Page 63 of Wicked Is the Duke
He walked back to get Anna and found her warming herself next to the fire. He felt remorse for not having let her at least change. He should have insisted on it.
"Come, your bath should be ready."
"I can't wait," she replied.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize how damp and cold you really were. I should have insisted you change before we dined."
She shook her head of dark hair. "Nonsense. I'm not some frail young maid, Henry. I'm quite used to some discomforts."
"Why don't we wait and see what tomorrow brings? Right now, let's get you into a hot bath."
He led her up the stairs and down a short hall until they came to the room. Inside, in front of a roaring fire, sat a tub of hot water. Henry watched as his wife sat in a chair near the fire and started to remove her boots and white stockings. He thought he'd go crazy when his wife mentioned as she was undressing that she wasn't wearing a corset.
How long had that been going on? He turned away from her so as not to make his pent up emotions well known. It didn't work, as he caught himself making a strangling noise in the back of his throat. He turned around at the sound of water sloshing around as she sank into the tub, but not before he caught the creamy silky skin of her derriere. His member instantly hardened, and he swallowed hard, deciding he needed to leave and give her privacy. Otherwise, he would not be responsible for his actions.
"I'm going to go check on things while you're enjoying your bath. I shouldn't be long."
She smiled. "Please, I'm sure I'll need help washing my back since you've given my maid the night off."
It was taking every bit of effort he possessed not to take her right then. “Then I’ll make sure I’m quick,” he said as he pivoted on his heel and left the room.
He found his coachman and the others in the tap room enjoying a bowl of beef stew and joined them long enough to have a mug of ale himself. The pair discussed plans, the coachman wholeheartedly agreeing with Henry's concerns. Though everyone was anxious to arrive at their destination, it would be senseless to chance losing a wheel or worse.
Henry noted the taproom was busier than it had been a short time ago. Looking around, he could tell he wasn't the only one who had the same idea of getting off the road and out of the bad weather.
Returning to their room, Henry smiled at the sound of Anna singing softly as he entered. She was in the midst of washing her hair with lavender scented soap, before sliding under the water to rinse her long, dark locks.
He stood in amazement or lust, he wasn't sure which, watching her before he uttered a word.
"Did you find everything to your satisfaction?" she asked as she rung water out of her hair with her hands.
"Yes, and we'll decide in the morning as to whether we stay or head on." He neared, taking off his coat as he did. "Were you still needing my assistance, Duchess?"
"Yes, I do," she replied coyly as she handed him the linen cloth and the bar of soap.
Henry submerged the cloth in the still warm bath water. He let the water drip down her back before repeating the process. This time he soaped the cloth up with the lavender soap and slowly began to wash his wife's back. He was dangerously close to picking her up out of the water and laying her down on the bed as the urge to make love to her boiled.
His fingers trailed along her back and across her shoulder. This was mad. He should have better control than this. Anna, on the other hand, seemed to have no problem with his touch. He ran his fingers down her arm, into the water. Instinctively, she parted her legs, inviting him in.
She moaned softly as his fingers trailed down to her thighs. She raised her hips as his fingers explored. He applied just enough pressure as he rubbed his thumb over her sensitive nub to make her squirm even more. She rocked with his motions, her hands gripping the sides of the tub. He found her opening and pushed a finger inside. She was delicious, wet and hot for him.
"Henry," she murmured just seconds before she flew apart.
