“My eyes are up here,” Emerson teased.
“I know,” Jaxsen replied, and slowly trailed her gaze up to meet his. “But there’s so much more to you than your eyes.”
“Ah, well, how can I refuse such a compliment?”
“What truth?” she asked, coming back to the original question.
He shifted in the bath slightly, making room and offering a hand to her. “It’s not just sex, Jaxsen. It’s you. And the fact that you stated it so flatly implies that you separate the two. As if sex is sex, and you are you. But I can guarantee that while I fancy a nice romp here or there, it’s not the same as appreciating — feeling — for the person you’re coupling with. And this… I wasn’t boxing my bloody brains out because you’re a female and I’m acting like a buck in rut, but because of your mind, your intensity, your loyalty, wit, and smile. Because you’reyou.To think of it as anything less, well, would be a lie.”
Jaxsen blinked against the moisture that threatened to collect at his lovely words.
How long had it been since someone had seen her, the woman whose job it was to literally be invisible.
It was nice to be seen.
Appreciated.
And it made her hungry for more, to be more than just seen and appreciated. She wanted…
Dear Lord.
She wanted to be loved.
And not just in the way that comes from darkened bedrooms, but the kind that was loyal and devoted even if sex didn’t happen that night -- hell, even that week. The kind that was stronger than anything else.
Stronger than her failures.
Her insecurities.
Her deficiencies.
Emerson’s hand was still extended to her. In a pool of muslin, the dress fell to the floor. She stepped from her underthings, her gaze never leaving his. He gave a small smile, not once faltering in his eye contact. Grasping his hand, she stepped into the blissful warmth and lowered herself into the water, facing him.
“Thank you… for everything. That was quite possibly the most wonderful thing someone has ever said… that wasn’t a bold-faced lie.”
He nodded. “It was simply the truth.”
“Which made it all the more beautiful,” she whispered, then grasped the edges of the tub and leaned forward, pressing her lips against his cheek, trailing down his jawline and the faint stubble there, then pecking small kisses till she reached his lips and lingered, a breath away. Emerson met her halfway and consumed her with his kiss, achingly sweet and aggressive. Her body melted into the water.
The sound of breath and soft splashing competed with the pounding of her heart in her ears as she tried to keep control over her runaway senses. It was so much simpler, to kiss with ulterior motives. To be thinking of the next step, of what question to ask when the man’s guard was lowered to get exactly the right information.
But this.
This was surrender, and she never surrendered.
Emerson’s kiss burned through her like embers placed on parchment, and the walls she’d erected around her heart crumpled without a fight, simply parting the way for him like the Red Sea. Her heart pounded with the realization that she was in danger, complete danger of losing more than her life.
But losing her heart.
It was terrifying but not frightening enough to stop, pull away, or even take a breath.
No, she wanted -- needed -- more. Her fingers gripped onto the edge of the tub, arching into it for support as she straddled him, bowing her body onto his, feeling the warm slick skin meet hers, bare and warm. He moved gracefully like a dancer. As he leaned forward, his abdominal muscles felt hard against her belly as they tensed with the movement. Strong hands wrapped around her back, trailing warm fingers up her spine and splaying across her shoulders, sending shivers of warm desire through her like sparks.
Adjusting herself just over his hard cock, she teased him a little, rising up on her bent knees without lowering herself onto him… yet. He groaned against her kiss, her lips swollen from his amorous assault, her tongue now familiar with the flavor of him.
One hand returned to her back, supporting her as well as holding a willing captive in his arms, while the other hand traced over her shoulders and along her collarbone. His fingers lingered along the curve of her breast then tenderly held her completely in his hand, sending shivers of need through her that left her breathless.
She shuddered against him, breaking the kiss as he rubbed his thumb over her sensitive flesh. Burying her face in the side of his neck, she gave herself over to the building passion, the need that she hadn’t felt in far too long. Her patience exhausted, she lowered herself onto him slowly, glancing up when a groan slipped through his lips as his eyes closed with pleasure. His loving touch at her breast tightened for a moment as she took him in fully, her body accommodating to perfectly fit his.
