Page 64 of For the Sub

“Peach?”

“With vanilla.”

“I like it.”

She made a note to buy a dozen bottles on her next trip into town.

Within moments, he had secured her hair. “I could play with this for hours.”

“I’d let you, Sir.”

“Maybe we will.” After double-checking the water temperature, he pulled back the shower curtain. “Join me?”

She’d always thought the tub was one of the home’s nicest features. Its claw feet reminded her of a bygone era, and its depth allowed her to soak up to her chin, something divine in winter when the house was cold.

Although the tub was deep, and Master Niles was probably right that the two of them could bathe together, the way it was sloped at the bottom meant that she couldn’t be standing more than a foot away from him. This close, his presence overwhelmed her.

“Not too hot?” he asked when they were beneath the spray with the shower curtain pulled closed.

“It’s perfect, Sir.” Just like the rest of the evening had been. “May I wash your back?”

“Please.” He turned away from her.

“Damn, you’re every bit as hot from this angle, Master Niles.” She made lazy circles on his back.

Steam billowed around them, and she squatted to make her way down and across his tight buttocks. Then she gently slid into the crack to cleanse him there.

His body went rigid, and she continued down his legs. “I’ve showered with men before,” she admitted. “But I’ve never washed their backs.”

“Your Doms have been remiss,” he said. “If you were mine, bathing me would be a weekly obligation.”

Would it? “One I’d enjoy, Sir.” The experience of combining service and sensuality would be sublime.

“Maybe on Friday evenings, as a way to wind down from a busy week.”

“Sounds perfect.” She continued her lazy exploration of the hard planes of his honed muscles. “Did your wife do that for you, Sir?”

His one-word answer was flat. “No.”

Wondering if she was being reckless, she persisted. “Would you have liked her to?”

He didn’t reply.

She didn’t have the right to push for an answer. But instead of apologizing or changing the subject, curiosity made her keep her mouth shut, allowing the question to hang between them.

Content to wait, she continued the soothing ministrations across his already-clean skin.

When she was certain he didn’t intend to respond, he said, “It never occurred to me to make it a requirement.”

Seems very un-Domlike. “I’m glad I offered.”

“So am I.”

“You miss her.”

This time, he didn’t answer.

A few seconds later, she went on. “Have you considered remarrying?”

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