Page 14 of Hostile Extraction

“Thank you, Marta.” Asia sipped her tea. “Have you worked here long?”

“Twelve years, Miss. I worked for the previous owner before Mr. A bought the place four years ago.”

“Does he come here often?”

“About once or twice a month, Miss.” Marta seemed uncomfortable with the topic and quickly changed it. “Is there anything else you need? Would you like me to draw a bath for you?”

“That would be wonderful.”

Marta nodded and retreated.

Asia sipped her tea and stared at the view until Marta returned to fetch her.

A few minutes later, Asia was shoulder deep in a large clawfoot tub filled with fragrant bubbles. Her head rested back, and her eyes slid closed. How had she ever gotten so lucky as the day she met Giselle, and the woman had introduced her to Nico?

He’d kissed her hand and stared at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Almost from the first moment they’d laid eyes on each other, he’d pursued her with a determination that had spun her head. It was all like a dream—a dream come true.

“There’s my gorgeous fiancée.”

At the deep male voice, Asia’s eyes popped open to find Nico leaning a shoulder against the doorframe. His eyes heated as they trailed over her.

“Nico. You startled me.”

He ambled into the room, his white dress shirt rolled at the sleeves, and came to stand beside the tub. His fingers trailed through the bubbles, then found her shoulder and moved along her collarbone.

She leaned into his touch, desire flashing through her body, wondering if he’d do more than he had, wanting desperately for him to slip his hand below the waterline and caress her breast. She longed to straighten and rise above the water that lapped at her cleavage, but something made her afraid he’d find her too forward. He seemed so determined to wait until their wedding night, to do things the traditional way.

She didn’t want to anger him by tempting him to go farther than he wanted.

Whatever denying her own desire cost her, she wanted to please him in all things. Still, she couldn’t help asking the only question she had in her head.

“Join me?”

He smiled and arched a brow. “I’d like nothing more, but I’ll wait.” He kneeled by the tub. “Perhaps I could wash your back for you.”

Her mouth parted. Did he mean it? She didn’t hesitate to find out, leaning forward to give him access.

“How is your ankle feeling?” Nico picked up the thick sponge and dragged it gently across her back, squeezing the water out, again and again, until she rolled her neck and moaned.

“Getting better, I think. It doesn’t ache nearly as bad.”

“That’s good to hear. Perhaps the islands will do you good.” Surprising her, he moved the sponge around to her collarbone and up her neck. Then dunked it in the water in front of her, grazing her breasts before dragging the wet sponge up and squeezing the water over her cleavage.

The bubbles dissipated and gave him a clear view of her breasts. She looked up to see his eyes darken as he took her in. She couldn’t drag her gaze from him as he moved the sponge down her breast bone across her belly to where her legs joined.

“Spread your legs for me, angel,” he ordered in a raspy, need-filled voice.

She obeyed, and he didn’t hesitate to stroke her most intimate parts with the thick, textured sponge. She stuttered in a breath. Immediately her mind flashed to another man, a man who was gone from her life, a man she’d thought she’d gotten over.

Why did he still haunt her dreams? Even now, when she had everything she could ever want with Nico, why was it Dusty’s face she imagined looking back at her?

She froze, her legs clenching.

“You’re very beautiful, Asia,” Nico whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait for our wedding night.” With that, he withdrew his hand and stood. “I’ve some calls to make. Dinner is at six.”

She nodded, incapable of speech as he walked out. She stared at the wall. She did love Nico, didn’t she? Of course she did. He was everything any woman could dream of. Why then did she suddenly feel a weight in the pit of her stomach?

CHAPTER SIX

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