Page 46 of Claimed By the Duke of Ice

Nathaniel’s small smile faltered, and he shook his head.

“Sadly not,” he explained. “It’s why I pushed you after our race…and again when you came into my office. I do not know how or why it flickers on and off as it does with you. But now, there’s none of that. No pain, no breathlessness—” he paused, trailing his naked fingertips down the length of her arm—“only pure pleasure.”

Grace turned fully in his arms and straddled his lap. Around them, the warm water and bubbles sloshed softly.

“I am so very glad to hear that, my love,” she whispered, stroking gentle fingers down the side of his face. As she did so, Nathaniel leaned his cheek into her embrace and closed his eyes.

“As am I,” he rasped back, placing a kiss on her palm.

“Now that they are gone, though,” she continued, trailing her fingertips down over his neck, “perhaps you would be open to something else?”

Nathaniel’s eyes slowly opened, and he looked at her calmly as his hands came about her waist.

“And what is that, dearest?” he asked, curious.

Grace let her body slide down a little until her head was at the crook of his neck, and she placed a gentle kiss at his pulse. He shivered lightly at her touch, and his grip on her waist tightened.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the way you have explored my body, husband. But I would be lying if I said I hadn’t wanted to perform a similar adventure with you.” As if to emphasize her point, Grace drew her nails gently down his muscled chest, making him gasp and squirm.

“And if it does not work?” he asked, his breath hitching as she repeated the motion. “If my symptoms start again?”

Nathaniel was intrigued by the idea, but thus far, it seemed his symptoms only stayed away if he was the one who did the touching, not the other way around.

“Then we stop,” Grace whispered, pulling her hand away. “Immediately and without question.”

Nathaniel immediately snatched her hand and placed it back on his chest. He was most intrigued by this type of exploration, and he was interested in how it would continue.

“How would you have me then?” he asked, guiding her hand with his. “If we are to conduct this little experiment?”

“Perhaps we could switch places,” Grace offered, excitement illuminating her eyes at his willingness. At this, Nathaniel let out a loud laugh and shook his head.

“Nay, I would crush you if I were to lay on you as you did on me,” he chuckled.

“You would do no such thing,” Grace assured quickly, sliding off him. “The water will hold your weight. I will simply be your anchor.”

Although Nathaniel wasn’t sure of her logic, he agreed. With a flurry of graceful movements, Grace laid back against the edge of the tub, and he leaned his back against her chest. To his surprise, he found that Grace was right. But to make things even better, her soft breasts acted like cushions for his head, and he sunk quickly into a relaxed position.

“I am liking this already,” he murmured, nuzzling his cheek into her right breast. Playfully, he licked and nipped at her nipple, making her jump and giggle.

“See, what did I tell you?” she asked, picking up the soap.

As Nathaniel lay against her chest, she worked the powder into a lather and slowly began to massage his scalp. Nathaniel felt his body sink into a state of relaxation he’d never known as Grace’s fingernails traveled gently over his skull and down the back of his neck, her hands rubbing deep circles into his shoulders when she reached them.

Is that what I have been missing this entire time? he thought, closing his eyes to the pleasure. Suddenly, he felt like a fool for not trusting Grace earlier. Quickly, though, any negative thoughts that entered his brain faded as Grace first washed away the soap in his hair then continued her exploration of his body with her hands. Her touch was so soft, almost hypnotic, as her fingertips trailed once more down his chest, over his sides, and down his abdomen.

When her fingertips brushed against the head of his cock, he gasped and pressed the back of his head further into Grace’s breasts. Immediately, she froze then lifted her fingers away.

“Shall I stop?” she asked, ache clear in her voice.

“No,” Nathaniel answered quickly, his eyes popping open to look at her. “Please don’t.”

Pleasure coursed through him as Grace said nothing and her exploration continued. Her fingertips traced once more over the circumference of the hardened head of his cock then dipped under the water to trace bulging veins on his shaft. With each soft stroke, Nathaniel took another shallow breath, ecstasy filling him as his body began to become lighter and weightless.

When he thought nothing could be more enjoyable, Grace wrapped her fingers around his shaft and began to squeeze and stroke him. Blinded by the pleasure of it, his back arched even more against her, and he let out a ragged groan. Gradually, Grace’s hand began to move faster, and her grip became tighter. Not too much—just the perfect amount to keep his hips pushing into her grasp.

“What does it feel like?” Grace whispered, her voice full of wonder as she watched him.

For a moment, Nathaniel struggled to find his words. It was not only that the feeling was indescribable but that her actions were making it impossible for his brain to function properly.

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