulled in deep breaths, his chest heaving.Then he reached down to swipe his thumb across her chin.He hauled her to standing and kissed her, his tongue sweeping in to suck on her tongue.
“You are such a filthy beast,” she murmured against his lips.
“I know.”He grinned.“But you love it.”
She did love it.Matthew had no inhibitions.He said whatever he was thinking.He didn’t hold back any expressions of pleasure, and he demanded the same from her.The words he murmured against her lips or in her ear always ratcheted her desires to heights she had never experienced before.Her worries that she was too loud or too needy fell away one by one.
They spent the afternoon together, curled up in his drawing room with Stella and Robert as rain poured down outside.Matthew patiently explained the rules and tricks for playing loo as Robert played with Pitter-Patter and a ball of yarn Mrs.Todd had provided the pair.
Later, after she had put her son to bed, she again walked across the hall to Matthew’s room to wait for him to return from downstairs.She closed the door behind her and wandered around his room, lighting a few tapers so she could explore.The large copper tub had been put away in its closet.And the other door along that same wall led to a shadowy sitting room.It held a small round breakfast table and a settee positioned in front of the fireplace.In one corner was an empty glass curio cabinet.Overall, the room had an air of disuse.She couldn’t picture Matthew’s tall frame lounging comfortably on that formal settee.
Back in his bedroom, the ambiance was entirely different.Cozy was the only word to describe it.Several large plush rugs covered the entire floor.Velvet curtains framed the windows.A large chaise covered in matching burgundy velvet sat in front of the fireplace.Along the far wall, a row of low bookcases stood sentry.
She wandered over to see what sorts of books Matthew owned.The books were shelved in no particular order.Lots of volumes containing plays—Shakespeare, Sophocles, and Molière.She ran her fingers down the row, holding the candle to see the titles, and stopped as she came to a small section of gothic novels by her favorite author, Ann Radcliffe.Her lips twitched in amusement.Why did it not surprise her at all that Matthew enjoyed novels with supernatural elements?She pulledThe Italianoff the shelf and climbed into Matthew’s massive bed to read.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rob nodded towardthe gentleman at the dice table.Matthew sighed.The man in the middle of a small group was Lord Halifax, and he had been on a hot streak.Matthew walked past the bar and held out a hand.Val handed him a freshly opened bottle of champagne.Then he walked over to greet the three gentlemen who had been playing for the better part of an hour.
“Good evening, gentleman.How’s the play tonight?”he asked.
“Bloody fantastic!”Halifax grinned wide, his crooked teeth on display.
“That’s what I like to hear.”He held up the bottle of wine.“Allow me to pour you a celebratory drink.Ruinart is simply the best.”
All three men eagerly lifted empty glasses for a pour.After filling everyone’s glasses, Matthew turned to Harry, who was running the table.“Time for a dice exchange.”He withdrew a fresh set of dice from his right jacket pocket and handed it to Harry.
All the men around the table groaned.Matthew held up a hand.“Now, it’s just standard practice.We exchange the dice on a strict schedule.”He scooped up the dice on the table and pocketed them, but then he set the bottle of champagne next to Halifax.“Please enjoy the bottle.On the house.”And with his task complete, he walked away before having to entertain any grumbling.
He ambled through the room, watching play and making eye contact with his employees to see if he needed to intervene anywhere else.Back at the bar, he leaned his elbows on the top and stared out at the room.His mind wandered to thoughts of the woman upstairs in his bed.He frowned; she damn well better be in his bed.He blew out a slow breath.
She drove him mad with wanting her.And not just her lush body, although being balls deep inside her was absolute heaven.Bloody hell, he wanted her to be his.To make a family with her and Robert.To spend his afternoons curled up next to her on the sofa, listening to her fume about all the ills in the city; to watch her work at her desk as she crafted the perfect article; to sit and play soldiers with Robert while the boy chattered about all the things he’d discovered about the world that day.To love them how they deserved to be loved.Matthew rubbed the heel of his hand against his chest where the longing to make a family of his own squeezed tight around his heart.How could he convince her to let him take care of them forever?
