“Yes,” he groaned. “My terrible bride.”
The desire between her and Roxboro plucked insistently at her skin, reminding Sophia that it was there, no matter how unlikely. She wanted to give herself over to it. And him.This feeling is real,her heart whispered.Why have you been avoiding this marvelous—
Oh, yes. Nearly forgot.
“There is something I must tell you.” Sophia almost wept at having to push away from him. Here was Roxboro, shocking her with his sincerity which made her own deceit all that much worse.
“And there is a place you must touch me,” he returned in a silky tone. “No talking right now. None. I don’t want to hear a word unlessyou are screaming my name as you climax. Or giving me specific instructions on where to place my mouth.”
“Alexander.” She tried to force her confession out, but the words refused to come though she’d practiced them in her mind often enough.
Coward.
“Are you always so direct in such matters?”
“Yes, I am,” Roxboro answered. “Now, this is my cock. There are other names for it, but I like that one best. But if I’m truthful,” he grabbed her hand once more, positioning her fingers over the hard length, silky and heated beneath the water. “You may call it anything you like as long as you place your fingers just so.”
“Ann told me to call it a cock.” At his look, she said, “My maid. Ann. I—not specifically your—male anatomy—but in general.” Sophia attempted to sound…confident, even with her cheeks burning.
“I’m glad to know Ann is not peeking at mycock.” A wry smile pulled at his lips. “When I’m asleep. Now, wife. I am yours to do with as you like.”
“I don’t know what to do. My mother told me to lay on the bed and obey you.”
“Hmm. We’ll get to that presently.”
Fingers curling around him, Sophia tested the size before stroking gently down his length. “Like this?”
“Sophie.” Roxboro’s mouth on hers became more demanding with each stroke of her fingers beneath the water. His large body trembled, sending ripples across the bath water as her thumb rubbed along the tip, dipping into the seam at the top. A growl came from him.
“Is that wrong?” she whispered.
“Nothing you could possibly do is wrong.” Roxboro’s hand tightened over the top of her fingers, showing Sophia exactly how to caress him. “More.” He nipped the side of her neck. “Harder.” His mouth found the slope of her neck, biting gently until she gasped. Then his lips found hers once more, kissing Sophia as if his life depended on it.Tongues twined together. Breaths mingling as Roxboro groaned into her mouth.
He stiffened. Held her hand with a forceful grip as he jerked beneath the water.
“Sophie,” he gasped. Hips thrusting up, forcing his cock further into her hand, Roxboro found his pleasure.
He was beautiful when he climaxed, though Sophia had never witnessed such a thing before. A feeling of power surged through her. She had given him such pleasure. Not some courtesan or a barmaid at a tavern. But Sophia.
Roxboro’s eyes were closed, lips parted as he panted softly. “Well, imagined I would last longer considering I’m a notorious libertine, but I’ve been dreaming of you, Sophie.”
“You dream of me?”
“I do. Mostly wicked things.” He winked. “I’m going to get out of this tub before I completely wrinkle, because I’ve been soaking for some time. I spent so long waiting for you, my terrible wife, that the footmen had to bring me more hot water.” Roxboro stood, water sluicing off his chest, stomach and along the globes of his muscular backside.
Rather splendid considering he doesn’t ride.
Taking up a towel, he dried himself, while a smug smile crossed his lips. “You look warm, Sophie. I’ll need to get you out of your dress as soon as possible. I don’t want you to…swoon in the heat.”
Wretch.
“No—” She shook her head and pulled back from the tub. “I need to tell—”
“Yes,” he said in that ducal tone that had her humming inside. “We are consummating our marriage. Now. Today. Admittedly, having not done so previously is mostly my fault, but your avoidance hasn’t helped matters. But as much as I’ve enjoyed the bath and your attention to my instructions on how best to bathe me, I have other plans.”
“We—we cannot.” Sophia blurted, knowing that she must tellhim. Especially now. Roxboro would want an annulment and she would…tend bees. Possibly.
“Yes we can.” He regarded her for a moment. “I would wager that your lovely quim is wet.”
