Page 93 of The Sinner's Bargain

Vance was waiting in the foyer when we arrived. He glanced from Blue to me and frowned. “What happened?”

“Blue fell into the lake,” I said as I maneuvered Blue towards the stairs.

His dark brows lifted. “The lake? Thank goodness you both missed the rocks. A miracle for sure.” He rubbed a hand across his brow. “I will let Oliver know you both arrived safely. He went to check the conservatory.”

I stopped listening as I took Blue to my room and sealed us in.

“My clothes...” she began as I guided her to the bathroom.

“You won’t be needing them.” I let that promise sink in and knew the moment it did when her eyes widened, and her lips made a small O of surprise.

I concealed my grin by turning away to the wall of dark glass built into the far wall.

That wasn’t my meaning at all. My entire intentions were to clean her up, get her warmed and fed, and tucked in my bed where I could periodically make sure she was okay throughout the night. But her way of thinking opened my mind up to a few interesting ideas.

I turned the shower on.

She stood where I’d left her, dripping lake water on the black marble. She was still shivering violently, but her focus was trailing down the domed ceiling to the gothic windows framed in black across the curve of a whole wall. She traced the warming benches built between two of the bays, settled between a set of doors that opened on a veranda hovering over the lake. Finally, she eyed the circular tub coming out of the center of the room, perched on a platform the same black marble as the floor.

“It’s magical when it’s raining,” I said, going to her. “Watching it hit the ceiling and run down the sides. It’s like being in a bubble.”

She said nothing but watched me as I came to stand before her. My fingers lifted to the collar of her coat. I eased the heavy fabric down her arms. It hit the floor behind her with a soggy plop.

“You could sleep to the sound of it on the glass.” My hands drifted to her hips, fingers slipping beneath the hem of her dripping sweater to freezing, clammy skin.

Blue shivered at the touch. Her lashes fluttered but remained open, exposing dark, hungry eyes.

“In the summer, you can watch the rain through the open terrace,” I went in, easing my palms over the curve of her ass to the silver tongue of the skirt’s zipper.

She sucked in a breath as I eased the teeth down, widening the fabric until it slid in a wet heap around her ankles.

Her sweater followed.

She stood before me in soft, damp skin and lacy undergarments. A light kiss of pink highlighted her cheeks, a good sign given that her lips were still slightly blue.

I didn’t undress the rest of her.

I took a step back and started on the white buttons running down the front of my dress shirt. I pressed each one through the opening. Carefully. Methodically. Eyes never wavering off Blue as she watched my hands. Her full lips parted as the material fell open, exposing the full plains of my chest. I shrugged free and let it hit the ground.

She sucked in a breath when my attention finally dropped to the front of my trousers. I worked the leather strap holding them in place, yanked it free of the loops in a single, fluid jerk.

Blue made a soft, “Oh,” sound that would have been amusing if she didn’t also look terrified.

“Don’t you want to see him?” I only partially teased, index finger circling the button before forcing it through the fabric.

Her mouth opened and closed, eyes bouncing between my face and the wide V revealing my black boxers. “I ... I ... yes, I...”

I raised an eyebrow at her incoherent mumbling. “Would you like me to stop?”

Each shoe was toed off, the Italian leather ruined beyond repair. The waistband of my trousers slid down around my thighs.

“No, please,” she murmured, transfixed by the hard bulge pushing against the cotton of my boxers.

I stepped out of my pants and stood before her with a throbbing erection begging to be set free.

“Take your bra off,” I said, my own attention riveted on her firm, gorgeous breasts practically spilling over the lace cups. They rose and fell in time to her ragged breaths, giving me hints of her dusky nipples.

Blue hesitated. She flicked a glance up at me once before reaching up and around for the clasp. Her tits bounced free with the flick of her wrist. The undergarment was dropped on top of the other discarded items.

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